How To Clean Moldy Oldy Records

[@TheCardinalchunder]

Other than putting the record in the outer sleeve incorrectly (it should go in so the the opening in the record cover is at a 90 degree angle), this is a great video.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Good job. I use 3 VPI 16.5, one for each side and a third to dry record after wet play. zerostat is essential, so few people even know what they are. Nice to see correct procedures on youtube!

[@funkmastermoon]

This is a master-class in vinyl preservation.

[@alphagt62]

Great tutorial! Thank you so much. But to the others, this method is for really dirty records. For relatively clean records, just a once over with cleaning fluid and vacuum is all you need. And you don't do this every time you play the record, once clean, they stay that way for a good while.

[@youAbajajTube]

Excellent how-to video and a great resource. Thanks Tony, this video is a labor of love!

[@wendileona]

Microdust is deep inside used records, use a velvet brush to gather it up with an old turntable manually. After cleaning vinyl itself I'd apply Gruv Glide as a sort if post cleaning conditioning which would lubricate vinyl so stylus would glide right over with little vinyl destroying friction. But realistically, if you have or are going to buy lots of vinyl, multiply these cleaning processes, its incredibly time consuming. I gave up. I don't ever want vinyl records again. 24/96 baby! ///g

[@p165711]

I would like to have heard a before and after playing of the record.

[@jesusgavemeaids]

Yeah. But you also have to realize there are a few problems with that... Playing an extremely dirty or moldy record isn't good for your stylus. Then, there's a good chance of the stylus pushing that crud deeper into the grooves or embedding it there so that it's much harder to remove; if not impossible to remove at that point. Plus I can imagine that a very dirty moldy record is gonna be very noisy & just sound awful anyway.

[@dixielandfarm]

Nice Job, Tony! I use a sink method, but it is always nice to see how others do it.

[@ajcrock4691]

For those who do not have a heat gun a hair dryer also works. The time is about 20 seconds for the hair dryer, 8-10 for the heat gun, 45 plus for goo be gone. But any oil based fluid can stain covers. Other machines will work to clean records the key is the vacuum which removes particles rather then move them around. The MISTO sprayers give you better coverage with less fluid wasted.

[@mrbooo99]

Very nice.....but when do you listen? More labor than love. I rinse every lp off under the faucet,we have great water, then wipe off with a cotton towel,let dry for a few minutes then music! It removes about 90%. Unless then lp is covered with mold then I use Superclean and a Disc Doctor brush,the same stuff that you clean car tires with.It works great.Takes at most a couple of minutes. Cheers, Chet

[@ajcrock4691]

Thank you for the views & nice replies Cleaning Tom Jones & Rolling Stones that day Clean new purch of old records this way All my inner sleeves at a 90 degree angle & the outer in line with the plastic cover. This way I do not have to remove & possibly damage the outer sleeve to play. Lighter fluid can stain outer sleeves. I have cleaned over 800 albums: no prob with knife, or 409, & only 1 loose label. Milty is 4-6" from record, pull slowly, 4X recommended but no limit Listen every night

[@joseaavellanet4322]

Interesting process, great video!

[@anthonyc9207]

Nice job you put a lot of work and effort into it...i am to old I'm purchasing a expensive over priced record cleaning machine...

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Certainly helpful.

[@ElectoneGuy]

Tap water, Dawn, a sponge or very soft paint brush is what I use. Just don't let the water dry on the vinyl, wipe it off with a soft or microfiber cloth.

[@wendileona]

After 409, which honestly is very strong, dilute that stuff, use Endust spray which brings back the gloss of faded covers, they also make a cleaner which is softer on record covers than 409. Use Goo Gone for removing price stickers, much better. For finger worn LP sleeve openings I would wet lightly and reshape the edges and squash the LP in between two smooth corrugated cardboards overnight and they would emerge dry and restored.

[@Vinylbop]

Hi Tony, looks great! Did I hear it right? Jusy one click with the Milty gun? I've never fully understood how to operate this thing (which I own but hardly use because I never heart any results from it).

[@LFOVCF]

4:43 THANKS FOR BLOWING MY EARS OUT WITH YOUR STEAMER! I now can't hear anything!

[@coaxguy99]

This is how I've restored very dirty but unscratched (or lightly scratched but not or barely skipping) lp's that were played with crappy styli to once again having a near mint SQ. First, I rinse both sides of the lp with warm water to get off any loose stuff. Next, I lay the record on a flat counter that is free of any debree that would scratch the lp and I spray the top with windex or 409. I put a mounded rag or similar over the label to keep the windex from getting on it and making the ink run. I rub my fingertips around the surface to spread the windex to the full vinyl surface as well as to feel for smoothness. I set a timer for 2 minutes to let it soak. Next, I rinse both sides and give the other side the windex (or 409) treatment. After the next rinse, I put a couple of small drops of dawn 180 degrees apart on each side and rub it all around with my fingers (just on the vinyl) to give it a good soapy scrub. Next, rinse in very warm, but not hot water until all residue is gone... try to keep the water jet away from the label but don't worry about it getting wet. Now use a microfiber to dry. Prop the records vertically leaning against a wall to let air circulate until dry. NOW FOR THE GOOD PART... when the record is dry... do the wood glue treatment on each side using Titebond II (there are tutorials all over the internet). If the record still sounds crackly and grungy after the glue treatment, redo the glue BUT FIRST spread a very thin layer of alcohol such as top shelf vodka mixed with just a drop or two of dawn and while wet, apply the glue and spread... dry... peel. You may need to do a final rinse and dry with the microfiber cloth to get out any residual detergent. Using this method, I have restored some horrible sounding lp's from the 60's to a very HQ sound. The alcohol detergent glue blend followed by final rinse is what seems to lift out that very last gunk to make them dead quiet. I think some of the glue even works its way into microscopic damaged areas, stays there, and repairs them because you just have to try it to believe it. You won't believe your ears. BTW, I don't bother with distilled water BUT Providence, RI has the second best tap water in the USA... yeah!!!

[@horsey604]

+Alben Roland The glue method can 'lift' some edges of audible scratches.I haven't tried it but people who have say that this can happen, it seems logical.

[@thomasweaver4791]

409 has cancer chemicals.. read the label. your fingers absorb.

[@MisterNiles]

@@thomasweaver4791 PVC has been shown to cause cancer. Don't play records.

[@nycpeopleareidiots]

You should only point the gun at the LP during the first pull of the trigger. Then move the gun away to release the negative stream away from the LP. Do that 4 times for each side. If you ask me though proper humidity levels in your playing area and some Gruv Glide will make the use of a Milty obsolete.

[@Catsincages]

I clean all my Tom Jones records with FIRE!

[@GreatBowlsAfire]

thats not unusual... ;p

[@shutthefuckupdonny99]

Brick dust and steel wool work the best for me. :)

[@stonedog1000]

Harsh!But funny

[@richardsoffice9176]

How about Arthur Brown records?

[@ryanmigliori9142]

Catsincages damm girl light my fire light my fire light my fire .

[@lavenderhawk]

So how does this help 99 percent of the population that does not own one of these?

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

Record collectors, as opposed to audiophiles, would not put the record in the jacket to prevent seam splits. They would also preserve the original inner sleeve, even if they don't use it to hold the record. If it is polluted with mold, you could put it in a separate outer sleeve.

[@horsey604]

+vinyl1Earthlink How about audiophile record collectors? What do they use to do?

[@ajcrock4691]

Two updates to the process. 1 After the last cleaner/steam/vacuum I now use a steam as a the rinse. 2 I have also found that an ionizer, such as the Desco 19500 Bench Top Self Balancing Ionizer, for 40 seconds a side works wonders to remove static. I also let run while cleaning. You can find similar used models for sale in eBay

[@aaronornelas8348]

So, can this clean my 8-tracks too!?

[@SileDevil]

by the time you cleaned 5 records you turned 80 years old and your whole life passed lol

[@jamisonholly9482]

Is 409 safe for record covers? Did this really work because after he was done I could still see mold, unless it was the lighting

[@magnusjagbring38]

Easier and faster to track down or find a new record. Even faster to re-record it with dead Elvis...hahahaha!

[@evansullivanrichgels5531]

Wow, that's amazing! If you lived by me I would hire you.

[@SJakeupM]

And then after going to all that bother, do you ever find that the record doesn't sound good even then because of distortion resulting from groove damage that was caused by being played with a worn or heavily tracking stylus in the past (by a previous owner), etc.? And I wonder whether steam would not warp the record or damage the groove walls or cause some kind of distortion. You probably wouldn't do it if it did, but I find this interesting. Anyway, I'm sure it would make the disc quiet.

[@wrenchaholic]

nice. I have too many records to replace all the sleeves, sometimes i just reuse the old ones....

[@alvarogomez2080]

That just went from a 1.07 record to 25$ on ebay. Maybe a little over kill BUT I get it. Now u can hear a snake fart in egypt before u hear a pop outta that tom jones. 💪🏽Keep it up guy.

[@myomadd]

Can you use this method on old 10" graphophone discs? Not vinyl, the hard ones.

[@myomadd]

Eric Kelly ... I was researching, that's why I came across this video and asked the question.

[@ajcrock4691]

From the VPI manual. Older 78-rpm shellac records can be cleaned using special VPI fluid. Alcohol based cleaners must never be used on shellac records. So yes you can use the VPI fluid with distilled water. I also have replaced the felt pad with cotton makeup rounds and throw them out after each wipe. I would spray the VPI cleaner, steam, vacuum, VPI cleaner, steam, vacuum, steam and vacuum as a rinse. The steam helps to work in the fluids and works well as a rinse

[@markcovington8159]

Hey there. What do you do about cleaning your records if you don't have one of those record cleaning machines & don't have the money to buy one of them? :)

[@jackofalltrades9311]

I clean my Vinyl with water, Germ X, lint free clothes and Rca Disc Cleaner. Works Great

[@markcovington8159]

Hey Tony. How do paper inner sleeves get moldy?

[@frankie28web]

Storage in humid cellars...

[@ajcrock4691]

I don't check this on a daily basis but in answer to the latest comments. Goo Be Gone can and has stained white album covers. Putting a post cleaning agent on the record is caveat emptor. My stylus cost to much to risk such agents. I clean 6 to 7 records and hour.. Finally the wife is allergic to Endust which does not kill mold like 409. Supposedly vanilla vodka also works

[@thisisAudioslave]

Some labels maybe destroyed with liquids. I protect the labels against the washing liquids and the distilled water ...

[@horsey604]

You do all these to clean the record and then you slide it on the inner sleeve, sliding on the inner sleeve makes hairlines on the record surface, it also charges the record with static. Eventually, these hairlines will be readable by the stylus, especially if the inner sleeve is like those paper ones that are rough.

[@danielcombs3207]

He’s not using paper sleeves . I use Mofi sleeves it has rice paper to give the sleeve some rigidity and that is what this man is using or a similar brand. That is why you can see the album. He replaced the original paper sleeve. You are correct about paper causing scuffs on the vinyl.

[@mustism]

i even forced the salesguy to take a shower before he sold me my record

[@mustism]

he wasnt wearing any

[@horsey604]

+mustis M Lol, yeah, records do not need such a detailed cleaning process

[@arthurfonzerelli8000]

Or just buy the CD version of the LP.

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

squeeze the zerostat trigger slowly. If it clicks, you are going too fast.

[@Image-i-nationCoUk]

Seems a bit excessive?

[@shutthefuckupdonny99]

Or, "How to clean your records for $23. a side."

[@douglasquaid4518]

It's not unusual to be cleaned by anyone da dada da lol

[@litoboy5]

Cool

[@beatlz6561]

All that for a Tom Jones record. I would just go to the next thrift store and look for another copy.

[@РоманШаркин-е2о]

👍

[@bleetingham]

All that for a Tom Jones record?

[@JZen_25]

I feel like this method is a little to "much" for cleaning records. I just use a discwasher with the water solution it comes with and does the job right.

[@maurucerighter3394]

Oh I just use cotton pads and 91% alcohol it's just a one-time thing for my real dirty records I'm trying not get too crazy about cleaning records😉

[@szabolcserdesz9159]

Hi Tony, great video! I have a Milty too but i have never got good results with and i see Vinylbop have the same problem. Do anyone knows how to properly use it? Cheers @_rcadog_

[@HKCoral]

Keith monks is the best cleaner

[@Sleevemonger]

Yikes! I wouldn't put a knife anywhere near a record sleeve. Try a couple drops of lighter fluid, let it soak in and after a minute you should be able to pull up most with your fingernail, but still be careful cause your nail can cut a notch into the sleeve too. The residue can be cleaned off when you clean the entire sleeve. 409's good but can dilute colors. A number of other cleaners work as well. And all that water can damage or lift the label up if it gets underneath. Messy.

[@olliespike2]

why am I suddenly thinking about Silence Of The Lambs..?...this strange man scares me...those gloves ? I'm going back to listening to happy stuff

[@tunnelportterror]

that's getting carried away a bit....I've been cleaning LP's, 78's, 45's for 40 years. first rinse it in cool water in the sink, to get heavy debris off then wipe the LP down with a clean washcloth and rubbing alcohol, this solvent will remove any dried up gunk that may be on the record rinse with water then lightly scrub it with a soft brush or cotton washcloth, and Dawn dish detergent rinse again then dry with a bath towel, and put in a dish rack to air dry the grooves the whole process takes about 2 minutes once you get going it costs almost nothing

[@Metal-Possum]

tunnelportterror Or if you're really desperate, get some PVA/Wood glue onto it, spread thin with a piece of card or paper, leave to dry, peel off. PVA glue is a very neutral product, completely harmless to vinyl, and it can peel a lot of dirt out of those grooves. It also doesn't require any pointy bristles to be anywhere near it.

[@paulster50]

I would NEVER steam an LP. I have a blog called ''How to clean vinyl LPs the right way'' that tells you how this will damage vinyl

[@asaholey]

Water marks at 6:43. Haha

[@gerritdeheij]

TO COMPLICATED AND TOO LONG TO CLEAN

[@SileDevil]

this is a bit too much i guess

[@LeChevalierDuFeu]

steam is not good for records. it is way too hot.

[@kylel5010]

JUST USE WOODGLUE!!!!!

[@davidtillwach5542]

Warped records I'll remember not too buy vinyl from him . Rule number one heat is a enime Of vinyl warps the shit out of it . Don't you remember sceince class

[@ajcrock4691]

The VPI cleaner is very good cleaner that does an excellent job removing the water. For actual results you can look at the following video. I would recommend always asking for visible results. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnu3aX-Mdq96qtU No I don't have crackles or pops and clicks. I do have some earlier 50's LPs that have begun to deteriorate and no amount of cleaning will help them. No I don't know why or how to tell which ones have. The petro-chemists I have talked to also could not provide a solution. I have cleaned over 1100 records using this process. No damage yet. Tap water has Fluoride, chemicals, and minerals in it. All of which is not good for the LP. You need to use distilled water. Just don't drink it as it tastes bad. Cost depends on the number of records you have in your collection. The sleeves and fluids cost less then $4 a record. A ruined good phono cartridge costs $375 to retip. Lack of pops and clicks is priceless. Grooves in a record are too narrow for any brush or cloth to penetrate. Steam or Ultrasonic cleaners are the only processes with particle size small enough to penetrate. Hot steam from a tea kettle would be bad but the shark is a cool steam. You can put your hand under with with no heat. Some day I will have money to blow on a Ultrasonic cleaner :) Ever smell a paper sleeve on a 50 year old record? Humidity can cause mold to grow on most anything.

[@horsey604]

+Tony Crocker I only use distilled water with a soft cloth to wash second hand records and an antistatic cloth to dry wipe any dust before play, and my records play crystal clear for more than 20 years.

[@TheSirjohn2012]

This turntable sounds awful and needs work too.

[@sentino68]

TheSirjohn2012 I don’t think it matters since it’s just a work horse to clean records.

[@deanbull7767]

Record cleaning machines don't do the job out of the box then, even for all that money. It seems the machine just removes water.

[@mous24000]

und schon ist die platte noch mal 5 jahre älter geworden das ist wie in ein schlachterei ich habe mir eine vollautomatische faden waschmaschine gebaut und ich kann fest behaupten dass die besser reinigt wie ihr auch zu finden ist 3000€ maschine und mein platen sind cd quali ,wenn ein plate doch knistert,dann sind die vinyl rillen gerissen ,und was ich hier sehe ist das was man dann bei ebay kauft,und ich haben noch kein platte bekommen die saubher war woran liegt das wohl ? daran das jahr alter schmutz fest klebt und was passiert wenn reiniger mit alkohol drauf kommt ,es wird wie honig,und dann wird auf die platte rum gesprüht dan fertig witz das video vergewaltigung ,einer schallplatte und alle angeboten maschinen sind teuer nuhr ergebnis 80% mein hat 400€ und kann mehr wie alle hier und nix mehr von hand was machen

[@word2RG]

nm++

[@222iambored]

Steam is NOT a good way to clean records, don't do this!!!

[@MajorBinkss]

cringe.

[@mikewest1542]

Zzzzzzzzzzz.........

[@davidtillwach5542]

I can't stand these silent film videos . You know what's worst is when the remove the sound . Who the fuck started these type of videos . People please speak when you make a video .

[@robpeters5204]

Omg!!! You are spreading all of that dirty mould in your kitchen where you have to prepare food. All you are doing here is contaminating your home. I would hate to see it in five years. You will develope respiratory problems if you keep this up.

[@MisterNiles]

There are mold spores in cleanrooms. Mold is everywhere. If you open your door, go outside or have any air circulation, you and everything around you are covered in mold spores

[@yourpersonalsupernova3493]

He reminds me of a mime. That LP did not appear moldy. I've dealt with moldy records and that wasn't one of them. Cheaters, cheaters everywhere. And why would you want to preserve an album like that? You could probably download it for nothing.

[@horsey604]

+Noah Mcallister Mold spores would not be visible on this camera from this distance.