Vinyl Cleaning

Keeping your vinyl records clean is essential for maintaining their sound quality and longevity. But you need to know how to clean your records properly or you could damage your albums.

Important Note: Prior to using any of the products mentioned, it is highly recommended to thoroughly read and understand all safety precautions associated with each product. It is also strongly advised to perform a patch test before proceeding with usage.

Please be advised that this guide is intended for informational purposes only and APC Pure cannot accept any responsibility for the outcome of any usage based on this guide.

Here are the materials you'll need:

• Washing up liquid
• Bowl
• Warm Distilled Water
• Soft, lint-free cloth
• Carbon fibre brush (dry) or cloth for cleaning spectacles

Step 1: Before deep cleaning, remove dust and loose particles from the record's surface. Gently pass a carbon fibre brush over the playing surface to brush off any loose particles.

Step 2: For a simple clean, you can use warm Distilled Water alone to avoid any soap residue. However, for a deeper clean, add a small amount of washing up liquid to the warm Distilled Water in the bowl. Make sure the water isn't too hot, as it can damage the vinyl records. Stir the mixture, but try to use as little soap as possible or none.

Step 3: Choose a soft and absorbent cloth for cleaning the record. Avoid using rags or old T-shirts, as they can damage the records. Wrap the cloth over your index finger and lightly dip your fingertip into the bowl of warm lightly soaped water. The cloth should not be excessively wet, as it shouldn't leave any wetness on the record.

Gently rub the cloth with soap over the vinyl record in a circular motion. Start from the centre and move in circular motions towards the outer edge. Then go in the opposite direction, counter clockwise around the record, spiralling inwards towards the label. Make sure not to wet the label. If there is any wetness on the record, use a clean section of the cloth to gently wipe it. After cleaning, brush around the record with your carbon fibre brush to remove any remaining moisture.

Step 4: When the water or cloth becomes dirty, start again. Get a new bowl of warm soapy water and use a clean section of the cloth to continue cleaning.

Step 5: To ensure there is no soap residue left behind, do a final pass using only warm distilled water. This step will effectively rinse the record.