{"id":171800,"date":"2025-07-08T18:12:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T22:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/07\/08\/did-you-score-great-vinyl-at-the-record-store-heres-how-to-clean-protect-your-finds-2\/"},"modified":"2025-07-08T18:12:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T22:12:32","slug":"did-you-score-great-vinyl-at-the-record-store-heres-how-to-clean-protect-your-finds-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/07\/08\/did-you-score-great-vinyl-at-the-record-store-heres-how-to-clean-protect-your-finds-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Did You Score Great Vinyl at the Record Store? Here\u2019s How to Clean & Protect Your\u00a0Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\tAll products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n\tHow was your Record Store Day? This year I spent about an hour and a half and $150 picking up some great vinyl at two stores in Berlin, where I live. (Shout-outs to Soultrade<\/a> and Dussman<\/a>.) Every year seems to bring more music fans into stores, along with more releases in more genres. I personally picked up reissues of the Passengers album and Emmylou Harris\u2019 Spyboy<\/em>, plus archival live releases from Ry Cooder and Talking Heads, and a split 7\u201d single from Goat and Graveyard. While I was at Soultrade, I also found a used album I\u2019ve wanted forever \u2013 a 1973 copy of This Is Amon D\u00fc\u00fcl<\/em>, which is hard to find and even harder to wrap your head around.<\/p>\n

\n\tThat record was in great shape for 1973, but it needed to be cleaned \u2014 as do many old records. These days, some new ones do, too: A combination of falling quality control and a tendency to use paper sleeves means that many new records come with some grit in the grooves. So, in the Record Store Day spirit, I wanted to share some tips on the various ways to clean records and keep them free from dirt and scratches \u2014 and sounding great for as long as possible. There\u2019s some science to this, but it\u2019s pretty easy. You\u2019ll need to buy accessories, and I\u2019ve shared my favorites here, but like everything in audio, the equipment costs as much as you want it to. My advice, as always: Start with the basics and work your way up. And with the Prime Day 2025 sale event<\/a> going on now until July 11, you can save big on a lot of the equipment below.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe first thing any vinyl fan needs is an anti-static brush. It\u2019s the easiest to use \u2014 you just hold it perpendicular to the record as it spins, and it lifts out dust and eliminates static electricity that causes snaps, crackles and pops. Serious vinyl nerds call this \u201cdry cleaning.\u201d As opposed to wet cleaning that eliminates serious dirt, this just targets basic dust. It couldn\u2019t be easier, though. Just press down very gently as the record rotates, and you\u2019re good. I have an Audio-Technica AT6011a Anti-Static Record Brush<\/a>, which has served me well for years, but the Boundless Record Cleaner Brush<\/a> is just as good. Both are about $15, and buying one of them, or something similar, is a no-brainer. There\u2019s no way to get a bigger boost in quality for less money.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tAudio-Technica AT6011a Anti-Static Record Brush\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$15<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

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\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tBoundless Audio Record Cleaner Brush\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$14.20<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$18.99<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t25% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n\tThe other inexpensive way to improve sound quality is to make sure your turntable stylus is clean. This is also inexpensive, but it\u2019s a bit trickier! The styli on good turntables are delicate and expensive, so you need to be careful. Start with the right tool for the job \u2014 a small carbon-fiber brush. Then follow the instructions carefully \u2014 brush very gently back to front, only when necessary. For about $14, the Boundless Stylus Cleaner Brush<\/a> is solid. You can also buy a record brush and a stylus brush together \u2014 this $20 package<\/a> from Fluance is great.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tBoundless Audio Stylus Cleaner Brush\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$13.25<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$17.99<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t26% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tFluance Vinyl Record & Stylus Cleaning Kit\t<\/h2>\n

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\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$19.99<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n\tThe next thing you\u2019ll want is plastic sleeves \u2014 \u201cinners,\u201d as collectors call them, because they protect vinyl in an album, as opposed to \u201couters\u201d that protect the sleeve itself. These don\u2019t need to be fancy \u2014 the only goal here is to avoid the paper sleeves that can cause minor scratches over time. It\u2019s hard to go wrong here, but for years I used Collector Protector sleeves<\/a> (50 for $24). Recently I switched to Big Fudge sleeves<\/a> (50 for $25), which look a bit nicer, although I haven\u2019t noticed any real difference. The kind of people who buy $200 records have a preference, but it probably just makes sense to buy whatever\u2019s cheapest. Right now, that looks like Hudson sleeves<\/a> (100 for $29) or the round-bottomed Invest in Vinyl sleeves<\/a> (50 for $14). I haven\u2019t tried either of them, but only the most serious collectors can tell the difference.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tCollector Protector Sleeves for Vinyl Record Storage\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$23.97<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

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\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tBig Fudge 50x Premium Vinyl Record Inner Sleeves\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$13.56<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$16.95<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t20% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tHudson Hi-Fi 3 Layers HDPE Anti-Static 100 Vinyl Record Inner Sleeves\t<\/h2>\n

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\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$24.61<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$28.95<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t15% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

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\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t50 LP Inner Sleeves Anti Static Round Bottom 33 RPM 12″ Vinyl Record Sleeves\t<\/h2>\n

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\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$13.99<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

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\n<\/div>\n

\n\tIf you have valuable records, you\u2019ll also want outer sleeves. This doesn\u2019t touch the vinyl itself \u2014 it just protects the album. In some cases, with valuable albums or gimmick covers, that\u2019s great to have. In a decade and a half of seriously collecting vinyl, I haven\u2019t noticed so much difference between different brands, but some are sturdier. Big Fudge<\/a> is solid and reliably good (50 for $20<\/a>) and Invest in Vinyl (100 for $23) is currently a better buy.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tBIG FUDGE 50x Vinyl Record Sleeves 12″ LP\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$16.95<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$19.95<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t15% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now on AMAZON<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

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\n<\/div>\n

\n\tIf you have a good system<\/a>, you\u2019ll want to get more serious about cleaning. That means \u201cwet cleaning\u201d records, which means buying some special supplies. Under no circumstances should you attempt to clean records with stuff you have lying around the house. It\u2019s no fun and it can damage records. Vinyl is delicate, so it demands its own routine. To start, it\u2019s easiest to buy a cleaning kit with a microfiber cloth, some specialized vinyl cleaner and perhaps a brush. Big Fudge sells a $23 Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit<\/a> that comes with a stylus brush and a styling storage pouch (you can also just get the cleaning solution<\/a> on its own for $10 here<\/a>). Boundless has a $60 package<\/a> that has all of that, plus a record brush and a nicer case, and Amazon now offers it with a $5 coupon discount. Eveo has one for $20<\/a> that\u2019s not so different. The real difference comes in what you do with them \u2014 and you should use only specialized cleaning fluid, distilled water and either special brushes or microfiber cloths.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t4-in-1 Vinyl Record Cleaner Kit\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$7.99<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$9.95<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t20% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now ON AMAZON<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tBig Fudge Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$17.95<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$22.95<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t22% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tBoundless Audio Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$56.95<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$74.99<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t24% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tEVEO Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$9.99<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$26.97<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t63% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now ON AMAZON<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

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\n<\/div>\n

\n\tThat will get you started. Remember, though, the idea isn\u2019t to clean the surface of the vinyl \u2014 it\u2019s to get the dirt out of the grooves. At some point, though, you might want a machine that will really get into the grooves. For between $50 and $100, you can get a spin-cleaner, a kind of hand-powered car wash for vinyl that rotates records against brushes and in and out of a bath of water and cleaning solution. One of the best is the $80 Spin-Clean Record Washer Kit<\/a>. You fill a small tub with water and a cleaning solution, then turn the records against brushes, in and out of it \u2014 then dry them. This is easier than it sounds, and it\u2019s far more effective than doing it by hand. The Spin-Clean Deluxe Kit<\/a>, for $125, includes more fluid and drying cloths, although you can buy those separately, too. There are a bunch of machines built on this basic model: The $63 Big Fudge model<\/a> gets positive reviews, and at $50 the Studebaker<\/a> is the bargain of the bunch.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tSpin-Clean Record Washer Kit\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$63.99<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$79.99<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t20% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tBig Fudge Vinyl Record Cleaner Kit\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$49.95<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$62.95<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t21% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tStudebaker Vinyl Record Cleaning System\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$49.50<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n\tIf you are really, truly serious about great sound, you might also want to consider an ultrasonic record cleaning machine. Right now, the machine of choice is the German-made HumminGuru Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner<\/a>, a fully automatic machine that attacks dirt with sound, then dries records after cleaning them. It\u2019s $600 but, if you\u2019re tempted, Amazon is now selling it with a coupon that\u2019s good for $100 off. Think of all the money you\u2019ll save.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"How<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\tUltrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner\t<\/h2>\n

\n

\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$499.99<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$599.99<\/s><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t17% off<\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tBuy Now On Amazon<\/span>\t<\/a><\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Aller \u00e0 la source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. How was your Record Store Day? This year I spent about an hour and a half and $150 picking up some […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-musique","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171800\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}