Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Electronics
  4. / Home Audio
  5. / Vinyl Records

by GrouchoFields on January 30th, 2006

GrouchoFields

Question

Help answer this question below.

How can you safely clean old record albums that have mold and mildew embedded in the grooves?

Share:
Other

Answers. 2 helpful answers below.

  • by Anonymous on February 14th, 2009

    Anonymous

    Soap and water. Don't waste money on cleaners. Just a few drops of liquid soap in a sink full of warm water. Don't submerge it but use a soft cloth and go WITH the grooves gently. It may take a few times before the crud breaks up. You can also use a soft makeup brush to get down in the grooves. Just mind the label. Some labels will come off if wet or the writing disappears. Rinse, rinse, rinse. You don't want suds because it will leave a residue. Just enough to wet the dirt and lift it away. The fancy cleaners are okay, but us old timers that have been collecting records over 30 years just use soap and water with brilliant results.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by RedJohn on February 22nd, 2006

    RedJohn

    You should use a commercial record-cleaning fluid, preferably non-alcoholic, soft cleaning brushes, and water. Apply cleaner to the record, brush it into the grooves with a soft brush, rinse the record under clean water, and vacuum dry (cleaning machines) or wipe dry with a soft cloth (by hand). You may have to repeat this process on very dirty records. There are some formulas on the internet to make your own cleaners, but most of them require alcohol, which is not always recommended for cleaning records.

    A number of companies make cleaning products, including Disc Doctor, Record Research Lab, and L'Art du Son, which can be purchased at 'real' audio stores or from internet companies. I have used Take Five Audio in Canada (http://www.takefiveaudio.com/) and there are several in the US who advertise in magazines like "Stereophile" or "The Absolute Sound".

    I would recommend that you replace the record sleeves after you clean the records. Paper sleeves with a vinyl lining cost about fifty cents each.

    Record cleaning machines can be purchased if you have a large number of records to clean or have a large collection that you would like to maintain. Companies that make cleaning machines include Clearaudio, Nitty Gritty, and VPI Industries. Clearaudio and VPI also make turntables. Cleaning machines start at about US$500. I have also seen plans published on how to make one of your own.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading How can you safely clean old record albums that have mold and mildew embedded in the grooves?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

How to clean old records
Cleaning moldy records
Cleaning record albums
Cleaning old records
Clean old records

Answerbag

a Demand Media company