How to Clean Vinyl Records 5 Essential Steps

Discogs @jazzmsngr

Search around here on YouTube for HOW TO CLEAN Vinyl Records and you will find everything from simply wiping dust around to actually using wood glue to remove the dirt! And that one actually works! After watching ALL of these videos I have distilled this down to two main cleaning methods - Ultrasonic Cleaning and Vacuum Cleaning. And Combining the two would give you the ULTIMATE solution for cleaning your Pieces of Vinyl. This is where the super high end audio cleaners like Audio Desks, or VPI machines come in and they can cost THOUSANDS of dollars. If you are like me and you are not ready to make THAT commitment to your Vinyl (just yet) - There are 5 MAIN STEPs to cleaning records that even if you have one of these machines you still need to know. I have a pretty good method of cleaning my vinyl records that Im going to share with you, along with a tour of my cleaning station and some additional tips and tricks.

Shout out to 🤘🏻Other Channels 🤘🏻in this video (go Subscribe to them!👊🏻)

cheapaudioman (go SUBSCRIBE!👊🏻)

Vinyl Vac (go SUBSCRIBE!👊🏻)

Vinyl For Miles (go SUBSCRIBE!👊🏻)

🤯 Wood Glue Your Records (if you dare!)

Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I've used here @epidemicsound :

And, if you sign up to Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!

MUSIC FOR I USE FOR VINYL FOR VIDEO (and you should too!)

⛓⛓⛓⛓⛓LINKS⛓⛓⛓⛓⛓ for things in this video
(These are AFFILIATE LINKS THANKS)

🔊🔊🔊My home audio equipment🤘🏻 (affiliate links THANKS!) 🙏🏻

🎬What I use to Film with:

Time Codes📺:
Intro: 0:00
Thanks for Watching HOLY CRAP! - 0:36
DEFINING CLEANING: 1:28
2 Main Methods to Cleaning Records:1:57
I've Watched all the videos: 2:50
5 Main Steps - Step 1 - 3:25
Step 2 - 4:10
Step 3 - 5:54
Step 4 - 6:34
Step 5 - 7:11
Tour of my Cleaning Station - 7:48
SHOUT OUTS: 8:37
Tools for Cleaning: 8:45
Vinyl Vac - 9:41
Vinyl Vac MOD - 11:01
Cleaning a 45 and an LP Start to Finish - 11:14
Sleeving The Records - 14:29
Playing the Clean Pieces of Vinyl - 15:34
Shopping List - 16:28
Crafty - 16:44
Wrap up LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE - 16:46

[vinylvac]

Thanks for the shout out. We are really impressed with your production quality. Keep up the great videos!

[gregalee]

Ideally when you have a record covered in Tergikleen your next step should be to vacuum off all of it before applying your distilled water rinse and vacuum that off. Vacuuming twice will actually ensure you really get that Tergikleen off. Vacuuming twice is a lot less work if you have a dedicated vacuum machine, I have an Okki Nokki.

[joecoburn]

found your channel the other day as i started my vinyl collecting journey. SO impressed with your knowledge and delivery. also the production on these videos is INSANE. keep up the amazing work and thank you for taking the time to do it 🙏

[gabessaozsvath]

Criminally underrated channel…keep up the good work and I sure your channel will explode!

[gsus]

Nice work man. This video deserves a million views!

[joaoluizteixeira]

I'm from RIO / BRAZIL and a only know about the existence of the BANDA UNIÃO BLACK through you video LOL Thanks for this amazing video...and for introducing me to a band that was born 15 minutes from my house. 😄

[daniel_dumile]

I've watched a ton of these videos and wasted $200 on random cleaning stuff just to find out it wasn't helping barley at all and sometimes worse. This approach is a million times better than all the fancy brushes, liquids, and spin cleaner I got, and costs about the same as what I already spent.

I speed this out and can build your set up for $200 including the shop vac

[truefreak]

Very clear instructions for a good budget friendly cleaning method. A+! One small suggestion would be to swap out your current oversized brush for a smaller shur-line edge painter. They are a near exact fit for cleaning 33s.

[paulclancy]

I grabbed a KAB USA EV-1 cleaner. You hook a vacuum cleaner up to it as well. Works very well. I wasn't aware of the vinyl vac at the time. Great content 👍

[cmhirsch]

Thanks for the video. Played vinyl as a kid. Now that I’ve had to clean out my parent’s house, I brought back all the 60s and 70s vinyl! I bought the vinyl vac but now know I need a stronger cleaning agent to get the grime off those records.

[qj]

Phenomenal video tutorial! Many thanks. Subscribed!

Distilled water here in the UK is £10 per 5L. Crazy how cheap it's in the US!!

Does vinyl vac get all of the 12' platter radius?... It looks small in the pictures but on your video looks like there's nothing left after

[twofromthetrunk]

Enjoyed the video. You convinced me to buy the vinyl vac and sundries.

[josesitojode]

Excellent! I use the same things almost, but i let sit the solution 5 mins on the lp, before i use the vinyl vac, also i dont use the Tergikleen soltution, i made my own solution witth excellent results, zero residue and zero gunk on the stylus after playback..i also use an old unplugged turntable not a lazy susan, i use a magnifier glass to see the grooves, the surface of the vinyl, prior and after the vacum

[bodywise]

excellent. . A good balance between spending thousands for ultrasonic washers and a reasonable approach. Trying to sell off my 50-year-old vinyl collection, which is in very good condition. But it makes no sense spending hundreds or thousands of dollars. It's a cost benefit calculation. Your approach is time-consuming but thorough and cost-effective. Kudos.

[juanpabloreyes]

Thank you for this great video. I'm just starting my vinyl collection and all your suggestions have been really helpful!

[wrxfrontier]

Dude, credit to you for your channel, I subded the first time I watched one of your vids. Although cheapaudioman is one of my favorites, he didn't send me here. Keep on with the videos and great tips on this one.

[false_binary]

Love the channel! I recently rejoined the VC and picked up a Humminguru ultrasonic cleaner / dryer. New or used vinyl goes straight out of the sleeve and into the Humminguru. I use one drop of Tergikleen on the first wash (no dry), then wash again purely with distilled water only, and then a dry cycle. Basically a $500 automated version of what you are doing here lol! It absolutely rocks and the water in the reservoir after the first bath is often pretty gross water (especially new records, super cloudy wow).

I am currently experimenting with TU-8 vs. MoFi Super Record Wash + a goat hair brush on the truly atrocious and / or very old surface cases (then the Humminguru process above). Misty or Cloudy surfaces sometimes still allude me 🧐

[VinylPro]

all perfect clear explained !
appreciate, Sir !

[TripleE]

Good video. I'm about to build an enclosure for a wet vac, then mount a motorized lazy susan on top, with vinyl vac, both controlled by 2 switches. Have ordered s humminguru too, who knows when I'll get that ...

[dougg]

I use a wet dry vac, cleaning fluid and blue ( only) microfiber towel. After the first clean I use the ole Crosley felt brush and distilled water.
Spray the record wet with your fav cleaner. I use Phoenix but whatever. Fold the towel once and place over the mini wet dry vac tube and vertically run it around the record outside in. That thing can suck a golf ball through a water hose, so it gets cleaned. Then run a felt around it for the last step. Vacuum cost 29.95 at Wally