What is the best way to clean record albums (Vinyl) and 45 RPM discs?

Question

Some of my older records havent been used in about 20 years. I got a turntable, but, my 45's have dust and 2 of them have sticky stuff that has dried. (probably from my childhood hands, sticky from candy and such while playing my favorite Archies, Bobby Sherman, and Partridge Family records). I need to clean them Thanks.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I usually use rubbing alcohol & wipe in a circular motion with a clean lint-free cotton towel or rag. If your records are extremely dirty you can wash them like dishes just be careful not to get the record label too wet. If you're an audiophile like me I usually follow my wet clean with a dry clean using a micro fiber brush that usually comes with any record cleaning kit or any soft-hair brush (not the kind for your hair) & I follow the groove like the needle & this usually gets all the other dust & dirt out. I find that once I've done all this I like to let the record play the first time, clean the groove again ,wipe the needle off & record the second time.That stuff in the can (glide) works well too but it is spendy. P S when cleaning the needle (stylus) always wipe from back to front. Under no circumstances should you play a dirty record.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thank You. Everyone had good answers, and I will try each method.

Answer 2

if you use a dry swifter on them it should take care of the dust. i am not sure about the sticky stuff.

Answer 3

How to Clean Your Vinyl Albums

Prepare a 50/50 solution of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol.
Remove the album from its jacket and inner sleeve.
Always handle the record by its edges, with no contact to the playing surface itself.
Blow softly on both sides of the album to remove surface dust and lint.
Dip a soft, clean towel in solution until moderately damp, not dripping.
Use a circular motion to clean the record, following the grooves.
Repeat on other side of the LP.
Dry album with a soft, dry towel or cloth.
Keep solution off the labels, as they could bubble, bleed or come off altogether

Source(s):

http://www.simplyvinyl.com/vinylcare.asp

Answer 4

dish soap and water. i do mine sorta like plate's, except i use a towel in the sink and drain rack, and take alot more care with them.
dont let them soak, you'll get label prolems. had a friend thought i meant that.
being this isn't done very often i have not had a problem. but they've only ben washed once in 25 yrs

Answer 5

Dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe it around the record, going with the flow of it. I know they used to have some roller things that would clean them but I really won't know if they still sell them. They were a roller with a squirt thing for the alcohol but I bet the cloth would work just as well.
PS. If you really want to listen to your music in all it's glory you might just think of downloading it off the Internet. Records sound kinda scratchy.
One more thing, once you get them clean if you want to save you music, you can record them onto the computer and save them as mp3 files.
Here's how: Go to http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ to download a free recording software that is awesome.
Then get your old turntable and a line in cord. Plug from the line out /or/ speaker plug in the turn table to the line in /or/ microphone plug on your computer.
Let the whole thing play and then save your project. You can open your project later and edit it, cutting the tracks so that you have one song at a time.
Hope this is helpful.

Source(s):

Recorded and clean old records for my dad.