The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Vinyl Records

[@theaudiosnobnw942]

@VinylLatte I believe another routine check is ensuring your table is consistently level. While that shouldn't change once you set it up, it is quick and easy to ensure your stylus is effortlessly in the grooves. If one has an isolation table with a level, you are in sync all the time. Cheers!

[@VinylLatte]

100%! This is part of my OCD routine as well. So important!

[@rwlodarczyk]

Always great reminders for correct vinyl care.

[@VinylLatte]

Thanks a ton! Glad the tips are hitting home-let’s keep those records spinning!

[@jdthompson5778]

Great video! Good record care advice overall! I have been collecting for decades with several thousand records and I personally prefer the VPI vacuum record cleaning machine as my main, essential cleaning workhorse! A big reason is that I love a good vacuum cleaner best is that I do not like air drying of any kind or microfiber cloths on records. These methods leave a lot of gunk & cleaners deep in the grooves and also leave more dust and static on the record. A good vacuum cleaner removes the dirty fluids and ALL the water with it in a few seconds. Record can be played or sleeved & put away immediately. I would like to ADD an ultrasonic machine someday to my essential VPI machine.. BUT I just personally don’t trust any sub $1000 ultrasonic machines - most of which are not designed specifically for records and there are lots of risks involving too high temperatures, too high pressure, non-optimal frequencies, too long clean times - all that can cause damage. And most lower end ultrasonics don’t have a dry cycle.. and even with expensive machines the drying is air dry cycle and doesn’t pull out residue like a vacuum. Lastly ultrasonic machines like a spin clean the water gets dirty quickly and recycled at high frequency into the grooves to some degree. If I got a KL Audio or Degritter I’d still keep my VPI .. and add a run through the ultrasonic as a final step in my cleaning process. I’m sure it would add some additional clean .. but not sure if it’s enough to make a world of difference over my current process which I’m very happy with! Plus I’d still want to final dry the record on my VPI. For super dirty old used records I do use a Spin Clean (like you) first to get the worst dirt off (pre-clean). Also with certain deep cleaners I will use my Spin Clean for a super thorough rinse and then dry thoroughly & quickly on the VPI machine.

[@VinylLatte]

I really appreciate your detailed feedback! It’s great to hear from someone with decades of experience in record collecting. Your tips on using the VPI and Spin Clean are super helpful for anyone looking to level up their vinyl maintenance game. 🙏

[@jdthompson5778]

@@VinylLatte I also think if you are starting out and want to clean records without breaking the bank or risking damaging them in any way.. I’d actually suggest two Spin Cleans vs a low priced ultrasonic. One for wash and one for rinse. I’d also pick up a small wet/dry vacuum and get a Vinyl Vac to dry records. We are talking around $200. Only about the cost of 4-6 new records these days. Not bad. Then you can later add a good Vacuum machine ($500-1000) like a VPI or Project for less money.. and still use the two spin cleans too. I think these sub $500 general purpose ultrasonics adapted or marketed to record collectors (and made in China of course with cheap labor) can be a big problem vs a solution. I’d particularly warn caution with those $199 Vevor Ultrasonic machines with the 8 at a time record capacity.. that run for 30 min a cycle! Could really wear on a record! And some damage may not be noticeable right away or on a more beginner system. I heard the early Vevor ultrasonics were even regally for electrocution risk! I would say if you want to step up but spend $1000 or less on a machine a VPI or Project vacuum cleaner machine cannot be beat! Save up your money if you get a very large collection and want an ultrasonic to complete your pro cleaning routine one day! Just my experience based opinion.

[@shanestephenson8423]

Great advice here. Thanks for sharing, Louis.👌🎧🙂

[@VinylLatte]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching Shane!

[@TheCoverUpsLondonUK]

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[@VinylLatte]

Thanks. I’ll check it out 👍

[@omega4recording]

Hi Louis V. - I think you meant the Spin Clean - even though I enjoy a Spin Doctor record now and again but it rarely cleans my records 😮😂❤ - pretty good video - good check list for us that forget these things!!

[@VinylLatte]

🤦 yeah, that’s the one! Now I feel like listening to Two Princes…

[@omega4recording]

@@VinylLatte😂 - right!!

[@davepounds8924]

I’m kind of surprised at this video! You’re channel has always seemed to be geared toward the audiophile as you constantly show audiophile pressings and recordings from acoustic sounds You’re tone of voice is like you’re giving 10 year olds a lesson on how to clean a vinyl record I think the audience you would appeal to knows how to care for a record!

[@VinylLatte]

Stay tuned! Audiophile collaboration series in the works! Will be announcing in about two weeks 🙌

[@djapache2326]

The first three links don’t match the products

[@VinylLatte]

Thanks for calling that out! Links are fixed 🙌

[@djapache2326]

@@VinylLatte Appreciate it!