My dad has given me 30 vinyls, advice on cleaning...

[Jake12988]

Hi everyone,

been up to see my dad this weekend, and since he's not got a turntable he has given me 30 odd LP's, which is fantastic, there all superb!

however they've been stored in a coach house for, a very long time.... the sleeves are slightly soggy in some areas and worn from the damp, vinyls all look pretty good, but do need a clean.

can I have some advice on a cheap, and home made 'recipe' that I can use to clean all these original vinyls, (some are 40 years old) I really want to keep them well, and in the family. It's a privilege to now be the next generation to enjoy them!

Im not sure what to use and what not so use, and also how to clean them in the right way, advice is much appreciated, I trust you guys very much!

jake (the 24 year old!)

 

[audiodarkness]

Hi Jake,

I always use a milty record cleaning kit I buy from my local hi fi shop, its a good start. I believe you can also use deanodised water with a tiny amount of soap which would cost next to nothing but I'd have that confirmed first.

Welcome to the land of records, there is no going back!

 

[audiodarkness]

Hi Jake,

I always use a milty record cleaning kit I buy from my local hi fi shop, its a good start. I believe you can also use deanodised water with a tiny amount of soap which would cost next to nothing but I'd have that confirmed first.

Welcome to the land of records, there is no going back!

 

[Al ears]

Hi Jake,

Nice prese.t.

There are post on this forum regards LP cleaning (look in the Turntable subsection) but your best bet is to purchase a simple record cleaning device.

The best is the Disco Antistat (see link)

http://www.conrad-uk.com/ce/en/product/345296?WT.mc_id=googlebase&insert=8V&adcampaign=googlebase&CAWELAID=357703974&catargetid=1921805620&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CK_UgoDv-rcCFdQZtAodYRUAHw

If you really value these LP's I would look for somewhere to get them cleaned on a professional machine, it will be worth it.

Oh, and buy some new antistatic record sleeves to put them in once you have cleaned them. Ditch the old paper sleeves particularly if they have been exposed to damp.

 

[Al ears]

Hi Jake,

I always use a milty record cleaning kit I buy from my local hi fi shop, its a good start. I believe you can also use deanodised water with a tiny amount of soap which would cost next to nothing but I'd have that confirmed first.

Welcome to the land of records, there is no going back!

Do not use 'soap'!

 

[Jake12988]

Cheers guys, ill look into cleaning kits, and also anti static sleeves

 

[jcarruthers]

Get some Nagaoka No. 102 Anti-Static Record Sleeves— nice to protect the vinyl inside paper sleeves

 

[Jake12988]

So these anti static sleeves, go inside the paper sleeves which invisibly go inside the cardboard outer sleeve? How well do they work? Do they just help repel dust in the sleeve?

 

[stevebrock]

So these anti static sleeves, go inside the paper sleeves which invisibly go inside the cardboard outer sleeve? How well do they work? Do they just help repel dust in the sleeve?

they certainly do!

 

[jcarruthers]

So these anti static sleeves, go inside the paper sleeves which invisibly go inside the cardboard outer sleeve? How well do they work? Do they just help repel dust in the sleeve?

You pop the record in the anti static sleeve then put that in to the paper sleeve and then put that in the outer cardboard sleeve.

I've got in to the habit of putting all my records in to them as I listen to them.

 

[Al ears]

Jake the antistatic sleeves completely replace the old paper sleeves you have.

Some makes are a lined paper type and some are plastic.

The idea is to junk the old paper sleeve that you probably have with the LP's you were given

 

[jcarruthers]

Jake the antistatic sleeves completely replace the old paper sleeves you have.

Some makes are a lined paper type and some are plastic.

The idea is to junk the old paper sleeve that you probably have with the LP's you were given

A lot of paper sleeves have artwork etc on them - so I just out the anti static sleeve inside that.

Wouldnt want to junk them.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I'd endorse the Disco Antistat. It comes with it''s own fluid, but once this is finished, I would use the mix John Duncan suggest here on the fifth post.

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/turntables-and-lps/homemade-cleaning-fluid-for-knosti-record-cleaner

 

[Al ears]

Jake the antistatic sleeves completely replace the old paper sleeves you have.

Some makes are a lined paper type and some are plastic.

The idea is to junk the old paper sleeve that you probably have with the LP's you were given

A lot of paper sleeves have artwork etc on them - so I just out the anti static sleeve inside that.

Wouldnt want to junk them.

You may very well have artwork on the inner sleeves but not sure if the OP has.

His description of 'soggy to damp' led me to urge him to throw them out, which i would do artwork or not.

 

[jcarruthers]

Good point – of course ditch anything that is damp!

New paper sleeves a must in that case.

I've always found the more soiled bits are the outer cover than the inner one.

 

[Jake12988]

Yeah it's mainly just some of the outside covers that have some damp damage, but I think anti static sleeves will be very beneficial, thanks for advice!