How To CLEAN & RESTORE Vintage Vinyl Albums | Discs & Covers

[@user-is4jf8yr4z]

Wow, I always wondered what that "EMITEX" looked like :D

[@bobstar76]

Recently required emoted cleaner in a haul of vinyl.

[@timhubbard8895]

A velvet pad with a foam backing. A total piece of rubbish! All it ever did was move the dirt and dust from one part of the record to another! I use an ultrasonic cleaner these days..

[@scottroberts7103]

It's a shame early Beatles covers had their Emitex ads printed into the artwork. I guess they didn't assume that all these years later, people would be obsessive about their original records.

[@bigman8925]

Does this work for other bands too

[@ZykovEddy]

I think that wood glue method, while very tricky, is very effective, if done correctly. This is the method I use for most of my records, and it never failed me yet. I must've cleaned 500 records that way. I've had records that played like VG due to old dirt in the grooves, and after upplying wood glue, they played almost like NM.

[@BeAGoodDoga]

Back in the 1960‘s here in Australia, we had Clenidisc “The miracle liquid record cleaner”, and Fredorec “The safe record cleaning sponge”. These products were advertised on the back of the pale pink Parlophone 7’ sleeves here in Australia, and feature on some of my Aussie Beatles singles.

[@Musicradio77Network]

The most interesting part is the Emitex record cleaner ad was shown on the back every Beatles UK albums as well as the Tamla Motown albums.

[@indigohammer5732]

Yeah! The fabled "Emitex"! :)

[@orbtastic]

I always assumed it was due to Emi records. I inherited one of them along with my mum's record collection (mostly Beatles) along with one of those velvet box/brush cleaners. They were starting to rot by the time I got them in the early 80s.

[@dbdigital57]

While I won’t use wood glue on my playable LPs to keep them clean, when you have a truly noisy record that has visual grunge, the wood glue method actually provides the most improvement as a first step. Afterward then a proper cleaning method to ensure residue removal is complete. Just my experience on resurrecting the worst of the worst.

[@Luc-Sist_07]

The bad part of the wood glue is the label If the glue goes to the label, you’ll be sad. I think wood glue is very delicate, which by my POV, I’ll use very little, but the enough to complete the playing surfaces, still, not getting the label

[@edryba4867]

Wood glue actually works because it is primarily made of polyvinyl chloride - the exact same main ingredient in your vinyl albums! Isopropanol-more commonly known as “”rubbing alcohol”, and the higher the percentage of alcohol, the better… DON’T use 70%. And never use anything less than 90% Isopropyl alcohol on an album (which he mentions as being in a microfiber cleaning cloth, which he shows you after he describes what can be done with the stuff. But, as he should have also mentioned, look for the highest percentage you can find. Here in the USA, I have not been able to find pure Isopropyl the way you can in the U.K., at any drugstore (“…your neighborhood chemist…”).

[@jeffmccaskill9227]

Regular white glue works great too especially when coated on heavily

[@GlitchyBastard]

​@@edryba4867No, wood glue is PVA, not PVC, if it's PVC, the result would be catastrophic, the glue would completely bound to your vinyl (which is also made with PVC), with no way to remove it.

[@Tao2112]

Gorilla glue comes off in one piece!

[@localwally6172]

I’ve found using the Spin Clean, which basically gets the record wet and manually scrubs the grooves, followed by the Nitty Gritty vacuum machine works very well. $1 budget vinyl can sound back NM as long as there are no actual scratches. It doesn’t fix truly bad grooves but does take out all of the grime and dirt packed in the grooves after 50+ years.

[@ACEinOZ]

I know someone who sprayed his signed Cold Chisel album cover with hair-spray and discovered how to remove marker-pen writing. :)

[@vincentrathbone26]

Oh shit !

[@evileyeball]

Yeah no, Nothing comes near my signed Trooper Discography except for a post covid sharpie marker from Ra McGuire and Brian Smith on Hits from Ten Albums (which wasn't out in 2009 when they signed my discography) and possibly on some of the other 45's I've since added (Including the very Rare Raise A Little Hell // A Fine Mess (You've gotten us into) 45).

[@gram1608]

OMG.....

[@1530max]

What a tragedy!

[@guyb7005]

I've spent many decades minutiously cleaning my vinyl collection and record jackets to keep them museum quality. I'm now 87 and have 3 weeks to live and my physician has asked me if I lead a productive life. sigh....

[@Birdlives247]

I wonder what this fellow meant with the sigh? Maybe his record collection was the only material legacy that he left and it will vanish into pieces soon. I don't believe in legacies because they only last another 50 years when we and our achievements are mostly forgotten. Appreciate the moment and the pleasure that your hobbies can bring.

[@guyb7005]

@@Birdlives247 the comment was meant as a parody of someone spending a perverse amount of their lives tending to most selfish and trivial tasks, when there's a whole world of fixing and loving to be done out there. I point this criticism to myself as well.

[@philipbrougham6360]

I always use a soft rubber on the flip back excess glue that attracts the dirt ,works just as good ...

[@tontonseoul4123]

@@guyb7005 i just read your com.Are you still with us?

[@seventrue871]

@@guyb7005 🤣🤣🤣

[@Kmg_24]

I just cleaned the rear flipbacks on a couple of very dirty LP covers, as you demonstrated, and they look manifestly better than before! It's a shame that nothing much can be done to cure the yellowing that a great many covers suffer from.

[@thefleshexperience]

I commented below...but I use bleach on terribly yellowed and stained covers. I know it sounds drastic, but the results speak for themselves. I’ve returned many a yellowed rear back to a much nicer shade of white. Give it a try on a really trashed cover and see what you think. Be very careful how you do it- I’d recommend reading the method I detailed in my comment. I’ve removed giant names written in felt marker that seemed impossible while simultaneously whitening it. The text and photos remained unharmed, remarkable as it seems.

[@ellenbeckmann4293]

@@thefleshexperience da kannst du neue Hüllen kaufen.lg Ellen Ich meine neue Papierhüllen

[@ellenbeckmann4293]

Innenhüllen,Papierhüllen , meine ich,gibt es zu kaufen. Lg Ellen

[@slowpawstevet3676]

I can highly recommend VINYL SHELTER Record Cleaner Cleaning Fluid , i have used many types of record cleaning fluid over the years with mixed results, many leave residues which become sticky and damage labels. vinyl shelter is not one of these products, if used properly it works extremely well with no sign of residue but can cause marks on some labels. i use a microline stylus which can detect the tiniest traces of dust, after cleaning with vinyl shelter there is the clearest silence from vinyl surfaces, but will not, of course, remove sctratches! . I use the fluid with Knosti Disco Anti-stat cleaning machine and goat hair cleaning brush (Tonar wetgoat).

[@AndalusiaGBSpringthorpe6227]

I'd just watch this guy cos he knows exactly what he's doing. No waffle, no blagging; a knowledgeable man. Not many of those, around.

[@dhpbear2]

4:30 - I was introduced to the Disc Preener over 50 years ago! I bought one myself. They were available separately (at least in The States). I've never seen that fancy chrome version.

[@bobcash4617]

Informative video, Andrew. I would like to share something I've stumbled on and been doing for years that may sound crazy - but works every time. For cleaning and restoring laminated covers, I first use tissue and some Windex (or similar) to remove dirt from the front and flip backs on the back. I use cotton swabs on the back flip backs. Then, I put a couple of drops of Novus #2 Fine Scratch Remover on a clean tissue and apply a section at a time to the front cover and cotton swab the flip backs. Novus is a light carnauba wax that dries very quickly and will make the treated area look "foggy" in appearance a few seconds after application once dry. Then, I use another clean tissue or soft cotton and buff out the treated area. The end result is a glass like, shiny laminate that is virtually scratch free and looks brandy new again. The results will amaze you. A second application may be needed if the laminate has heavy ring wear. This will not work on non laminate surfaces. Novus costs between $4. and $5. for 2 fluid ounces. I use MoFi "1" cleaning fluid to hand clean vinyl. Cheers.

[@Parlogram]

Great tip, Bob. I'll have to try it!

[@helgar791]

Sounds like a plan.

[@dbdigital57]

What are “flip backs”?

[@ellenbeckmann4293]

@@Parlogram dann legt dir mal einen Vorrat ,an Wattestäbchen, an. Die sind bald nicht mehr im Verkauf. Die arme Umwelt .lg Ellen

[@Agamemnon2]

What a treat to see the Emitex cleaner for the first time, after reading countless ads on inner sleeves and sometimes even boldly printed on the actual jacket.

[@HistAri2]

Great tip for cleaning the back covers with a rubber. I have hundreds of records for sale with dirty back covers and I'm going to try that on some of them.

[@Parlogram]

Good luck & thanks for watching.

[@취미생활-h4l]

I'm a Korean Beatles fan who collects albums I learned a lot from your video Thank you

[@Ricecooker64]

My back cover was terrible, but with this information I made a slight Improvement bit it cleaned up the flipbacks nicley, but the cigar stains are annoying. Thank you! awesome job!

[@Parlogram]

Glad it helped, Emily!

[@davidbrush9761]

Brilliant! Cleaning the flip back edges was a revelation, didn’t realize it could be done.

[@Parlogram]

Glad I could help, David.

[@HandyAndyTechTips]

Great video as always. I particularly like the intro, with the opening shots timed perfectly to the music. Very professional.

[@Parlogram]

Thank you very much!

[@Elsprouto]

I've just stumbled upon your video's and find them extremely informative and well presented. The background information you give on everything is fascinating and very helpful. I've got rid of all my PVC covers thanks to you, and bought PVC free ones. Excellent channel which i will recommend to friends, I'm subscribed now. Many Thanks.

[@Parlogram]

Glad you're enjoy them and many thanks for the sub!

[@vinyladventures]

I just recently bought a Pro-Ject vacuuming system used off of someone locally to me and it has been one of the best investments I’ve made!

[@indigohammer5732]

I had a "Parostatik Disc Preener" not too long ago. It was actually pretty good for an initial clean of very filthy records.

[@andrew-xr1de]

I use "Magic Eraser" on the covers, just dampen and rub but stop before the print starts to come off. Wet it, squeeze it out and go over quickly and than wipe off with a clean rag.

[@ACEinOZ]

I use windex and a suitable paint brush to clean records while they're revolving on the turntable.

[@thebillryan]

Does it concern you about the chemical content in the windex? I keep reading that chemical fluids,(including tap water, best to use pure distilled water) can cause erosion in the grooves long term. In the 70s and 80s we didn't even bother to clean nor change the stylus. Ha ha. Still sounded great to my ears.

[@MW-xb4rz]

I found that Windex will build up quickly on your needle and I cannot suggest why. I started using isopropyl alcohol and believe that it does the job well. I have an analog to digital recorder and when I record vinyl to cd, I’ll lightly clean the record with foam backed felt pad and then lightly spray the entire record to reduce hiss and crackle while recording.

[@thecaptainjones]

Nice video Andrew. That Watt's Dust Bug brought back a few memories! Cheers.

[@ynotstraw]

I have tried everything from ultra sonic baths to wood glue, but the easiest and best thing I've found are goat hair brushes, they are really effective, and will get the crud out of the grooves left after wet cleaning. The other more controversial thing I sometimes use is Magic Eraser Sponges, used wet and lightly around the disk they will remove tar spots and light marks and leave the surface looking shiny and new, used dry you can remove surface scratches, but the surface will be duller, and probably less saleable. Used aggressively you can remove deeper scratches and improve sound quality of battered disks no end, but they sometimes look horrible after. Why not experiment on some Mrs Mills Lp's from the local Oxfam ;-)

[@vmitodd]

I have had success cleaning album covers with a "dry cleaning sponge", a product used in archival libraries for delicate antique books. Lifts dirt, and can reduce brown foxing, and remove smudges from the non-laminated areas with little scrubbing effort.

[@markjamesmeli2520]

BEST video I've ever seen on the topic. Especially for the covers. My older brother heard the pencil eraser trick worked on the White Album best of all around 1972 or so. When I worked in used records, if I found a White Album cover that was in generally good repair (US covers with no split edges or writing, etc.), I would give them the eraser once over.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks Mark, glad you liked it!

[@moondogaudiojones1146]

Again...I learn something new! I tried hard to keep my vinyl clean but once in a while there was The Woody Allen moment! Great vid again!! really informative!!

[@SamHarrisonMusic]

I use Emitex while drying my hair with a Morphy Richards hair drier with my mate Fran ;)

[@astolatpere11]

Lp cleaning machines are expensive, but as you indicated, I bought my NittyGritty vacuum machine in the early '90s and it still works great. I also use an enzyme based fluid. Love your vids!

[@seanparry1961]

I use distilled water 50% and isopropyl 50% mixture. I spray onto the vinyl and use a fine microfiber cloth, works a treat.

[@gregoryromano9211]

I do too--no complaints, works well. It's easy and cheap.

[@elvisonwax]

This is the method I use - in the discoantistat. It took me ten years to figure out I needed to throw the anti stat liquid away! I got horrible results, spent a decade thinking about it and watching videos and bingo. I also clean dirtier records in warm water and dishwashing liquid. You can only do this if you have soft water, though.

[@lucacastegini4473]

Very interesting and very helpful. Thanks Andrew for the usual quality infos.

[@TheHutt]

My little tip: If there is writing made with a ballpen on the laminated part of the cover, you can use hairspray (apply to a cotton pad and rub gently) in order to rub it off. Won't work on non-laminated surfaces though (for example, if the ballpen has broken through the laminate, and of course on the back side).

[@rogerturner1881]

i have a Spanish album from Connie Francis and the back[non laminated from 1969] has 3 black felt pen dots next to some of the tracks, how can i remove them...?

[@TheHutt]

@@rogerturner1881 Felt pen is worse, I'm afraid.

[@bobsoldrecords1503]

Very informative Andrew. I like the background music too🙂

[@Parlogram]

Cheers, Bob. Glad you liked it!

[@blackvinylgrooves]

Hello Andrew, I must admit I never knew anything about the history of record cleaning. I have been lucky as far as finding original 60s Beatles LPs in mint to mint minus shape. Six are UK originals, the rest are a mix of first pressings from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Denmark. As such, I have had little problems with grimy Beatles records, but thave with a lot of other records. For records with a lot of bildup, crud, film, and even drops of paint, I do use glue. I prefer white glue, like Elmer's or school glue. It works just as well as wood glue , and is easier to remove. But glue should only be reserved for records with a lot of junk on them. Something crate diggers often come across in the wild. To easily remove the glue, get enough in the trail off vinyl, to form tabs you can easily pull and peel. Here in the US we never saw EMI or Philips products before the advent of the internet. I have a large record collection. Roughly half of which is classical. Like jazz, this can get you into the area of early LPs, from the late 1940s, and early 1950s. If you collect early LPs like this, you will often find these are on noisy vinyl, even if they look mint minus. For such records, a good modern cleaning machine is essential. The machine I use is a VPI 16.5. These can be bought on ebay for a few hundred dollars each. The only reason I use lighter fluid, is to remove stubborn stickers, especially from covers that are not laminated. The fluid I use is original Ronsonol. The stuff used for butane lighters does not work as well.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for watching and for the tips!

[@Deadman1957TEB]

I remember the dust bug, I used it on my first record player, I can remember my father buying a lot of the things you've shown from the 60's and 70's, those were the days! The dust bug was okay as long as you only used a drop of the fluid, but I swear overtime the brush got hard and damaged the records!

[@leon9021]

That last tip to clean the flip back edges is a revelation! I always thought that was just wear. On to get some cue tips!

[@rabarebra]

cue tips? 😂

[@leon9021]

@@rabarebra xd

[@mattsrecordcollection]

I recently got a HumminGuru, my first ultrasonic machine. I paid $479.00 and after 100+ records I'm very happy with it. It is compact, easy to use and I have had great results, and yes, even with my older Beatles records. I bought the HumminGuru brand surfactant to go into the distilled water (two drops per 400ml of water). I previously used the Spin-Clean. Great video!

[@Parlogram]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gxios]

I would caution people to be very careful cleaning the fold over tabs of a copy of Revolver. I ruined a good copy by slightly smearing the black photo with a little isopropol on a Q-tip.

[@Parlogram]

That black back panel is very unforgiving.

[@vincentrathbone26]

Ouch !

[@mahatmacote6478]

Safest to place a thin ruler or card against the flip back tab before cleaning, thus covering the black card.

[@helgar791]

The Loricraft is perhaps the best vacuum machine in the world. It's still falls miles short of the best. 1) Use an Orbitrac to clean off surface dirt. 2) Use an Ultrasonic cleaner to clean your record. The AudioDesk Systeme is great as is the Degritter, which is slightly cheaper. Or 3) Use Dr. Kirmuss' cleaning method. It's labor intensive but does a great job. 4) Then place them in high grade rice paper inner sleeves. Sleeve City's Ultimate Inner Sleeves are the best. They're double sided. 5) Place your album into a polypropylene vinyl outer sleeve. At least 3 mil. Sleeve City makes a nice one, but Vinyl Storage Solutions makes a 4 mil that is the best. Alcohol and any formula such as Windex will leave a film that will gravitate to the bottom of the grooves. This build up becomes rock hard over time through friction and can only be removed by an ultrasonic cleaner. This has been proven microscopically. Never play a wet record. The liquid will gravitate up the stylus into the housing where the delicate workings are greatly shortening the life of your cartridge. Next question.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for the tips, Hel.

[@helgar791]

@@Parlogram You're doing fine with the Loricraft. I would however still use an Orbitrac to clean off surface dirt before using your Loricraft. I know it's expensive, especially when you may have a large collection, but sleeving your records is important. With your Beatles records I would do this (which I do anyway). Buy Vinyl Storage Solutions resealable 4 mil outer sleeve with a double pocket. They also sell them with tuckable pockets. Take the record out of the original jacket and put the original inner sleeve into the original jacket. Put the album cover into the resealable outer sleeve and seal. Buy either plain white or black outer record jackets. I like the ones that show the label. Place the record into the rice paper sleeve, then place it into the plain outer jacket. Then place the record into the second sleeve behind the outer sleeve. That way the jacket is protected from dust, dirt and fingerprints. The Vinyl Storage sleeves are ultra clear and the jacket then is clearly seen while both the record and jacket are protected.

[@danmartinez5502]

Vinyl Solutions a 4 mil Dual Flap is superior to any outer sleeve on the market today. No contest not even close and a Canadian company run by a Veteran.

[@philipfranklin3958]

Ever try the Spin Clean MK2 record washer? Been around since 1975 and have had good results, and a lot more reasonably priced at $79.

[@localwally6172]

I use that but instead of towel drying I put it on a Nitty Gritty vacuum machine. It’s also stupidly expensive but the combination of the two is very effective.

[@philipfranklin3958]

@@localwally6172 Thanks. I might try that in the future considering the price if I can afford it, but will continue using micro fiber cloth in the meantime which, admittedly has given my records a nice gloss after spin cleaning.

[@antoniograncino3506]

The Loricraft cleaning machine is essentially a re-issue of the Keith Monks machine from 40 years ago. They clean fairly well, but I experienced some scratching from the Monks unit that left some very audible "schlurps" on my audiophile vinyl. I was not pleased. You give passing mention to sonic and cavitation type machines. I have not tried purely sonic cleaners but the cavitation principle really gets deeply down in the groove to remove ground in dirt and mould release, leaving a nearly new-sounding disc that formerly was very gritty and noisy. Kirmuss Audio makes an excellent cavitation cleaner that can handle 3 albums at once and is available from them direct for $870. Some friends and I pooled our hardly-earned cash to purchase one and have not regretted the substantial outlay. There are other similar (and vastly dearer) units out there which I'm sure work as well at least. And the Kirmuss employs both sonic and cavitation action. Another tip for improved vinyl sound: a new stylus, or even better, a new cartridge employing a Shibata or Line Contact stylus. Old records were mostly played with a spherical stylus or an elliptical, which is basically a spherical stylus with the front and back ground off. These types have a very small contact area, which wears out the middle of the groove ultimately. By switching to a much higher profile stylus, you would then be tracing the unworn upper and lower areas of the groove. But it is essential first to thoroughly clean the record before playing, in order to remove the accumulated dirt etc. from the heretofore untraced parts of the groove.

[@MSMediaRotterdam]

Shibata or Shibata like styli also make good 'work horses' in radio studios; like mine..

[@stephenfurley1025]

Always used Duraglit wadding for laminated covers. Go over with the wadding. Remove residue with toilet roll, and buff with soft/microfibre cloth. It can really make a difference to tired-looking covers. Also good for taking light scratches out of perspex and CD cases. Oh, apart from a soft rubber, white bread(!) can sometimes clean grubby-looking card.

[@Parlogram]

Great tip!

[@stephenfurley1025]

Thanks@@Parlogram . For anyone that doesn't know, Duraglit wadding is for polishing metals. There's a version for silver, but it's not as effective for general use, or wasn't when I tried it. You can also get Brasso Wadding, which is about the same as the standard Duraglit.

[@timotheous2815]

Medical alcohol wipes are also very good for cleaning laminated covers and removing tape residue etc. I recently had an early 60s columbia LP with a terrible tape job on it. Some time and effort with the wipes brought it back to almost new. The only issue was yellowing on the edge of the rear panel where the tape overlapped onto the paper from the flipbacks.

[@Parlogram]

Great tip, Tim. Thanks!

[@leonardosullivan963]

A good video with useful tips. I recently bought a Loricraft RCM, having previously cleaned records by hand. The Loricraft is a game changer.

[@atomicrocker]

I never saw this video before, but I cleaned the back of my vintage Please Please Me LP (UK) cover exactly this way, with a cotton stick and IPA.

[@dougboyer5829]

With beatle juice?

[@jessierussell8011]

Wow that’s A great video that you made Andrew I would love to keep all my record and tape whether it be 78 4533‘s even all the Beatles albums. I am the type of collector who loves to collect lots of stuff as long as it is in very good condition especially when it comes to the Beatles and I love the warm sound of vinyl there’s nothing like it.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for watching, Jessie. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@idaslpdhr]

I have always cleaned the laminate and flip back with Surgical spirit gentle and buffed with a dry soft cloth

[@gregoryirwin263]

Fantastic video

[@Parlogram]

Thanks, Gregory!

[@boydsargeant7496]

Loved this and saved it, I will be going ‘back’ through my collection and cleaning up those rear edges!

[@kirahastings9900]

I have a velvet cleaner that you hold over the rotating record to gather the dust. It fits in it's own little velvet-lined case. Probably bought it sometime in the 70's. Didn't know Sgt. Pepper record was that valuable. Mine (US) still has the original inserts. All my Beatles album were loved and played often back in the day.

[@sebastianpiazza796]

Informative and helpful as always. I use Mr. Clean white eraser. A little water dampen the eraser, i clean the disc on my turntable. I usually then Big Fudge to complete the process. Started this when buying records from garage sales. Works well for me Just thought id share.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for watching and sharing your tips!

[@crunchyfrog555]

I bought an OkkiNokki record cleaner for around £300 about 12 years ago, and while I've seen people say they can be unreliable, I've had no issues with it and it's the best purchase I've ever made for vinyl. I've used generally my own solution of isoprop and distilled water and also the same with "L'Art du Son" for when I'm REALLY wanting to go overboard. The results are affordable and absolutely the best I can do. As far as sticker residue goes, I've used WD40 as it works quicker than zippo fluid (plus I'm dsiabled and have grip issues). Caution though, as you REALLY need to avoid contact with papers as the oil will be absobed and ruin everything.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for the tips, Daniel. I used to use the same combination of fluid. "L'Art du Son" is good stuff.

[@crunchyfrog555]

@@Parlogram Thank you too for sharing. Of course there's always myths around in these sort of areas, so actual hard usable data is important. I don't know what it is about Art du Son, but it works. If I had to give some sort of metric, a good clean with isoprop and water gives perhaps 70%-80% of the clean that Art du Son does. You will still be left with the odd pop or click from stubborn dust, but the Art du Son seems to get almost everything. Well worth the cash.

[@Garfield6888]

Hello, very nice video. I have the first press vinyl White Album. I'm showing it on my channel. Advise me with what should I clean the cover to make it perfectly white like in the 60s?

[@joebloggs8636]

For people like us,this was great...i subbed you...i knew most of it but still was great!

[@bobby666666]

Great stuff. £50.00 in 1965. One, I was only three and two, my Father probably earned this amount in just over a month in 1965. Love the music towards the end. Not the same music, but reminded me of Tony Hart on Children's BBC 70s and 80s.

[@HolocronStudios]

Thanks for this! I found a first pressing Beatles For Sale for £2 but it was beaten up badly, glad I saw this video!

[@timcharlton6485]

I have always repaired covers that have come loose by fixing the seams with small pieces of double sided carpet tape.It's an invisible fix and stronger than most glues on the market.

[@xfoolsgoldx]

Interesting video. I use a spray and velvet brush and is good for my needs.I avoid anything with bristles as I have found over the years that too my bristles come off and end up being undidected on the black vinyl service of my records. Only noticed this when I used the brush on one of my white vinyl records.

[@liamthoralexanderspencer4684]

I find it interesting that what i do is basically a home made 1st gen EMITEX cloth, the thing that’s interesting to me is that i learned that from my mom, who learned learned it from her uncle so the advice I’ve been given probably does date to the 60’s!

[@DanismyName]

can you do a video of just cleaning a record and jacket? I found those parts of this video fascinating and satisfying :)

[@BennieWilliamsFilm]

I bought a 2012 pressing of 'Ziggy Stardust' by David Bowie, and it had an ugly sticker right on the paper of the cover even though it was shrink-wrapped new. This video popped into my head, and sure enough, lighter fluid did the trick. You're a saint, Andrew.

[@Parlogram]

Glad to be of help, Bennie!

[@eliasmodernell3348]

Faab Andrew. Had never seen an Emitex exemplar before. Very informative

[@berniehunter2174]

I’ve had ring marks on the laminated EMI sleeves. Using car polish like autoglym got rid of the ring marks to a immaculate shinny finish on the laminated sleeve.

[@jsteed44]

I use a warm damp cloth withe 3 drops of rubbing alcohol then apply to vinyl moving in a circular motion been doing that for long while without issues great opening to an informative video

[@Parlogram]

Sounds good, John. Thanks for watching.

[@robertlakay88]

I clean my records with a damp microfiber cloth. Water with a spot of alcohol. Regular wipe downs get them to the point where they generally stay clean. I had a record that skipped on one song due to inbeded fleck, which I put a spot of acetone (not even a drop) which loosened the dirt, now the song plays through. Covers I don't really bother with, I find a new outer sleeve improves a tired looking cover.

[@dimebagdave77]

Even your cleaning video is super interesting and full of history. Many thanks Andrew!

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@timothyweers8054]

I remember using a basic svelte cloth from the local av store, then I graduated to their spray which after a while started to leave wet stains over the vinyl. One day I went to a record store and the woman behind the counter told me to use gin when cleaning the records. I started to and what a difference. My mom has a record she really played down and claimed it was worn, first I washed it in the gin, then I played it with the gin on the record (I only used a BSR ceramic cartridge at the time or a cartridge where the needle was bent downward towards record because of how much gin was used), the record cleaned up beautifully making most of the years of playing go away virtually sounded like it was only a couple years old instead of 30+ well used.

[@AudiophileTommy]

This stuff is priceless !!! Love your videos !!!

[@Parlogram]

Thanks!!

[@JamboLinnman]

Over the years, my record cleaning has evolved from just using cloths and brushes to a cheap wet cleaning machine, then a vacuum RCM and I’ve just order the Degritter ultrasonic machine. Expensive, yes, but my collection and system now justify it. I want my records to sound their absolute best and remain in top condition for when my kids inherit them… 😁. Great tips on cleaning the outer sleeves!

[@chrisdavies73]

Lighter fluid is good for sticky patches. L'art du son cleaning fluid mixed with deionised water for me. And a Knosti cleaning machine.

[@timotheous2815]

Wouldn't art du son leave residue as it has a soap/detergent in it? Do you rinse with distilled after to remove cleaning product?

[@Vince_Tasciotti]

I have seen the advertisements for Emitex on the Beatles albums and inner sleeves. But this is the first video that explained the Emitex was a pre soaked paper wipe. I had the impression that it was a type of fluid in a spray bottle.

[@davidhardy7356]

A really nice informative video for novices new to this record cleaning caper . As for me i still have my original Watt's Dust Bug with a good supply of spare velvet roller pads and nylon bristle brushes . I also still have the original Parostatik Disc Preener and the Parastat Brush . Also still have EMITEX velvet record cleaner and one of those Philips Record Cleaning Cloths alongside a multitude of other record cleaning brands . .Fine for a general clean and once over . However like you state the best thing to use is a record cleaning machine for a really deep clean and scrub up. I have been applying all those record sleeve cleaning methods for decades now . I tend to give the laminated cover a final spray and polish with a light coating of good old Mr Sheen furniture polish for a really high shine that also act as protective coating .

[@Parlogram]

Mr Sheen is great, unfortunately I can't get it over here in Austria. Thanks for watching!

[@davidhardy7356]

@@Parlogram maybe you could still use some similar brand of spray polish on sale in beautiful Austria . However i would like to remind people never under any circumstances should anyone use water out of the tap to clean their records . Especially here in the UK .

[@scottroberts7103]

I've had an Okki Nikki record cleaning machine for about 4 years. It was the best purchase I've made for keeping my lps clean. It cost about $500 but it pays for itself. If you can afford one, you will be doing your collection a favor.

[@retronostalgiafan8635]

Audio Technica made a cleaning fluid too. And so far I haven’t had a problems with it and I recommend it if you want to give it a try too Andrew. But fun fact the new record cleaning solutions are in a clear plastic and they have no alcohol whatsoever whereas the original early bottles of audio Technica clean fluid did have a little bit of isopropyl alcohol and those were in colored bottles. Are used to have the orange bottled audio Technica record clean solution and it did contain a little bit of alcohol but not severely too much alcohol. It did the job but it definitely thinned one of my albums. However they change the formula to a non-alcoholic clean solution and is way better! The modern cleaning solution from audio Technica so much better it’s just as good as that German record cleaning fluid to be honest with you. Also I did buy that German record clean food and that stuff does great job I cleaned my UK stereo first pressing of help and it sounds amazing now that I cleaned it with Nessie vinyl

[@mkruup]

Great episode Andrew. It´s therapautic man!

[@Parlogram]

Thanks! Cleaning records is good therapy.

[@johnmcbarron7282]

I've cleaned thousands of records with wood glue. It is excellent if you use the right glue (Titebond II) do it correctly.

[@Parlogram]

Yes, getting the right compound is essential for success with this method.

[@barrymargolis5369]

Andrew, you're right about using spit to remove stickers. There's something in spit (an enzyme?) that penetrates the stickers and loosens the glue. For a really beat-to-sh*t rare single, I wash it with warm water a drop or two of dishwashing liquid and a small cello sponge that I use ONLY for cleaning records. I then rinse it quickly and towel dry it well using an old all-cotton towel. I use this method for my 78's too. I agree that a non-alcohol liquid is best for better condition vinyl. For dusting, I use a readily available Audio Technica AT6012 dust brush, which works well. Also, never put your LP's in a plastic bag. They need to breathe and there's no chance of any moisture causing mildew or mold!

[@elvisonwax]

As regards American record covers - they are not a total loss. You can use a very slight amount of lighter fluid/petroleum on a cloth to remove sticker residue and a slightly damp cloth (water) to remove grime. Just go very easy and experiment using different clothes, cotton pads etc. These covers have a little bit of a shine on them and that’s what makes it possible to clean them.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for the tips, Jim.

[@charliemaguire2210]

Great vid Andrew, on laminated sleeves you can use some car vinyl cleaners, not only does it remove dirt it adds an as new finish to them. On discoloured rears you can use bleach or a bleach solution but this is a high risk high reward strat & not something always to be recommended, but if you do i recommend pressing the finished cover as it can ripple if allowed to dry off naturally. As Andrew says, practice on some duff covers first & be wary of bold text as it can sometimes ( but not always ) smudge.

[@Parlogram]

Great tips. You're right, bleaching is a risky business and something I've never quite got the hang of.

[@charliemaguire2210]

@@Parlogram it rarely quite turns out as planned, although it can still yield improvements, you need to do a risk vs benefit analysis first !!

[@jesserussell7242]

Thank you Andrew for sharing that with us I love the fact that you can clean vinyl records. I have my very first cleaning machine I’ve started to clean all of my records so that way they would sound better I have a thought about cleaning the record covers great idea especially with the Beatles 45s and albums.

[@Ricecooker64]

I came into this video thinking some tears and water damage not literally VANDALIZED! Great Video!

[@Tik1800]

I have a copy of With The Beatles where the plastic in the inner sleeve completely separated from the paper sleeve so I carefully glued it back with an adhesive called mod podge and it worked very well. Would look new if it wasn’t for the original glue which turned an orangish yellow colour.

[@mattsmith2992]

@Tik make sure to use acid free archival glue. Cheers.

[@jeffcher10]

I first brush the record with a good quality record brush, give a quick blast with a cold setting hairdryer, then rinse under lukewarm water and clean with a very soft pad that was made for paint application which I have moistened with water and a mild sugar soap - then rinse again with lukewarm water and dry with a combination of a decent quality micro fibre cloth and another blast with the hairdryer - works a treat with a noticeable improvement in sound quality and reduction of crackles. The lighter fluid does work well and I have used that for several years. The wood glue method can have good results with a rough disc that jumps, so I wouldn't discount that way.

[@Parlogram]

Sounds like an excellent process. I agree that wood glue can produce good results but its messy, time-consuming and is not consistent enough to be used on a regular basis.

[@jeffcher10]

@@Parlogram it is messy and I've only done it as a last resort - I've also used "Near Mint" cleaner for general cleaning - Great for it's Anti-Static properties. Excellent professional videos by the way.

[@beatledave1969]

The best thing I’ve used to make the laminate sparkle and glossy is autoglym car wax! Gently rub a blob all over the front cover then wipe off with a clean cloth, it’s amazing! When doing the flip backs with a Q tip, will it not damage the cardboard if it comes into contact where the laminate is short? Regards

[@Parlogram]

Great idea with the car wax, Dave! The alcohol does not damage the card like water does.

[@declanfarber]

Every record I buy, new or used, goes thru a SpinClean before I first play it. This works great a removing clicks and pops, even on new vinyl. For the harder cases I have an ultrasonic cleaner, which I built myself (there are many discussions online as to how to do this.) Then every disc goes into a MoFi antistatic sleeve, and the playing surfaces never get touched by the hand of man.

[@craigharmon9494]

I have been cleaning LP covers since 1975. You can, in fact, clean US covers too. There is a slightly glossy finish on most of them, but rarely the laminate on UK covers. However, at least both sides of the US covers are make of the same paper ( usually a single piece, folded and glue, unlike the UK method of using two different stocks, assembled together ). I find that a touch of warm water with Dawn dish soap removes a lot of grime. The method is to barely move the cloth against the paper, never getting it saturated. Catch catching the offending dirt particles onto the cloth. With practice, you'll know if you are doing good, or going too far. To remove sticker residue, I sometimes use a droplet of Pam cooking spray, but only on glossy stock. A large pencil eraser can help, with ringwear dirt, followed by a pass with the Dawn soapcloth. If the paper might seem too damp for a moment, relax and put it in front of a fan for a minute and it will return to normal. Using these methods, I have turned junk into impressive-looking collectables. And it feels good, to restore something you care about back to the best it can be.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for the tips, Craig!

[@astolatpere11]

I use a label protection disk and spray a combination of vinegar degreaser dish soap and water both sides, let sit a minute, then rinse with sprayer in sink. Lots of rinsing. Wipe with super fine microfiber cloth, buff and let dry. The water in my town is excellent, so I would use distilled water if your water isn't great.

[@Parlogram]

Great tips, thanks for sharing!

[@bradjones1977]

Sticky Label Remover, by HG really does what it says on "the tin", but do apply it near an open window!

[@luisarchondo7283]

You are great . Thanks for all

[@davidcoulson5229]

Very interesting video! With some treasured albums I store the record in a new inner sleeve preserving the original (within the cover) as they tend to wear with use to the point of splitting sometimes.

[@RedVynil]

What does the Lorry-Craft do and how does it work? WHY should we steer clear of the wood glue? I used to work at Jerry's Records cleaning albums all day long and what Jerry used was made from Seventh Nature dish washing liquid and distilled (I think) water. I forget how to mix it but, just get a soft paper towel and, with a squirt bottle set to Spray, squirt a few bursts of the mixture onto the album and wipe it around on the playing surface with the paper towel and a bit of light elbow grease, then, with a dry set of paper towels, dry off the surface for a few seconds. Flip the album over and do the same on that side. He had at least a million used records in his store and every one of them was cleaned this way and sounded about as close to mint as they could get, afterwards! The brand of paper towels was also kind of important because they WERE soft enough not to harm the records and would not leave dust/lint/what have you from the towels on the records. Of course, you'd HAVE to change towels every so often or they'd get too wet to continue using anymore. When my brother came home from the Air Force in the early `80's, he brought with him a high-dollar stereo and a lot of albums and some "record cleaner" called, D3 Discwasher! I'd heard of this stuff about the same time he went into the AF but it was always too expensive to buy. Once I finally did try some, it seemed to do a good job except that I noticed it'd leave a pale blue tint to the records it was used on!! Not long after I got it, I also started buying recent pressings of all The Beatles albums on Parlophone and Apple. Up to that point, I only had the last 3, Sgt. Pepper and Introducing. Pepper, the white album and Abbey Road were pretty beat. While trying to record that new pressing of Abbey Road I used D3 on it and, it still sounded a bit dusty so, I D3'd it again. Now, it sounded worse! After a 3rd use of D3, it sounded even worse than my original beat copy and wouldn't even play all the way through!! Then, I discovered that, what was going on is that the D3 wasn't so much cleaning the grooves as clogging them!! Every time I tried to play that record, the needle would be LOADED with debris after just a few moments and would get to the point where it was no longer making contact with the grooves and would start skating across the surface!! Needless to say, I never used D3 again!!

[@markcarvell7471]

It's a great feeling when you find an old record in a charity shop that plays perfectly, with a pretty good sleeve as well. It's very satisfying to restore obviously dirty and noisy records and save them from oblivion! I use a sponge and soapy water moving in a rotating direction, followed by a rinse of clear water. With a magnifying glass I look for any specks of dirt that are persistently stuck in the groove - after noting where the stylus is when they create a click as the record revolves. Then I see if a gentle nudge with a finger nail will dislodge them, followed by another soapy rinse. For very dirty non-laminated sleeves I use a little bleach on a sponge and apply that moving from side to side (not rubbing), followed by a light rinse and then stand the sleeve upright to dry so it doesn't warp as it dries. Do you see any problem in using these very basic cleaning materials if they are applied carefully?

[@Parlogram]

Great tips, Mark. Thanks for sharing them.

[@klydolph2]

I read about the Staticmaster record brush that uses radioactivity to break down the static electricity that makes dust and debris cling to LPs. I've never tried it but it sounds quite esoteric and special. I read that when you use it the dust just falls off the LP like theres nothing to it. It uses radioactive polonium which has a half life of about 4 or 5 months so the radioactive cartridge has to be replaced a couple of times a year. They sell refills of radioactive polonium. It seems this product is still available.

[@charlesmoore766]

A very catchy tune 0:42 to 0:54. Is it an extract for a complete song? If so, where can I find it?

[@Vinyl_guy]

Thats the thing about buying old records, i kinda like buying old banged up records with peoples names on them and stuff. It shows that they were loved and played and enjoyed. But on the other hand i do love a pristine condition vintage vinyl.

[@viesturaunestereschannel1677]

Great to learn more and more from you! Great video as always