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A decent set of beginner advice to care of vinyl

OK, I did some searching on this forum and some of you are really crazy with all the stuff you do to clean the vinyl. It sounds very time consuming.

I am getting back into vinyl and was wondering what are some good (moderately priced) tools to maintain my LPs and keep them in decent condition for years to come. I am not hardcore (not that there is anything wrong with that haha) but want above-average care for my vinyl investment. Please just the basics and nothing that will break the bank.

thanks in advance for your help.
-terry
bokonon42
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I'll take a stab.

1) Hand Vac with soft brush attachment to vacuum the LP before you clean it
2) Audio Intelligent One Step cleaner
3) Disc Doctor Record Cleaning Brushes (one for the cleaning fluid and one
for the optional water rinse)
4) Lint free cotton cloths to dry the LPs
5) Add a purified water rinse if you wish
mechans
2,999 posts
 
Keep all of your records standing up to help avoid warping. Orient all of your records in the same direction no excetions. For example you keep the "top" of the jacket upward with the slit openening facing outward. Do which ever direction is most comfortable for you but do not vary. Then decide which way you want the record sleeve opening to be I prefer up as well. If you do this it will save you some aggravation or the potential droping of the reecord and damaging it. I know this is simplistic but it doesn't hurt to reitterate these simple rules.
Another major step is keeping your precious vinyl clean. You must really must give any record that is new or simply new to you a thorough cleaning. Many methods work, for instance TVAD's protocol. The best standard is to invest a fairly large sum on a record cleaning machine such as a basic VPI or less for the nitty gritty both are vacuum drying. Use the suggested cleaning solutions until comfortable and familiar with their function and use. I am not a natural obsessive compulsive type but certain situation demand that of you this is one if you possibly can and rightly expect your valuable records to sound good after playing them a few times. Repeat often or just resign youself to cleaning with each use.
bondmanp
1,465 posts
 
If you want to take it up a notch but still keep your investment in cleaning to a reasonable level, try the KAB-EV1 record cleaner: http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/
For $159 + shipping, you get a RCM that uses your own household canister vacuum. I have been using it for a year and a half, and I am extremely pleased with the results and price/value ratio of this item. To get this level of cleaning with all the bells and whistles (built-in vac, automatic fluid dispenser, automatic record rotation, etc.) you'd pay $400 or more, but your records wouldn't be any cleaner!
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
from 1960 to 1982 i never saw anyone do more than 'wipe the dust off a record'....scrubbing vinyl is now a fetish.
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