Can you use vinegar to clean vinyl records?

Author: Laila Cormier DVM  |  Last update: Friday, January 12, 2024

There are two different things that you can use to clean your records if you're on a budget: White vinegar. Dish soap (a gentle formula like Dawn, nothing with bleach or harsh chemicals).

What is the best thing to clean vinyl records with?

Dampen a clean microfiber cloth with water (distilled water is preferred), and lightly wipe the entire surface of the record in a circular motion with the grooves of the record, being careful to avoid the center label.

What should you not clean vinyl with?

Often used hand-in-hand with tap water, dish detergent is another household cleaning product that should never be used to clean records. Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Limonene, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool, Colorants, Vinegar.

Is Dawn dish soap safe for vinyl records?

Simply put a few drops of dish soap into a tub of water. Avoid using tap water if you are creating your own solution. This will help to keep minerals that could damage the vinyl away from the records that you are cleaning. Di-ionized or distilled water is ideal for cleaning records.

Is it OK to clean vinyl records with alcohol?

You should avoid cleaning vinyl records with alcohol. Although it's an effective cleaning agent, the alcohol will destroy the protective coating of the vinyl over time. Isopropyl alcohol, however, is a popular ingredient in many DIY record-cleaning fluids.

How I clean my vinyl records, using household products - with great results

What is the best thing to clean old records with?

The Groove Washer Walnut Record Cleaning Kit ($39.95) is another favorite of music lovers. For something easier and possibly cheaper, depending on what you already have around the house, you can always go for Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner and water.

Can you use Windex to clean vinyl records?

Some other things to avoid are commercial cleaning products (i.e. Windex, Comet, Borax, etc.) under the kitchen sink. Most often they attack the vinyl itself or, at the very least, block your grooves with even more gunk than they are trying to clean.

What is the best and cheapest way to clean vinyl records?

Washing Up Liquid And The Kitchen Sink

From there, rinse well with lukewarm running water, taking good care to avoid submerging the label. This YouTube video is a perfect primer. Washing a dirty LP record using soap and water - cheap and safe method!

What kind of vinegar do you use to clean vinyl records?

Combine 50/50 white vinegar and distilled, deionized water OR 1 teaspoon dish soap with 1 liter warm distilled, deionized water in a plastic spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray the solution on your record and let it sit for 5 minutes.

How do you clean vinyl records with Dawn?

Under a light stream of cool water (not cold/not hot), wet the LP in a circular motion being sure not to get the label wet. On a soft, wet sponge apply a tiny bit of dishwashing soap, clean the LP in a circular motion by soaping down the vinyl (don't get the label wet).

Can you use Swiffer to clean vinyl records?

How To Clean Vinyl Records. If you can remember to do so, always dust your records before and after every use (especially if you are listening to a particular album on repeat). We mostly use Swiffer dusters or microfiber cloths (both can use for about 100 other household duties so a good thing to buy in bulk).

Can you clean a vinyl record with a paper towel?

*For records that are really coated-with-grime dirty, soak a paper towel in your soap/water solution and rub the surface of the record well before starting with the brush cleaning. You can clean a LOT of records with that much solution.

Can you use hydrogen peroxide to clean vinyl records?

The solution contains 97% purified water and the rest is 3% hydrogen peroxide, it does not eat your records. I only use microfiber cloths because they really clean great! After I dry it and put it on the platter I use my Audioquest static brush before I play it. Really like the results.

How do you clean and restore old vinyl records?

RECORD CLEANING PRODUCTS

For a few vinyl records to clean, you may not want to invest too much budget. In this case, you can, for example, use a microfiber brush associated with a small record cleaning solution. The Simply Analog or Tonar brands offer spray products that are effective and very cost-effective.

How do you restore old vinyl records?

Repairing a Scratched Record
  1. First, gently wash your vinyl with water to remove any obvious debris.
  2. Next, grab a piece of 1500-grit sandpaper and wet it. ...
  3. Wet your vinyl and place it on a hard, flat surface.
  4. Lightly sand each side of the vinyl where there are scratches.

Should you wash vinyl records?

Used record purchases, in particular, should always be cleaned before they go anywhere near your turntable and stylus. Dirty records not only sound bad, but they also exacerbate stylus wear and contaminate your turntable – spreading the muck across your precious vinyl collection.

Can you use Clorox wipes on vinyl records?

Using Clorox wipes on vinyl records can result in permanent damage to the record surface, which could render it unplayable. Therefore, it is best to avoid using Clorox wipes and other abrasive cleaning products when caring for your vinyl records.

What is the safest way to clean records?

Wash The Record

Although some people use a combination of water and dish soap, we don't recommend it. Instead, we recommend using a cleaning solution designed for use on vinyl records. However, not all record cleaning solutions are created equal. In particular, we recommend avoiding any that contain isopropyl alcohol.

Do you clean records clockwise or counterclockwise?

Wipe Away Grime

Wipe away the grime with a dry microfiber towel in a counter-clockwise motion following the grooves of the record. Use a gentle touch but be sure that the towel is making contact with the floor of the record.

What is the best water to clean records with?

While you can use regular tap water, it may leave minerals behind in the grooves, so distilled is always the best bet.

Does vinegar affect vinyl?

Like with hardwood floors, vinegar's acidity will take away the shine and sheen of a no-wax floor, such as vinyl and linoleum.

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