10 Things Not To Do To Your Vinyl Records

10 Things NOT to do to Your Vinyl Records | DiscoMusic.
com Página 1 de 18
DiscoMusic.com (/) MENU
(/)
DISCOMUSIC.COM (/) / 101 (/101-INDEX/) / TECHNICAL (HTTP://WWW.DISCOMUSIC.COM/101/C0_64_7/)

/ 10 THINGS NOT TO DO TO YOUR VINYL RECORDS
10 Things NOT to do to Your Vinyl Records
A real vinyl record collector would never commit any of these TEN sins to their records.
In our previous article How To Clean

Vinyl Records (/101-
more/6193_0_7_0_C/) you learned all
about cleaning your records with a
vacuum record cleaning machine or by
hand and also cleaning with regular
household items. We now turn to things
NOT to do to your vinyl records. Vinyl
records are treasures to enjoy, but one
must treat them with care as they are
very fragile and easily damaged. Below
are things that one should NOT do to
vinyl records as it can cause damage
and/or impede their sound quality.
Please take the following into
consideration and remember a "real"
record lover wouldn't do these:
1. How to properly cue up a song on

a vinyl record
Use the cueing lever on your turntable to raise and lower the needle. Your hands are never truly
file:///C:/Users/EDDIEQ~1/AppData/Local/Temp/Low/FHJETKTZ.htm 16/12/2014
10 Things NOT to do to Your Vinyl Records | DiscoMusic.com Página 2 de 18
steady and it's easy to slip up and gouge the grooves of a record or even break the needle on
your cartridge. Never drop or abruptly pick up the needle on a vinyl record especially as it's
fading out. Over time you'll start to hear ticks and pops as the vinyl is gradually getting gouged in
those areas. Use the cueing lever and aim to cue up a song just before the music starts so that
the needle SLOWLY drops in the silent area of the grooves and not in the areas with music.
Also, wait for the music to fade out completely or stop before picking up the needle. Better still is
to play an entire album side straight through.
2. Do NOT stack vinyl records

Never stack records on top of each other whether in their jackets or not. This is one sure fire way
to cause warping, possible cracking of the vinyl record because of the weight and will inevitably
produce scuff marks and ring wear on the record's album cover marring the artwork. Records
must always be stored upright like books on a shelf.
3. Wet playing a vinyl record is not a cure

Never wet play a vinyl record in an attempt to quiet the crackle and pops. Doing so only forces
the abrasive sludge deeper into the grooves as the needle makes its way around the record
possibly doing irreversible damage. This makes the record sound even worse as the crud has
dried embedding the dirt throughout the record. The liquid goop will also muck up the delicate
cantilever and needle assembly on phono cartridges possibly causing the assembly to detach
from the cartridge as the adhesive deteriorates from the liquid. It can also damage the turntable
as the fluid can mar the surface and get into the moving parts.
4. Keep fingers off the record

Never touch the record's playing surface with your bare hands or fingers as your body oil will
transfer onto the record attracting even more dust and affecting the sound quality. Always hold a
record by its outer edges only. If you accidentally touch a record it's best to immediately clean it
with a liquid record cleaner or isopropyl alcohol and making sure it is dry before putting it away.
5. Your T-shirt is not a record cleaner

Resist the temptation to wipe your vinyl record with your shirt or dry cloth no matter how soft it
may feel. This will scratch and scuff the record and only move the dirt around. For dry cleaning or
light touch up, use a carbon fiber record cleaning brush
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000000X4N/ref=as_li_ss_tl?
ie=UTF8&tag=berniesdiscomusi-
20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B002P50GA2) as it actually
discharges static and lifts dirt without damaging the vinyl record.
6. Say NO to non-approved cleaners on your vinyl records

Do not use lubricants or solvents such as baby oil, lighter fluid... no matter what anyone may tell
you. These fluids can cause a devastating chemical reaction that can permanently damage a
record. Use only products labelled as a vinyl record cleaner such as Discwasher D4
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000000X4N/ref=as_li_ss_tl?
20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=B000000X4N) for manual
cleaning or Nitty Gritty Pure 2 Record Cleaning Solution
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003D6JIF6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?
20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B003D6JIF6) for vacuum
record cleaning machines. If it's not specifically labelled for use on vinyl records then do NOT
use it.
7. Wait for the record platter to STOP

Never place or pick up a vinyl record as the turntable platter is spinning. This will quickly scratch
the flipside of a record. Always wait for the platter to come to a complete stop before doing
anything.
8. Don't mar that beautiful album cover art with tape

Refrain from using Scotch tape or packaging tape to fix a record cover that is splitting or tearing.
It will completely destroy the cover especially as it ages becoming brittle, yellow, gooey and
making things worse than before. Best to place the record jacket in a poly outer sleeve and place
the record in its inner sleeve behind it or place the record in its inner sleeve inside a generic
cardboard record jacket and save the original jacket in a poly sleeve for safekeeping.
9. Dropping records into a sleeve or jacket is a NO-NO

Resist the temptation to let a record just plop into an inner sleeve and/or record jacket as this is
how covers and sleeves split open. How to properly put a record into its sleeve/jacket: Simply
hold the cover horizontally and slightly bowed open and gently slide the record in making sure it
doesn't bind.
10. Never leave your records out of their sleeves longer than necessary
Put vinyl records away when you're done. Remove a record from the turntable platter as soon as
you are finished listening to it to prevent it from attracting dust and dirt. The only time a record
should be outside its protective sleeve and jacket is when it is actually being played. No excuses!
We hope the above list helps you preserve your valuable records for years to come.
Record Cleaning
DiscoMusic.com (/) Shopping List MENU
SPIN-CLEAN - STARTER Hunt (100) 12" Record Outer (100) 12" Paper & Plastic RCA RD-1006
KIT RECORD WASH... Hunt Sleeves - IND... Poly-Lined... Discwasher Vinyl
SPIN CLEAN Square Deal Record... Square Deal Record... Record ...
Best Price $29.95
Best Price $79.99 or Buy New $29.95 Best Price $21.99 Best Price $39.99 Discwasher
or Buy New $79.99 or Buy New $21.99 or Buy New $49.99 Best Price $9.99
or Buy New $14.98
Privacy Information Privacy Information Privacy Information Privacy Information Privacy Information
Further Reading on Caring for Vinyl Albums and Singles

• How To Clean Vinyl Records (http://www.discomusic.com/101-more/6193_0_7_0_C/)
• A Complete Guide to Choosing Inner and Outer Record Sleeves
(http://www.discomusic.com/101-more/15186_0_7_0_C/)
• How to Convert Vinyl Records to MP3, WAV or CDs (/forums/showthread.php/13832-
Converting-vinyl-to-mp3-or-wav)
• Record Shelving and Storage Solutions (/forums/showthread.php/6175-Record-Shelving-
Storage)
• How to Organize Your Vinyl Record Collection... Alphabetical, Genre...?
(/forums/showthread.php/26625-Need-help-with-classification-organization-of-collection)
• Be Careful Where You Store Your Vinyl Records (/forums/showthread.php/24606-Be-
careful-where-you-store-your-vinyl-records)
• How To Fix A Warped Vinyl Record (/forums/showthread.php/23628-Warped-Records-
ANY-CURE)
• How To Clean A Dusty Styli (/forums/showthread.php/33342-help-with-constantly-dusty-
stylii)
• Hints on Saving Audio to a Computer... Save As WAV or Windows Media?
(/forums/showthread.php/30713-Saving-audio-to-the-computer)
• Why Does the Last Track of an LP Sound Distorted? (/forums/showthread.php/2654-Why-
does-the-last-track-of-a-lp-sound-distorded)
• Vinyl Records - Better Quality Pressings From Countries Of Origin? Does Thicker Records
= Better? (/forums/search.php?searchid=5534)
Gosto 3.761 6 Tweet 166
By Bernard Lopez
Your Comments
Annij | Nov 17, 14 | 11:20 am
Does anyone know where I can buy record display cases I can mount to the wall. NOT album
display cases--RRRReeeecord display cases. You know where you ACTUALLY see the
record, yet the plastic sheeth prevents the colours in the records from fading due to light
exposure. The Melvins have both beautiful record "covers," AND "vinyl records" within the
album covers. I want to display the records themselves.
Navin Johnson | Sep 27, 14 | 4:01 am
Actually, this is the BEST way to remove a stylus in the middle of a song.
That is if you're turntable supports this.
STOP the turntable from spinning. You can just switch the unit if it has a switch.
THEN once the record has stopped spinning THEN use the cue lever to lift
the stylus off the record.
The reason is that while the record is spinning, the stylus actually
has force in the groove that moves the stylus along. If you life the
stylus off, even with the cue lever, while the record is spinning,
it puts undo pressure on the walls of the groove and can even
cause a micro scratch. If the record is not spinning it cannot do this.
Vet | Sep 09, 14 | 1:57 pm
After many many years on air... and in clubs, etc. I can tell you to buy two albums. One you
plan to burn on air, one you plan to store in case anybody ever thinks it valuable (IE - Abbey
Road, etc.) No matter what you do... that wonderfully full and warm feel you get from vinyl is
due in part to the fact that it is wearing away, every time you play it. No matter how you do or
don't slipcue, or use the lift lever or not, the entire track wears a little each time you play it.
Joshua | Jul 02, 14 | 1:03 am
How bad is to accidentally cue too far in? (When the music has already started 'before' the
needle has dropped)
Shanna | May 12, 14 | 9:59 am
I found a box of records in a basement, unfortunately they were wet from a leak (who knows
how many times). How do I even begin to clean them? Some are in sleaves and others are
not.
JUANZERO | May 04, 14 | 9:11 am
CONTACT LENS CLEANER IS VG FOR THIS!
Duane Thamm Jr. | Apr 20, 14 | 5:11 am
This all reassures record playing is too much work unless in a jukebox. I switched to 8 track
tapes for ultimate convenience, great analog sound and no crackles in the background...a little
hiss on tape I can deal with...sounds like air conditioning.
Eric Dzumedzey | Mar 15, 14 | 8:03 am
I forgot something, use only 100% Naphtha fluid not the red bottle (Additive).Kodak photo flow
2ml max for 250 ml solution. the rest is to experience your cleaning technique, it's a long
process, I cleaned by hand over 2000 vinyl.When you finish always use new inside sleeve,
never the old one full of dust. Don't use paper sleeve (abrasive) only good antistatic one. For
regular cleaning session, use Decca brush (the best one) because the bristles are harder.
Last advise, if you are also audiophile, use a good cartridge with a small stylus. That way
permit to read area never read before on your vinyl, increase tracking ability and frequency
response. I am using for my own an AT-150 MLX Audio-Technica cartridge (Not for back cue)
with a Technics SL 1200 MK 2 turntable. I like this one more than my old Oracle Delphi MK2.
Eric Dzumedzey | Mar 15, 14 | 7:02 am
First warm water with few drop of dishing sop to remove grease and dust. After camping fuel
is good but give a lot of static, can be dangerous. The solution is 25 % off camping fuel
(naphtha) with 75% of isopropyl alcohol in a fine cloth not to much, store the cloth in a pot of
jam to avoid evaporation. Result is TERRIFIC, I rediscover my old record sound like a new
one. The last treatment is 75 % distilled water with 25% isopropylic alcohol and add for 250 ml
total solution 3 drop of Kodak photo flow, shine like a new one. I did that for many many
years.For 250 ml solution, 188ml of distilled water and fill to 250 ml with alcohol.
Si | Feb 23, 14 | 11:52 am
One more for the list - Never ever write your name or anything else on the record label or
sleeve. Many otherwise valuable old LPs have been destroyed by people doing this. It was a
common practice in the 60s and 70s unfortunately.
Wolfie Rankin | Jan 20, 14 | 12:42 am
Who cares if a 30c cover splits?
Many record covers are actually more valuable than the record itself.

Luuk | Jan 09, 14 | 6:18 am
Danny, is that sarcasm? :')
Danny | Dec 12, 13 | 8:44 pm
Dear Jay, Yes it's perfectly normal and okay to stop a record in the middle of a song. Feel free
to do it with any vinyl. The rarer the better!
Jay | Dec 12, 13 | 8:31 pm
is it bad for the record or record player if i turn the record player off in the middle of a song
and let the needle stop still on the record?
Dizzie | May 22, 13 | 10:41 am
Ben,
If your Crosley is one of their models like the Traveler or Keepsake that has a magnetic
cartridge as opposed to a ceramic one, you should be just fine. The tracking force they use is
actually quite low. If it is a model with a ceramic cartridge, you will notice a degradation in
sound quality that begins after a number of plays, as well as a bit poorer sound quality in
general when compared to magnetic. I think that for most listeners, Crosley offers a good
value. For collectors hoping to resell at a later point, though, it is not their best choice.
Ben | May 12, 13 | 9:02 pm
How much does the weight of the record come into play? I got a Crosley as a gift and going
through different forums and reviews of it people are ripping on it because they can ruin 180g
records. Do you have an opinion on this? I'd hate to have to miss out on getting a lot of the
new or remastered stuff out there because it seems like a lot of it is recorded on that... And
when they say ruin... what to they mean? I understand there's a need to preserve your record
to last a while... but if the damage is not likely to hinder it from playing the record from casual
use what's the worry right? just throwing this out there. And I don't wanna read the same old:
"croley's crap", "waste of money" I don't care, I'm just a new fan of records who likes the
warmth and crackle of vinyl.
Paul Kane | Apr 19, 13 | 11:02 pm
I use a solution of Basic-H (It's an all-natural cleaner) that is at less concentration than for
doing windows (2-3 drops per 16 oz of water) - It costs about .002 cents per bottle. There's no
residue, it's anti static, and my records love it. I use it every time I platter a record. (Brush by
Diskwasher).
Fake Blood | Apr 19, 13 | 5:23 am
Most of this is common sense. But don't use bare hands to handle records? Mate - if you are
somebody who wears gloves to play their records, then you need to take yourself into a dark
corner and have a long chat with yourself. Actually, you probably do that all the time.
boogie | Apr 18, 13 | 1:16 pm
Top Tip : wipes for cleaning spectacles are fab for cleaning vinyl!
Danny | Apr 17, 13 | 7:55 pm
Drew,
You're probably haven't checked these comments since January but I simply wanted to thank
you for your hilarious addition. I couldn't agree more. I want to enjoy my vinyl collection, not
savor it to listen to when invading Poland.

Jason | Apr 17, 13 | 7:24 am
You can make perfectly fine home cleaners, and save big money. Think gentle clean, plenty
good brews on line to choose from.
R | Feb 26, 13 | 3:38 pm
People play records while wet!? Seriously who the hell does that?
Also my record player doesn't have a cueing lever sadly. I know probably means bin it and get
a new one!
drew | Jan 30, 13 | 11:31 am
Wow, what a buzzkill. This guy makes record collecting sound like nazi camp
What a strict set of rules, who cares if a thirty cent plastic jacket splits. Seriously?
Bernard Lopez | Jan 27, 13 | 5:32 am
Boxelder,
Most turntables come with rubber or felt mat so as not to scratch the record. There are some
high-end turntables such as a VPI that I own that has an acrylic platter and does not use any
mat. Really depends on the material of the platter. If it's bare metal then yes, buy
(http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-
keywords=turntable%20mat&linkCode=ur2&tag=berniesdiscomusi-20&url=search-alias%
3Daps) a generic rubber or felt mat to be safe.
Boxelder | Jan 27, 13 | 3:06 am
After my dad died, I inherited all of his old vinyls. I don't know anything about them. I guess
displaying them on the wall is a big no-no? It's such a bummer! I love the way it looks.
I also just bought a little record player. Is it safe to play the records on it without any sort of
slipmat?
Ray | Jul 23, 12 | 11:19 pm
answer to brooklands
your solution is simple as far as dust make a small air filtration system out of a small PC fan or
a small box fan secured to a box that you can duct tape an air filter place inside cabinet
change as you see necessary in an enclosed environment such as a juke every 6 months or
year
the better quality filter the cleaner the air the cleaner the air the cleaner your records will stay
a 10x10 fan will fit a 10x10 filter and you can lose the box just make sure the fan is square
and don't be cheap buy hepa filters not that black foam stuff ----also a good vac inside would
be a great start
and a few days with the fan/filter running in it empty may be overkill but it wouldn't hurt
Luke Perman | Apr 02, 12 | 8:10 pm
Have done all those things above, and more!
In the middle of DJing a party, sometimes one doesn't have time (or care!) to handle each
record .......... We had plenty of fun though.
Heather | Apr 01, 12 | 8:44 pm
My dad copied his records to CD the stashed them under the house laying FLAT! They've
been like this for at least 5 years. All I've done is find a place and sit them upright, and I wont
get back for a few months to go through them. What do you suppose my chances are of
finding them in reasonable or restorable condition?

Ralph | Dec 11, 11 | 11:07 am
We opened the package and the albums look fine. Thanks for your prompt response - it put
our mind at ease!
Bernard Lopez | Dec 11, 11 | 9:17 am
Ralph,
Although temperature extremes are never a good thing for vinyl records, it seems like you
should be fine as you've let the records acclimate to room temperature gently over time. I'd go
ahead and carefully open the package and start listening to them.
Ralph | Dec 11, 11 | 8:07 am
We ordered some records and we were unaware they had been delivered so they sat outside
on the front porch overnight. The temperature got down to about 20 degrees Farenheit. We
brought the package inside and have been letting them warm to room temperature but haven't
opened the box yet.
Anything else we should do? Will the cold temperature overnight ruin the reocrds?
Thanks!
Bernard Lopez | Oct 25, 11 | 2:32 pm
Records in a jukebox is definitely a unique case and one that I don't have an answer for as I
don't know the inner workings of a jukebox. Having said that, I would imagine that at set
intervals one would manually take the records out of the machine and give them a quick
cleaning and then reinstall them. In that case please take a look at our article How to Clean
Vinyl Records (http://www.discomusic.com/101-more/6193_0_7_0_C/) for some pointers. I
hope that helps.

Brooklands | Oct 25, 11 | 2:19 pm
It might be good to always put the records into storage after playing, but a juke box does not
allow for this. Is there anything special that should be done for records sitting in a juke box. I
volunteer at a museum where we have two vintage machines available for visitors to play...
CoryAnder | Aug 10, 11 | 9:04 am
Bernie: these are good but I'd add this one: when you see a white speck stuck between the
grooves of a vinyl record never EVER try to remove it with your fingernail! You'll scratch the
surrounding grooves every time and make the problem worse.
Please leave a comment
Your name*
Your name as you would like it to appear
Your e-mail* (required, but never displayed)
example@gmail.com
Your message*
Please add your comments, corrections or add missing information...
(*Required)
 Notify me of followup comments
 Remember me
DiscoMusic.com (/)
SUBMIT COMMENT MENU
Find More DISCOveries:
Search
Collectible 45 Records
Shop our store for classic and rare 45 rpm records from the 1950s
Find a song, artist...
Search
101 Home (/101-index/)

Dance Music History (/101/C0_65_7/)
Record Collecting, Audio & Technical (/101/C0_64_7/)
Unlikely Disco Artists (/101/C0_60_7/)
RCA RD-1006
Discwasher Vinyl
Record ...
Discwasher
Best Price $9.99
or Buy New $14.98
Privacy Information
Diskeeper Audiophile
Inner Record Sl...
Sleeve City
Best Price $23.99
or Buy New $23.99
Privacy Information
SPIN-CLEAN - STARTER
KIT RECORD WASH...
SPIN CLEAN
Best Price $79.99
or Buy New $79.99
Privacy Information
Diskeeper Audiophile
Inner Record Sl...
Sleeve City
Best Price $23.99
or Buy New $23.99
Privacy Information
RCA RD-1006
Discwasher Vinyl
Record ...
Discwasher
Best Price $9.99
or Buy New $14.98
Privacy Information
Further Reading on Caring for Vinyl Albums and Singles
• Guide to Cleaning Your Records the Right Way (/101-more/6193_0_7_0_C/)

• How To Protect Your Vinyl Records with the Proper Inner & Outer Sleeve (/101-
more/15186_0_7_0_C/)
• 10 Things NOT to do to Your Vinyl Records (/101-more/15029_0_7_0_C/)
• How to Convert Vinyl Records to MP3, WAV or CDs (/forums/showthread.php/13832-Converting-
vinyl-to-mp3-or-wav)
• Record Shelving and Storage Solutions (/forums/showthread.php/6175-Record-Shelving-Storage)
• How to Organize Your Vinyl Record Collection... Alphabetical, Genre...?
(/forums/showthread.php/26625-Need-help-with-classification-organization-of-collection)
• Be Careful Where You Store Your Vinyl Records (/forums/showthread.php/24606-Be-careful-
where-you-store-your-vinyl-records)
• How To Fix A Warped Vinyl Record (/forums/showthread.php/23628-Warped-Records-ANY-
CURE)
• How To Clean A Dusty Styli (/forums/showthread.php/33342-help-with-constantly-dusty-stylii)
• Hints on Saving Audio to a Computer... Save As WAV or Windows Media?
(/forums/showthread.php/30713-Saving-audio-to-the-computer)
• Why Does the Last Track of an LP Sound Distorted? (/forums/showthread.php/2654-Why-does-
the-last-track-of-a-lp-sound-distorded)
• Vinyl Records - Better Quality Pressings From Countries Of Origin? Does Thicker Records =
Better? (/forums/showthread.php/24743-Disco-Records-Better-Quality-Pressings-From-
Countries-Of-Origin?highlight=Vinyl+Records+Quality+Pressings+Countries+Origin%3F)

© 1996-2014 DiscoMusic.com
Sitemap (/sitemap.html) Contact (/contact.php) Terms/Privacy (/privacy.php)

Google+ (https://plus.google.com/104647814991221979604) ↑ Top of Page

10 Things Not To Do To Your Vinyl Records

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

10 Things Not To Do To Your Vinyl Records

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

10 Things NOT to do to Your Vinyl Records | DiscoMusic.

DiscoMusic.com (/) MENU

DISCOMUSIC.COM (/) / 101 (/101-INDEX/) / TECHNICAL (HTTP://WWW.DISCOMUSIC.COM/101/C0_64_7/)