Cleaning Process:
Vinyl: The most important thing to clean is the vinyl record itself. Due to its chemical nature, vinyl records attract dust and dirt over the entire surface of the record. This is due to vinyl's tendency to build up static electrical charges which attract small particles. Most important among these particles are dust particles which land in the grooves. These particles will cause "pops" and "clicks" as the record plays. They will also cause the vinyl to wear unevenly and even cause the needle to wear more quickly. Also, heat buildup within the grooves will cause problems for both the vinyl and the needle.

As seen in the photos (left and above), there are two common brush types used to clean records. The more common "Discwasher" brush/fluid system uses a large brush to which a cleaning solution (alcohol based for vinyl) is added. When using such a brush, it is very important to align the brush in the correct direction (marked on the handle) so that the small bristles will clean correctly. I recommend running the turntable while brushing rather than holding the record in your hands. This results in a smoother, more consistent cleaning motion. The second brush type seen is the Recoton Carbon Fiber Brush. This brush does not use fluid, rather it relies on the vibration of the almost microscopic carbon fibers to clean the grooves. Carbon fibers are used to help disrupt static buildup while brushing. To remove loose dust, I recommend the easier to use Carbon fiber brush. For deep cleaning, and removal of "sticky" substances, I recommend the "Discwasher" system.

Needle: Though Everyone realizes how important it is to clean the vinyl record itself, many people fail to remember the needle! Since the needle is constantly tracking an new groove in your records, it attracts large amounts of dirt and dust particles. This needle buildup (seen in photos at right) has a tremendous effect on the sound of your records! When clogged with gunk, the needle doesn't vibrate fully and may not properly rest at the bottom of the record groove. This results in decreased sound quality, increased likelihood if skipping, and other problems!

As a needle rotates, and scrapes away at your record, it builds up a tremendous amount of heat. A properly cleaned needle will dissipate this heat efficiently through the air and the metal arm which holds the diamond stylus in place. Unfortunately, as a needle builds up a thick layer of gunk, it loses its ability to properly dissipate heat. This can, in extreme cases, result in a "burnt groove" (see photo at left). At this point, the needle is carving and melting the groove, rather than simply translating the groove. A burnt groove will result in a very poor sounding record!

Turntable: The turntable surface itself should also be kept dust and static free. Most quality turntables come with either a rubber turntable surface, or an antistatic "felt" surface. Either of these surfaces must be kept dust free to avoid pressing dust into one side of a record while the other side is being played.

Cleaning Fluid:
In the early days of record collecting, sound was not much of an issue, so records were often cleaned with soap and water, if at all! As audiophiles entered the game, various cleaning solutions came on the market specifically for the cleaning of vinyl record. Most modern vinyl cleaning solutions are alcohol based, though these solutions should NEVER be used on older shellac records, since they will literally melt! A careful, liberal use of cleaning fluid on a record can have many positive effects. New records will often sound better, since they are often coated with "release compounds" to insure that they remove easily from molding machines. Older records may gain new life, since most pops and clicks are the result of dust and dirt residing in the grooves. Many audiophiles even mix their own fluids (see links below) as a less expensive alternative to high priced commercial solutions. A well known U2 collector even uses lighter fluid to clean his vinyl (ventilation recommended, smoking NOT recommended).

Record Storage:
Once you have spent time cleaning your vinyl, it makes sense to then store your records in quality inner and outer liners. Outer plastic liners will help protect the original record jacket and its graphics, but inner liners are the most important to protect the record itself. Inner liners are found commonly in two forms, paper and plastic. The best liners, IMHO, are of the Japanese "rice paper" plastic type, which cling tightly to the vinyl and prevent dust deposition even during long periods of storage (see link below). Investing in quality liners for your records is one of the most important care tips for long lasting vinyl!