Taking Care of Your Vinyl Records

If you own vinyl, you probably already know that records require some maintenance. The good news is that it's not complicated. The only bad news is that you actually have to do it sometimes. Here's our quick and easy guide to taking better care of your vinyl records.

Dust is the main enemy. Before you play a record, brush it with a brush like this one - a quick sweep in the direction of the grooves. For a deeper clean every few months, use a record-cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth. Don't use household cleaners or just water. Your records will thank you by not sounding like they're being played underwater.

Storage is simple: keep records upright, like books on a shelf. It’s highly recommended that you don’t stack them on top of each other, but really you should be okay if you’re stacking, say 20. If you’re starting to stack over 50, that’s when warping can really occur. The weight warps them, and a warped record is mostly useless. Use inner sleeves - the plain paper ones that come with records are fine, but anti-static sleeves are better. Keep everything away from heat and sunlight. A record left near a window or radiator will warp faster than you'd think.

When you handle a record, hold it by the edges or the label in the center. Fingerprints leave oils that attract dust and, eventually, damage the vinyl. It's a small habit that makes a real difference.

Replace your turntable's stylus regularly - check your manufacturer's guidelines, but it's usually every few hundred hours of play. A worn needle doesn't just sound bad; it actually carves up your records.

Records are physical objects that degrade if you ignore them. Use these simple maintenance steps, and your records will sound great for decades. Check out this Reddit page with more tips and tricks.