Vinyl Care 101

Whether you’re an avid vinyl collector and listener or an average music fan who likes to purchase vinyl or just starting out with a collection, there are a few things to keep in mind on maintenance, static, vinyl handling, and storage.

As a team, we were discussing among ourselves how we each listen to our favourite records, store them, maintain them, clean everything, etc. So out of everything we discussed, the below is what we think will be some sound advice.

Vinyl Storage: 

Storage is very important. You don’t want your records to wrap, bend or break. The golden rule is to never store them on top of each other as the weight on top of each other can have potential harm or damage to your vinyl. Store them upright: on a shelf – like books; in a crate – for ease of transporting (if you’re a vinyl DJ or moving a lot); vinyl storage box – if you enjoy having a dedicated storage box.

One final note on storage is to make sure you do not store your vinyl close to any major heat sources. Heat can impact the quality and structural integrity of your vinyl. Heat can warp and bend your records – so make sure they’re nowhere near a heater or radiator.

Vinyl Protection: 

As all collectors, we want to make sure that our records can stand the test of time. Protecting the sleeves can prolong your records. There are various types of vinyl protection that you can get. First one, are outer sleeves. Your entire vinyl and packaging go into these sleeves.

Secondly, you can get inner sleeves. Most collectors love using anti-static inner sleeves as they not only protect your records but also lower the risk of your vinyl collecting unwanted static that can damage both your vinyl and stylus on your record player. Both outer and inner sleeves will protect your records from static and unnecessary dust.

Managing Static and Dust:

Static is an audio quality killer for both your records and your record player. Managing static effectively can improve the lifespan of your vinyl as well as improve the longevity of your record player’s stylus. To manage static, you can get yourself anti-static inner sleeves or an anti-static brush that you can use while your vinyl is spinning on your player without the stylus engaged. They work wonders and clean your vinyl from dust to ensure you have the utmost audio quality when spinning your favourite album.

Handling Vinyl:

We all love the feeling of taking out a freshly new bought record to put on the player and our hands have been touching everything in-between browsing, unboxing, eating food, etc.

We are firm believers of handling your vinyl carefully. Make sure your hands and fingers are clean. Avoid touching the grooves on the actual vinyl. Handle your vinyl by holding the sides and placing them ever so carefully on your turntable.

Over and above handling, storing, cleaning, and enjoying the pure sonic sounds of your record, there are a handful of accessories you can get that will prolong the lifespan of your vinyl, player, and keep the music spinning... On our store, we have a handful of accessories you can get, like: Anti-static brushes, cleaning sets, anti-static slip mats, vinyl weights. Browse our online store for the products you think you need to give you the satisfaction that you are giving your vinyl and player a new lease on life.