Handling, Storing and Cleaning Your Records

HANDLING

In general wash your hands before handling records and DO NOT touch the playing surface of any recording. While handling any grooved discs (78, 45, LPs, etc.) the same method of CD handling applies: only touch the edge and label area.

STORAGE

Summary: Upright (on edge), dark, clean, constant 45-50 degrees

Store all records standing on their edge vertical, not leaning nor lying flat. Other storage will cause them to warp or may damage the record in other ways. Widely fluctuating temperatures or humidity will severely shorten your records lifespan. In order to prolong a record's life as long as possible, the environment in which they are stored should be kept as clean as possible. Dust magnetized to a record's surface will damage the playing surface. Keep recordings away from light, especially sunlight and unshielded fluorescent lights. Storage areas should be kept at a constant 45 to 50 degrees F or colder and 45 to 50 percent relative humidity, neither of which should fluctuate more than plus or minus 5 (percent or degrees).

CLEANING

Of course you can always purchase a vacuum-cleaning machine for grooved discs, but this guide will focus on manual cleaning. Counter to the claims of another guide, never submerge a record in water. It will most likely damage the label and possibly the record itself by causing layers to swell. I have found that soft CD cleaning cloths work great but any lint free soft cotton cloth will work. Use water based record cleaning solution if possible, but for greasy or other hard to remove substances a solution with up to 20 percent isopropyl alcohol should be used. Gently wipe the record in a spiral fashion from the center outward and rinse with de-ionized water on another cloth. Pat or blot the disc dry with a clean, absorbent, lint-free cloth if any wet residue remains.

A special note for 78s DO NOT use an alcohol-based fluid as it can dissolve shellac and do not get fluid of any kind into the center of the disc, or any cracks or other surface breaks of laminated discs.

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