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We heard you’re in the market for products that’ll help your vinyl records run like a dream.
Vinyl records are a delcate piece of media that, much like any physical media, needs to be handled with care in order to work properly. Fingerprints, dust and scratches can damage the surface of the record, which, in turn diminish the sound, creating unwanted noise. Natural oils from your hands can also erode the surface of your vinyl records.
If you’re looking to clean up and preserve your latest vinyl aqcusitions, there are plenty of cleaning kits available out there on Amazon that’ll make cleaning your records at home a breeze. Our top pick? The Vinyl Buddy record cleaning kit for $19.99. The kit comes equipped with five pieces including a velvet brush, microfiber brush, stylus brush, cleaning solution and a storage pouch. The Groove Washer Walnut Record Cleaning Kit ($44.95) is another favorite of ours that comes with similar equipment like a G2 Fluid Mist Spray and a fancy cleaning-wipe with a wood handle & microfiber pad that can be replaced for endless use.
Vinyl Buddy Ultimate 5-Piece Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit
A five piece vinyl cleaning kit.
For something easier and possibly cheaper, depending on what you already have around the house, you can always go for Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner and water. Not familiar with Simple Green? The product is an natural, all-purpose cleaning solution that works on just about every surface. It remove direct grease and stains from countertops, floors, fabric, equipment, tech, vehicles and so much more. It’s also gentle enough that you can use it on your precious vinyl records. Simple Green retails for about $2-$5 for a 32-ounce spray bottle and around $10 for a gallon. You can get it at Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s and other retailers. A three pack from Amazon currently retails for $15.39.
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, 32 Fl Oz (Pack of 3)
A three pack of all-purpose cleaner.
To clean your vinyl records, you’ll want to grab a microfiber cleaning cloth to remove the dust and static from the record. Next, you should wet a clean microfiber cloth (preferably with distilled water) and lightly wipe the record surface in a circular motion, making sure to avoid the middle of the record. Next, add a splash of Simple Green (the company recommends a 1:30 ratio) to a bowl of water and clean the record following the same circular motion as the earlier steps. Lastly, grab a dry microfiber cloth to dry the vinyl record (you can also use compressed air to blow away any residual dust).
After your record is clean, all that’s left to do is enjoy the music! Just make sure to check the needle on your record player so that there’s no leftover dust particles that could distort the sound. For additional shopping recommendations check out our list of best record players and turntables, best speakers for music lovers and storage options for your music collection.
