The Record Collectors Guild



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Handling your records:

Remember NEVER touch the surface of your records. Dust, oil, and other debris will clog up the grooves on the surface of the LP. This will reduce the lifespan of your record. When handling your records, LPs, 45s, and 78s, hold by the outer edge or the labeled area only. You should also NEVER stack your records or 45s on the turntable. When the non-spinning record falls onto the spinning record below, it will have the same effect as rubbing sandpaper across the surfaces. The use of a stacking spindle was commonplace in the 50's and 60's.

Storage:

Always keep your records in a vertical position when not being played. Never store them flat or exposed to high temperature or humidity. Dust and moisture can be very destructive to your vinyl recordings. Dust, as we discussed earlier, can collect in the grooves and cause excessive wear on the stylus and the surface itself. Moisture will collect in the jackets themselves and will cause mold to grow. Mold loves dark, moist environments. Another common mistake is not removing the plastic over wrap in an attempt to "preserve" the jacket. Over time, the plastic will start to shrink and cause the jacket and the record to warp.

Cleaning Your Records:

The Record Collectors Guild recommends that you should clean your discs both before and after playing them. This ensures optimum playback quality and reduces the dust during storage. The generally accepted procedure for cleaning your records, and the method we use here is as follows:

Vinyl LPs and 45s: The use of a soft, dust-free cloth and distilled water is generally acceptable. If dirt, skin oil, or other debris needs to be removed, then a 80/20 mixture of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol can be used. The alcohol should not exceed 20%. Make sure that the record is flat on a clean cloth and wipe gently in a circular motion (with the grooves).

78s should be cleaned with distilled water. The use of alcohol on a 78 will dissolve the shellac and ruin the recording. If in doubt, only use distilled water and a soft, lint-free cloth to gently clean your discs.