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Homemade Cleaner for Vinyl Records

Vinyl records were the music medium of choice for more than 30 years, until cassette tapes came along and knocked them off the pedestal. Records have a warm sound and charm that has not been recreated anywhere else. After many years in storage, records may begin to accumulate dust and dirt. This condition can be exacerbated if the records have been stored in a moist area. Creating your own cleaner will allow you to gently wipe away dirt without damaging the grooves, so that your records will sound as good as new.

Things You'll Need

  • Bowl
  • Spoon
  • 1/4 cup 90% Rubbing alcohol
  • 1/4 cup purified water
  • Cotton cloths
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pour 1/4 cup of 90% rubbing alcohol into your bowl. Rubbing alcohol kills germs, loosens clumped dirt and dries without leaving a significant residue.

    • 2

      Add 1/4 cup of purified water to the alcohol. Purified water will help dilute the solution, making it more gentle. Some sources will say that you can simply use rubbing alcohol, but using too powerful of a cleaner may cause a negative reaction with older lacquer records.

    • 3

      Mix the alcohol and water by gently stirring them together with your spoon.

    • 4

      Apply the solution with a soft cotton cloth. Wipe the record in a circular motion following the grooves.

    • 5

      Dip and re-dip your cloth in the solution, as needed, to clean the record. Continue to wipe the record, using different sides of your cloth, until it comes up clean.

    • 6

      Dry your record using a clean cotton cloth.

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