Skip to main content

Storing and Caring for Vinyl Records

Storing and Caring for Vinyl Records

The phonograph was invented in 1877 and played delicate cylinders wrapped in foil, later cylinders were wax, and now PVC vinyl. Vinyl records are one of the most stable physical sound recording formats ever developed. Vinyl records can last for decades if cared for properly.

Storing Vinyl 1
Image by Mick Haupt


Environment For Storing Vinyl
Vinyl can withstand low temperatures very well. It’s the heat that you need to worry about. Anything above 120°F (50°C) and your records will begin to warp. When storing them, cooler is better. It’s fine if you keep your records at room temperature, or around 65 to 70°F (18 to 21°C). Long term storage, below 50°F (7 to 10°C).

The softer and more pliable texture used today withstands these cold temperatures, but unfortunately can cause this warping effect when placed in a heated environment. You can’t store your vinyl records in a garage, unless it is climate controlled. Garages tend to get too hot and humid in the summer months.

Protective Vinyl Sleeves
It wasn’t uncommon to see advice like keep your records away from sunlight, away from any known heat source, and upright without any additional or unnecessary weight on top of them. Paper is better than PVC, but polythene is better than paper. Paper releases its own dust, which can cause damage to records. Some paper sleeves contain dyes, which could also damage records. Paper will also retain moisture, which can cause mold to form on your collection. If you go for paper sleeves, you should get ones that have an anti static plastic lining.

Polythene is a plastic based product and does not react nearly as harshly to warmer conditions when compared to PVC. 

Keeping Your Vinyl Clean
Lightly using warm water or hot water are sometimes used but there is no real benefit. If at all possible, the water should be distilled and deionized, otherwise the impurities will remain on the surface of the record. If there are no fingerprints or other oily smudges on the record, you can get away with using just water, which is actually better for the record, otherwise a record cleaning solution is a better choice.
Carbon fiber brushes or microfiber cloths are ideal, they remove any static charge that keeps dust sticking to the record’s surface. A decent alternative are those cloths you use to clean glasses or cell phone screens.
Cleaning records by hand will be the go to method for most vinyl enthusiasts and cleaning by hand is more than sufficient for protecting your records.

Storing Vinyl 2
Image by Cosmoh Love


Importance of proper vinyl storage
Keeping your records clean ensures the longevity of your records, your equipment and getting the best sound and listening experience.
Records collect dirt, dust and debris even when they are well cared for. Removing as much as possible on a regular basis is essential. Dust and debris becomes embedded in the grooves of the record affecting the sound quality over time.

Labels:
Location: United States

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Veronica Swift - A Little Taste

There has always been an uncomfortable tension between rhythm and blues and rock and roll, a cyclical influence that vacillates between inspiration, appropriation and separation. Popular music has broken off into categories of rock, pop, country, and R&B, each with their own origin stories. But R&B and rock, usually codified as vastly different, Black and white styles, have long been intertwined in ways our historical memory may have us forget.  Despite the innovation that comes from separation, rock and R&B always find their way back to each other. In recent years, rock veterans have turned to the genre’s classics for inspiration. Queens of the Stone Age veered from their typical hard rock with 2017’s Villains, a dance y album inspired by frontman Josh Homme’s love of 1920s jazz and swing, other Black genres that laid the groundwork for the popular music of today. The whitewashing of rock’s history has oversimplified music’s malleability and silenced the voices of Amer...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jackson Browne - Kisses Sweeter than Wine

Europe has a rich history of embracing blues and jazz music. In the early 20th century, American jazz musicians began touring Europe, introducing the continent to a new sound that was unlike anything they had ever heard before. Jazz became an instant hit among European audiences, and many European musicians began incorporating jazz elements into their music. Today, jazz festivals are held all over Europe, attracting thousands of fans from all over the world. In addition, many European cities have thriving blues scenes, with local bands and musicians performing regularly. Blues and jazz have also made their way to Asia, where they have found a devoted fan base. Japan, in particular, has a thriving jazz scene, with many Japanese musicians achieving international recognition. In addition, China has also seen a rise in the popularity of jazz music in recent years. Jazz festivals are now held in major Asian cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, attracting jazz lovers from all over ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Gap Band - The Sun Don't Shine Everyday

The Gap Band - The Sun Don't Shine Everyday Genre: RnB Released in: 1984 Duration: 5:14 "The Gap Band was most successful when working with producer Lonnie Simmons, with four consecutive gold records. Their party train soon slowed to a stop. They reformed in the 90s and occasionally toured and attempted a comeback album." See Previous Song of the Day 
Post a Comment
Read more