Best vinyl record cleaner 2023 • 6 vinyl record cleaners Reviews

What are vinyl record cleaners?

A vinyl record cleaner is a product that helps keep vinyl records in good condition. They are available as a single cleaning product, or as part of a kit that contains various additional elements. They eliminate the static electricity that builds up in records that are used frequently as well as reducing clicks and pops caused by the accumulation of surface dust.

As you will see below, there are several different types of vinyl cleaners, which perform either soft or maintenance cleaning, medium cleaning, or a deeper cleaning designed to repair a damaged record. A combination of soft and medium cleaning will keep your vinyl records in perfect working order, just as they sounded when you first purchased them.

What types of vinyl record cleaners are available?

Now that you know why it is important to keep your vinyl records clean, it is a good idea to know what kinds of cleaners are currently available on the market and which one is the best for your purposes. While liquid solutions and brushes are adequate for maintenance and light cleaning, sometimes you may need to repair a scratch, or the record may be so dirty that it needs a much deeper clean.

Antistatic Brush

For light surface dust and a low level of static electricity.

Liquid

For light surface dust, moderate dirt accumulation, or grime; has a moderate level of static electricity.

Gel

For light surface dust, embedded dirt, or grime on the surface and in the grooves of the vinyl record; has significant levels of static electricity and some scratches that cause jumps or pops.

Cleaning Machine

For records that are older or vintage and have degraded due to improper storage, are scratched, and have dust, embedded dirt, and/or mildew.

Shopping Criteria for the Best Vinyl Record Cleaner

With the birth of CDs and the advent of the internet soon after, many people thought that vinyl records would never be seen again. However, over the last two decades, they have experienced a rebirth, which has led to a new generation of audiophiles discovering the format and building up collections. To find the vinyl record cleaning system that is best for your individual requirements, you must keep a few key factors in mind when making your purchase.

• Vintage vinyl records
• Maintenance
• User Reviews
• Format

Vintage Vinyl Records

Although repairing a scratched vinyl record is very difficult to do without using professional vinyl cleaners, some of the best products are specially designed for this purpose. They allow you to significantly improve the sound quality, almost restoring them to their original state.

Maintenance

Don’t wait until your vinyl records are covered in dust before you clean them. Consistency is the key to keeping your collection in the best possible condition. This is especially true if you don’t listen to them very often. Prevention is easier than curing, and regularly maintaining your records will keep them in pristine working order.

User Reviews

These days, it’s possible to buy products made all around the world on online marketplaces with just the click of your mouse. There are so many vinyl cleaners available that choosing the best one can be difficult. So that you don’t get sold a product that doesn’t perform as promised, it is best to consult the opinions of other users. Otherwise, simply choose from one of the products on our list, as they all have fantastic customer reviews.

Format

Most vinyl cleaning liquid solutions come in bottles of various quantities usually ranging from 3 to 9 ounces. This may not seem like an issue, however, some of them do have an expiration date. After they have expired, they can lose their effectiveness and can even damage the disk. Therefore, if you are going to buy liquid or gel, think about how often you are going to use it and if you will use it up before it expires.

Related Links and Sources

• https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/electronics/how-to-clean-vinyl-records-850080/
• https://downhomedigital.net/vinyl/best-record-cleaner/
• https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/spin-clean-record-washer/
• https://www.scatrecords.com/best-record-cleaning-machine-for-the-money/

FAQs

Is a carbon fiber or a velvet brush better for cleaning vinyl records?

In cases of lighter dirt or dust that has not embedded itself, the best vinyl cleaner you can use is an antistatic vinyl brush. There are two types: velvet or carbon fiber. If you are looking for the easiest option, it is best to use velvet, as it has a softer touch and is generally less abrasive.

Carbon fiber may cause scratches with too much pressure. Also, if you are going to combine it with a liquid to clean vinyl, make sure it is of decent quality and that it will evaporate. Otherwise, you will make the disk dirtier, rather than clean it.

How is an antistatic brush used to clean vinyl records?

Although an antistatic brush is very easy to use when caring for your collection of albums, LPs, and singles, it is a little tricky initially. It is not sufficient to use the brush to clean vinyls as you would remove lint from clothes. The system is somewhat more complex, but once you figure it out, you will not have any further problems.

1. Select the disc you want to clean and place it on your turntable.
2. Switch it on so that the disc begins to rotate, but do not play it.
3. Rest the antistatic brush lightly on the surface of the record. It is best to hold it at a slight angle.
4. The movement of the turntable's rotation will allow you to remove any dust using the brush without needing to move your hand.
5. After a couple of rotations, gently drag the brush outwards and shake off any accumulated dust, and then reapply.