How to Clean Vinyl Records at Home Without Special Equipment

April 28, 2023

A great record deserves to sound great. Dust, fingerprints and grime in the grooves can add pops, crackle and hiss, and they can even wear down your stylus over time. The good news is that you don't need an expensive cleaning machine to get most records sounding clean again. Here's a simple, gentle approach you can do at home.

What You'll Need

A carbon fiber record brush or an anti-static brush
Distilled water (not tap water, which leaves mineral deposits)
Isopropyl alcohol, used sparingly (optional)
A drop of mild, dye-free and fragrance-free dish soap or laundry detergent, used as a wetting agent
A small spray bottle
Two clean, lint-free microfiber cloths
A dish rack or record drying rack

Step 1: Brush Off the Dust

Start every listening session with a quick dry brushing. Hold the brush lightly on the spinning record for a few rotations, then angle it off the edge to sweep the dust away. For many records, this is all the cleaning they need.

Step 2: Mix a Gentle Cleaning Solution

For dirtier records, fill a spray bottle mostly with distilled water. Add a small splash of isopropyl alcohol, roughly one part alcohol to nine or ten parts water, and a single drop of the mild soap. A weaker mix is safer than a strong one. Some collectors skip the alcohol entirely and use just distilled water with a drop of soap.

Step 3: Clean With the Grooves

Lay the record on a clean towel. Lightly mist the playing surface, keeping the spray away from the paper label. Using a microfiber cloth, wipe gently in a circular motion that follows the grooves, never across them. Use light pressure and let the solution do the work.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry

Mist the record again with plain distilled water and wipe with a second clean cloth to remove any soap residue. Then stand the record upright in a dish rack and let it air-dry completely before putting it back in its sleeve. Storing a damp record can lead to mold or mildew.

A Few Important Warnings

Never use alcohol on shellac 78s. Alcohol can damage shellac, so clean old 78s with distilled water and a drop of mild soap only.
Keep labels dry, and avoid household glass cleaners, which can leave residue.
Store clean records in fresh inner sleeves, and handle them by the edges.

A little care goes a long way. A clean record not only sounds better, it also protects your stylus and keeps your collection in great shape for years to come.

What's your go-to trick for keeping your records clean? Share your method in the comments below.