Are you one of those who still listens to all the old vinyl records in their collection, or is your hobby to empty basements and attics and collect as many LPs as you can? Are you a DJ who still uses vinyl in their mixes? After all, this music medium is still enjoying popularity. The figures speak for 2.5 million vinyl records sold in 2009. Whatever your reason, you should keep your collection safe from scratches and damage. Follow this guide to find out how.
Steps
Step 1. Protect discs from dust
Carefully store each vinyl in its original cardboard cover and rice paper sheets. Alternatively, you could use acid-free plastic covers.
Step 2. Protect discs from heat
Heat is one of the main enemies of vinyl records. In fact, vinyl records tend to twist when subjected to heat sources. Keep your discs away from these heat sources, so beware of heating baseboards, fireplaces, stoves, stoves, heaters, etc … also, you should keep your discs in a dry place. Molds, in fact, find fertile ground on damp surfaces and risk destroying the disc covers.
- Do not expose discs to direct sunlight. Heat and UV rays from sunlight damage vinyl records..
- If you find a disc completely bent by heat in your hand, try to do this: Remove the disc from the cardboard cover and leave it inside the protective bag. Place it between two pieces of thick glass and place heavy books on top of it. Carry out this operation with care. It is not guaranteed that it will work but if the disc is already damaged at the start and with no possibility of recovery, it is worth a try. If the record is so crooked as to be unlistenable, you can always make a Salvador Dali-style surrealist clock with it!
Step 3. Store discs upright
By storing the discs in this position you will limit the mechanical stress applied to the discs. So keep them standing and do not hold them to each other. Some collectors suggest regularly cleaning the discs with a vacuum cleaner and storing them in a vacuum container to minimize wear.
Step 4. Always handle discs with care
Vinyl records are very fragile and could break if dropped. When handling a record you should always hold it in your hands by gripping it from the sides. Don't touch the furrows or you could contaminate them with the oils and grease from your skin. Therefore try never to touch the surface of both sides of the disc, with the exception of the label.
Step 5. Clean your discs regularly
By doing this, you will limit the potential damage caused by dust and other contaminating particles, which could also scratch the disc. To clean the disc properly:
- Get a lint-free piece of fabric, preferably soft cotton or muslin.
- Moisten the patch with a cleaning solution made of 1 part isopropyl alcohol and 4 parts distilled water (20% isopropyl alcohol and 80% water). Note: Do not use this cleaning solution on 78 RPM records or you will damage the shellac - see next step.
- Thoroughly clean the disc by applying a circular motion over the entire surface, except for the label of course.
- Air dry by applying the above rules.
Step 6. Pay special attention to shellac discs
This last type of disc should never be cleaned with alcohol. Older discs especially, require special care and should be cleaned by a professional. Otherwise, you could use cleaning solutions made specifically for shellac discs, which are very porous.. For more difficult shellac discs you could try using dish soap diluted in plenty of water and a disc brush. Never let the label get wet. Dry with a towel and let it air dry, be patient, it will take a while.
Step 7. After cleaning the discs, store them in a clean envelope
This will prevent them from getting dirty again.
Step 8. Make sure the turntable is in good condition
In fact, a badly adjusted or, worse still, broken turntable could damage the record. The entire turntable, especially the stylus, should always be clean and in good working order.
Advice
- If you need to clean hundreds of records, you might want to use a vinyl cleaning machine.
- If you are peeling the label off some discs, be very careful if you try to re-stick it and use acid-free glue. Ask your trusted hardware store.
- Keep a record of your discs. For this purpose, you could use software such as Access or Word (with Word, however, you will have to limit yourself to using a table). A database will be particularly useful if you want to find out if a song is in your collection. Maintaining a vinyl record collection is not as easy and straightforward as using an mp3 player!
- If you want to make sure your music is never lost, try converting your analog records to mp3 files. In this way, should the unthinkable happen (discs scratched, falling or even worse, breaking) you will at least have a copy of the disc.
- Most of the LPs and individual products in the early 1950s were made of polyvinyl materials.
Warnings
- A good idea would be to replace all your old vinyl plastic bags with the newest acid-free plastic bags, so your records will be safer.
- To avoid scratching the discs, always avoid touching the grooves. Hold the discs by the sides with both hands.
