Microscopic view of bug wing on record

There’s some “Sound Advice” by Tim Neely in the latest issue of Goldmine magazine. A question was posed about cleaning record using rubbing alcohol.  The high points of the text are below:

Is alcohol safe to use for cleaning all records?

The answer is “Yes” and “No.”

Yes - it is generally safe to use alcohol to clean records.

No - Never use alcohol on 78 rpm records.  There is a rish that the alcohol could cause the layers of 78’s to separate.

It Makes Sense That a Clean Record Sounds Better

Clean records are not as hard on your equipment - especially the stylus which will last longer if records are clean.  Also, there is some evidence that dirt, oils and more is hard on the record.

  You can easily purchase record cleaning solutions.  Most of these contain water, alcohol and a surfactant (big word that, in this case means a cleaning agent like detergent). There are some that believe the long term use of alcohol could have a negative effect on the vinyl.  This belief has not been proven, but for those who are fearful, there are many newer solutions that have no alcohol in them whatsoever. Nevertheless, short term use of solutions containing alcohol shouldn’t cause any problems. 

The Process Of Cleaning A Record Is More Than Deciding What Liquid To Use

Some people place the record on the turntable and clean it while it is turning.  Most would agree that it is easier to place the record on a table or desk covered by a couple lint-free towels (today’s mocrofiber works well). 

Apply a liberal amount of the liquid being careful not to get anything on the label (the cleaner could leave a residue or cause other damage).  Using a very soft, gentle brush that own’t scratch the record, and clean with the grooves. 

All the dirt and gunk will be brought to the surface.  The liquid will evaporate but the dirt will remain, so it is very important to remove all the gunk.  The two best ways to dry your record are with a chamois-based cloth or with micro-fiber.  Neither will leave lint or dust like a bath or paper towel.

After completely drying one side, flip the record over and repeat the process.

  Over time, you may get really tired of hand-washing all your vinyl records.  The     author, Time Neely says that it then may be time to invest into a record-cleaning machine.  He suggests two brands:  Nitty Gritty and VPI.  They combine the wet and drying into one continuous process.  The best part of these machines is that they use a vacuum that sucks all the fluid off the record.  It may be worth the investment if you have a large collection.

Remember, never use an alcohol-based cleaning solution on a 78 rpm record.  The alcohol could loosen the bonds between the 78 and cause them to separate.  The best way to clean your 78’s is to use  gentle soapy water - again being careful of the label.