Caring for your Valuable Record Collection

by Galen Carol

To obtain the optimum sound quality from a phonograph record, it is mandatory the record be as clean as you can make it.

A clean record will not only sounds better, but lasts longer. It has been shown that repeated playing of dirty records significantly increases stylus wear. Expensive cartridges will suffer significant additional and unneeded repair expense. But even more important is the fact that playing dirty records will destroy the cartridge stylus and the record!

As the stylus navigates its torturous path through the undulating grooves that comprise the record surface, incredible pressure and heat are produced. This process alone is tough enough on the relatively soft vinyl the LP is made of, but add to this equation the dust, dirt and other contaminants so often found on records, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Dust and debris that have accumulated over time are the cause of irreparable damage to the vinyl when contacted by the stylus during play. It has been shown that this contact produces a mini-explosion of sorts, known as a conchoidal shock-wave. This incident literally "blasts" a hole into the groove wall, creating permanent, irreparable damage. The small holes can be heard during each and every successive play as a tick or pop, and nothing short of buying a new record will eliminate it. The only way to prevent this catastrophic damage is to make certain that the grooves are scrupulously clean, before stylus ever touches vinyl.

Now that we understand the importance of a pristine record, let's look at how to effectively clean our own collection. To begin, it will be useful to classify the methods available into categories - dry and wet cleaning. Dry methods employ some type of brush that is designed to sweep the record surface, thus removing dust. Wet methods use a fluid of some sort to enhance the process. Dry brushes are best used as part of a maintenance program to keep records clean, wet methods are used on an occasional basis to deep-clean the grooves. Both methods are useful.

First look at dry brush technology. In the 1950’s, the WATTS Company in Britain began producing the first effective range of dry brush designs. Cecil E.Watts was a consultant to the major label record companies and truly advocated the dry cleaning method. You may recall the Disc Preener and Dust-Bug products from his Company. Both units used a plush pad to remove dust from the surface of the record. Read the interesting booklet published by the WATTS Company shortly after the death of Cecil Watts. This is a large PDF file and it may take a minute or two for your Adobe PDF reader to open.

The WATTS Company also made a very effective stylus cleaning brush.

The next step in dry brush technology was taken by another British firm, DECCA, which introduced the first brush to use tiny carbon fibers. Some one million individual fibers are in each brush, the purpose was to deep-clean the grooves while removing static. It worked fine, but it also shed fibers.

Click here for the user instructions for the DECCA record cleaning brush.

The next category of cleaners uses fluids to further enhance the cleaning process, and thus we call them wet cleaners. The theoretical advantages of these systems are interesting. The liquid lifts trapped or stubborn residue and debris from the bottom of the grooves. Various forms of fluids and brushes are available, each purporting to be the equivalent of the Holy Grail for record cleaning. Each is effective to a degree, but none are perfect.

There are some hazards that exist with most of the wet cleaning systems: volatility and residue. Some of the liquid record cleaning fluids are extremely aggressive. And while they may not do any damage over the short term, we really aren't sure about the long term consequences resulting from their repeated use. It is possible that some of the more aggressive among them are likely to negatively impact the relatively fragile vinyl record. It remains to be seen whether the repeated application of any record cleaning solution will slowly damage the record..

Additionally, all fluids must leave some residue when left to dry, some more than others. Try placing a small drop of your favorite cleaning solution on a clean mirror that you have placed flat on a table. After the fluid has evaporated you will notice that some residue has been left behind. Do you want this on your records? Obviously the less residue the fluid leaves behind the better, but no fluids leave absolutely nothing. This is why some record collectors follow their record cleaning process with a “wash” of de-ionized water to remove any remaining residue from the cleaning chemicals.

High Quality Professional Record cleaning system by Loricraft.

To compound the problem, most of the "treatments" instruct you to simply brush some fluid on and allow the remainder to evaporate. This practice insures that the maximum amount of residue is left behind.

The obvious answer is to apply the fluid, allow it to do its job, and then remove it completely. Enter the vacuum record cleaning system. For some years now, the most effective method of deep-cleaning records has been through the use of a vacuum record cleaning machine (This process is actually a combined approach utilizing a liquid cleaning solution together with a vacuum removal system. Here, one receives the benefit of the wet cleaning process, without the fear of residue.

The type of cleaning fluid used is an important factor in determining the effectiveness of a vacuum record cleaning machine. Many commercially produced formulations are available, some are good, some not so good. Most solutions are water based with varying amounts of alcohol, and a pinch of surfactant. However, some solutions are more aggressive than others. These products should be used with great care. Some theorize that an aggressive solution can attack the vinyl (by leaching plasticizers that keep the vinyl pliable) with repeated use.

While no specific research has been done (to our knowledge) on just how often a record can be cleaned with a given fluid before damage occurs, We would suggest a conservative approach given the rarity of vinyl these days. With most fluids, clean your records only as often as is absolutely necessary. Some manufacturers feel that only a few cleanings throughout the life of the disc is advisable.

For long-term record care, we recommend combining wet vacuum technology for deep cleaning, and a good dry brush for maintenance. Use a vacuum record cleaning machine when the record is new, and then several times throughout the life of the disc as required. A good dry brush should be used prior to each and every play. Don't forget your stylus, which should be thoroughly cleaned before each play.

Once you have cleaned your collection, you must address proper storage techniques. LPs should be stored vertically. Be certain that records are not left at an angle, as warpage is likely to occur over a period of time.

Treat your collection to both new inner and outer sleeves. Internal sleeves should always be used to replace the paper sleeves commonly supplied with LPs. Rice paper or poly-lined paper sleeves that use a rice-paper like liner material are best, and vinyl sleeves should be avoided because they may stick to the vinyl record.. Additionally, a clear outer sleeve will not only protect the record jacket, but reduce the influx of dust. These products are available from many record packaging suppliers.

This article was written by Galen Carol. Other fine articles on the subject of high-end audio may be found at the Galen Carol website.