The Care and Cleaning of Records
Because friends don’t let friends play their records on Crosleys.
So you’ve just gotten some new (or new to you) vinyl and you’re excited about your new (or revived) hobby. But what’s the best way to make sure these records last for you? We here at Ominous Synths go through some general tips on how to make your records play their best, and last their longest, all without having to be as fanatical as, well, people who open up record stores might be.
Clean Your Records Often
Even if you’re just taking a newly mint record out of its sleeve for the first time, it won’t change the fact that records are vinyl. And vinyl is plastic, and attracts all kinds of staticky things. No matter how much the factory or seller will try to clean it before packing it up, it’s not uncommon to find dust, or tiny hairs, or specks on your vinyl. The best way to get it out of sight is to give it a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth before playing.
Yep! If it’s good enough for your car, it’s good enough for your records. I just uh, wouldn’t use the same one for both things.
If you’re dealing with children and grubby fingerprints, tipsy or careless friends, or just too many years in dad’s basement, you may want to give your records a bit more attention. There are many folk theories about the best “cleansers” for records. I’ve heard everything from toothpaste to rubbing alcohol, pencil erasers to people who swear by water mixed with a liiiittle bit of bleach or white vinegar. None of these are what I would recommend. They could work, but with them also comes the risk that you will mangle a record you love very dearly. If you are at the end of your rope and willing to try anything, try practicing with a record you may not care so much about (I have sacrificed many a Herb Alpert record doing just this). What I would recommend is a vinyl cleaner that is water-based, and alcohol- and ammonia-free. There are many you can pick up online, and they’re all pretty comparable when it comes down to it. This is what I use, mainly because it comes in a fairly large bottle. And let’s face it, I have a lot of records to clean around here.
2. Try to avoid low-end turntables
Now, I’M NOT SAYING you need to go out and splurge on the fanciest setup out there, the ones worth thousands of dollars. Hell, I don’t even have one of those. But I learned early on in my collecting career that those ones from your favorite Hipster Store™, you know the one, that might be mentioned above/below, are in my personal opinion not good for records. Sure they’ll play them alright, but the needles are not good for the life and health of your records overall and after a few spins, you’ll start to find scratches with audible noise pop up just from listening. That’s simply not how record playing is supposed to be.
Sorry. I’ll just never forgive this thing for messing up my Roxy Music record back in the day. I know better now. I am older and wiser.
In my opinion, while there are some great modern turntables out there, my favorites are the tried-and-true ones from the 70s-80s. I myself am sporting a very respectable Technics from the era for my personal setup. Not amazing, but not terrible. The best ones are typically direct drive (because rebelting a turntable is my least favorite thing), and can usually be found by savvy individuals at a garage or estate sale for under $100. Just make sure the needle on them is alright.
3. Storage and Sheltering Your Records
Now this is where people start to get into hefty debate. Are plastic sleeves for record covers necessary? Are plastic inner sleeves better or worse than the traditional paper ones (my two cents: the plastic looks nicer, but will definitely attract infinitely more dust, specks, and stray hairs mentioned above). All of these really just come down to personal preference. But a few things are for certain: you shouldn’t permanently store your records on top of each other (it’s definitely fine for short periods. No one will arrest you), and you should avoid keeping them in places prone to very hot temperatures (read: attic) or very damp atmospheres (read: unfinished basement/garage). The number one reason vintage records have gotten ruined over the decades is this is where everyone everywhere stores things they aren’t going to use for a long while. Mold is bad for your health, and a warped record is a very sad thing to witness. But apart from that, you can and should store and display them however you please. In the end, one of the best things about records is how they’re a visual depiction of your own awesome music tastes. So in the end all you need to do is be inventive, and creative, and smart.
