How to Care for Your Vinyl
The demand for vinyl is higher than ever. The amount of records sold today are the same numbers as they were in the 1980’s. Young consumers, ages 35 and younger, are the biggest driver of this demand. There are many reasons why this old school music format is coming back. Some of which pertain to younger consumers and indie artists preferring the tone and sound, opposed to the now digital format. Trendy stores like Urban Outfitters are now selling Crosley turntables and new age music pressed to vinyl. Now that LP‘s are so easily accessible, here are a few tips on how to care for your vinyl.
How to Clean Your Vinyl
Determining how to clean your record depends on a few factors:
- How often they are played?
- How long the record has been stored?
- How carefully you’ve treated the record?
If the record is not played often and has been stored correctly (We will get to proper storage next) it will only need a simple wipe with an anti-static cloth. If this is an old record that has been in storage for a while, it might have mold or dirt markings. With this you can use a few small drops of non alcoholic dish washing soap, rinse with lukewarm running water, and dry with a soft cloth. DO NOT soak your record in water. After the dirt and mold are off, wipe down with anti-static solution for the final touches.
How to Store Your Vinyl
Store your records standing up with little room for them to lean. Leaning or stacking them on top of each other can cause warping. Keep in the sleeve as well as the board casing, and always slide the open edge of the inner sleeve into the case first. Doing these things will keep out dust and other harmful particles.
DO NOT store in direct sunlight or heat where they can get heat warped, such as right next to a window, furnace, or in a car. Hope these tips help you as you start this journey into the vinyl world, or if you are now getting back into it after all these years.
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