Cleaning of vinyl records

The main enemies of Bakelite records are dust and scratches. Achieving long playback times, dynamics, and good frequency fidelity for microgroove records required a significant reduction in groove sizes. The smallest deviations in size for high-pitched sounds, for example, are about 10-100 nm (1 nm = 1 billionth of a meter). A speck of dust floating in the air is much larger than this. If such a speck enters the groove, it can cause significant crackling noises. Scratches also produce similar sound artifacts, even if they are barely visible to the naked eye.

If necessary, Bakelite records should be carefully cleaned before playback, as the stylus during playback can push the dust deep into the groove. Therefore, a record that has been played once with dust is often noisy. For cleaning, use a carbon fiber brush specifically designed for records or an impregnated cleaning cloth. If unavailable, any soft textile, preferably cotton, will suffice, like an old T-shirt. Using a velvet brush is not recommended. Clean the rotating record gently by folding the cleaning cloth and wiping it along the edge. Do not use a dusty cloth and avoid rubbing the record, as this will push the dust deeper into the groove. You can slightly moisten the cleaning cloth with distilled water or by holding it over steam, or a mixture of 25% ethyl alcohol and 75% distilled water is often recommended. If the cloth needs washing, rinse it in distilled water at the end.

Never blow air onto the record! Saliva droplets that may land on the record during blowing are nearly impossible to remove and cause strong crackling noises. Avoid leaving fingerprints on the record; always hold it by the edges or support it with your index finger near the center hole. If a fingerprint does appear, immediately remove it with a slightly damp cloth and a gentle breath. Do not clean old shellac records with alcohol! Always test different record cleaning fluids on a worthless record, as some fluids that can damage records were also available in the past. The only liquid that certainly won't harm microgroove records is distilled water, possibly mixed with pharmaceutical-grade alcohol in a 3:1 ratio.

Don't forget about the cleanliness of your turntable. Even under the folded plexiglass lid, the rubber platter quickly accumulates dust. Due to static charges, the dust quickly transfers from the rubber platter to the record, and from the record to the cover, initiating a circular process. Because of this, it's also advisable to clean your turntable's rubber platter before playing a record. During extended periods of non-use, it's recommended to cover the entire turntable with a dust-protective material, such as a towel. This way, your Bakelite records will remain usable for a long time!