Look after your records! Best Practice Tips...

Cleaning your records is essential if you want them to sound great and endure for many years. Here’s the lowdown:

🎧 1. Better Sound Quality

Dust, dirt, and grime become trapped in the grooves, and your stylus (needle) struggles to read through that mess. You’ll hear more crackles, pops, and hisses if the record is dirty. A clean record equals clearer sound, greater detail, and that sweet, warm vinyl sound.

💿 2. Protect Your Stylus

Your stylus is delicate and not inexpensive to replace. Dirt acts like sandpaper — over time, it wears down the stylus tip more quickly. Cleaning your records prolongs your stylus’s life and ensures it tracks properly.

🧼 3. Longer Record Life

Grime and scratches are closely related. A clean record is less prone to damage from friction or particles being dragged across it.

📦 4. Mould, Oils, and Static

Especially if you’ve purchased second-hand records — oils from fingers, mould from poor storage, or static that attracts dust like a magnet can all interfere with playback. Cleaning addresses all these issues. Even new records are often coated with mould release agents or other substances during the pressing process, which can build up on the surface and affect playback. 

🛠️ 5. You Only Have to Do It Occasionally

You don’t have to scrub every time — just:

• Dry brush before each play (carbon fibre brush = easy win)
• Occasionally perform a wet clean for deeper maintenance.
• Store in anti-static sleeves to keep them clean for longer

We will happily talk you through how to clean your records properly,and recommend a cleaning kit as an excellent starting point—click here to view our options.