If you’re going to invest your money in a hobby like vinyl – you really should see it through to completion. Vinyl requires love, care and attention from the day of purchase right through to the end of its life and, if cared for properly, that life will be a very long and lucrative one indeed.
The fact is: it’s not rocket science. Simple maintenance and – most importantly – CLEANING is the key to keeping your vinyl and your turntable looking and most importantly sounding as good as possible. Dust, dirt and grime are hugely damaging to the delicate surfaces of cinyl records – and to the turntables themselves. Regular cleaning is the best way to ensure your vinyl collection is worth the time and money you have invested into it. It’s simple really.
But, this is hi-fi. Nothing is as simple as ‘just keeping it clean’ there are plenty of tricks, tips and – of course – gadgets to help you along your way. And here are 10 of them – from cheapest, to most dear!
1, 2 & 3: Pads & Brushes
Here we have the likes of the Milty Duo Pad (pictured above) for £6.90, which sits amongst the likes of the Acc-sees Plush Velvet Cleaning Pad (£7.19) and the Pro Vinyl Carbon Fibre Cleaning Brush (£7.19). Some like pads, some like bristles – but they both serve their purpose as a cheap and easy way of removing surface dust from your records. A quick wipe after every use will make a world of difference. Some will also reduce static, which will ensure your records keep sounding fantastic, play after play.
4, 5 & 6 : Basic Cleaners
If you want to get something properly clean, you have to get it wet. Everyone knows that. But the standard liquids will only damage your vinyl’s delicate surface – so you have to invest in the right kinds of liquids, with the right kinds of wipers. Something like the Christo Easy Groove Record Cleaner (£24.90) as pictured above or the Milty Permaclean Cleaning Kit (£22) are both excellent options for safely removing dirt and grime from your vinyl. And if you want to push the boat out a little, there’s always the Thorens Vinyl Cleaning Kit (£69.50) which has lots of bits and pieces for vinyl maintenance, including a very fetching wooden box to keep it all in.
7, 8 & 9: Small Cleaning Machines
Now, we enter the realms of the slightly more serious vinyl-owner. Cleaning by hand has its merits, but it also has many many flaws. So many accidentally damage their records, or simply don’t clean them well enough. A machine like the Knosti Disco Antistat Record Cleaner (£49.99) and the Spin Clean Record Washer MkII (£77.95) take the fuss and the stress out of cleaning records, by applying the correct amont of pressure – in the correct places. Squeaky clean records, with no additional fear of damage of a substandard job. If you want to take it a little step further, there is always the likes of the Moth MkII Pro Vinyl Record Cleaner (£549.95) which is completely automatic, and even includes a ‘drying’ vacuum phase!
But all of those pale in comparison to our cleaning chart topper. It’s not cheap – but if you love your vinyl as much as you should, it’s worth your consideration.
10: The Audio Desk (High-End Vinyl Cleaning)
The Audio Desk Vinyl Cleaner LP Cleaning Machine (£2,199) is worth every penny, for any true vinyl enthusiast. The Audio desk is by far the best solution. While the cheaper ways help, the Audio Desk is one of the only ways to guarantee the longevity of your collection. Nothing beats an Audio Desk for the true collector and connoisseur – the safest, most effective, longest lasting, investment in good record listening. Yes, this is an “investment” as the most effective clean will yield the best possible sound by removing every possible spec of dust and dirt, leaving only the best possible sound.
Got any questions? Then give us a shout. There are more options than just these 10, of course. But these are our favourites. Especially the wonderful Audio Desk!