Drake: Take

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Once your records are clean, it’s time to properly store them. Older records came in cheap sleeves that yellowed over time, so it’s worth upgrading them with a more effective set. A worn stylus can permanently damage your records. If you’re unsure about the condition, play on the safe side and replace it. As a matter of practice, I replace my stylus at least once every year. How long a stylus will last depends on how many records you play, the condition of your records, and how well you maintain the stylus with regular cleaning. On average, a diamond stylus tip will typically last between 800 and 1000 playing hours. (That’s a best-case scenario of about four records per day).

Take your applicator and apply a small amount of the record care solution to its surface as directed by the guidance.Cleaning Machines – Once you have a big collection, cleaning records by hand might be a lot of effort. There are vacuum cleaning machines that automatically apply a cleaning solution and then vacuum the liquid off again. There are also spin cleaners that clean the record with the solution as it spins with the brushes cleaning off the dirt. Although effective, they can be expensive. So when you’re not playing them, where is your vinyl going to live? And what are the best ways to store them? Ideally you’ll want to keep them in a clean dry place, avoiding extreme temperatures and humidity (so not in the bathroom or sauna if that’s what you were thinking…) What you’re doing is trying to avoid warping the record. Warping is when the record bends out of shape which often leads to unplayable vinyl. There are methods ofunwarpingbut prevention is the best cure, so keep them away from direct sunlight and high heat.

Vinyl is certainly not without its faults. But nevertheless, if you like the physical product and you’re prepared to put in a little extra groundwork to maintain your records – collecting vinyl can be one of the most rewarding ways to consume music.

Notes

Leave the record to dry naturally or wipe it over with a fresh microfibre lint-free cleaning cloth to dry off the solution.