How to Clean Vinyl Records (2025): Vacuum, Solution, Wipes

Unless you buy They are brand new and even then your vinyl record can be dirty. New records are statistical and attract dust; old records have been sitting in other people’s basement boxes. Take it from someone who buys, sells, discovers, cleanses and repairs some dusty gems: Your record may require a good bath.

Below you will find everything you need to know about fresh (and keep) fresh wax. Interested in other audio prompts? Be sure to check out our list of the best turntables and a guide on how to upgrade home audio for free or cheap.

Updated March 2025: We added information about ultrasonic cleaning, update formats, and check links and prices.

Unlimited access to power wired. Getting a first-class report is too important to ignore $2.50 $1 year per month. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive content for subscribers only. Subscribe now.

Why does wiping not work

If you do a quick Amazon search, you’ll find a large number of products that claim to clean vinyl records. Often, they use sprays and some form of wiping equipment (such as cloth or mats) to clean the surface. However, the vinyl groove is so small that it is impossible for any fabric to extend into it. While you may put the cleaning liquid in the groove, it is very difficult to exit it. This means that traditional wipe or rotary style devices mostly just spread dirt in the grooves.

That’s where the vacuum suction or ultrasonic cleaner comes in. Fancy record cleaning machine This is from Pro-Iment ($450) The nasty cleaning fluid was physically absorbed from the groove using a platter and vacuum system and the record was rotated in both directions with an electric motor. Ultrasonic cleaners use high frequency sounds to fundamentally shake the dirt from the grooves. Both are very effective to ensure that the tiny grooves in your record are actually coming out of dirt, dust and dirt.

Trade tools

If you’re going to the suction route, you can buy an all-in-one record cleaner like the Pro-Iment above, or if you feel frugal, you can buy one of them These great accessories ($30) Vacuum for a small shop.

Then, all you need is Cleaning Solutions ($35), Cheap brushes ($7), one Vacuum ($50)and an old record player or spindle to pull the record out of the groove, turn the record into a record. Find old stores in thrift stores because you only need a table that can be rotated, not playing music. My results are amazing, using the system to clean up records, bringing the crusty old record to a shiny cleaning masterpiece a few minutes later.

If you want to ultrasound cleaning records (best for those with large collections, as you can clean multiple discs at once), I recommend Similar medium-sized universal model ($425). (The premium model will make you about twice as fast, but it can do the exact same thing.) Ultrasonic cleaner vibrates the cleaning solution at an ultra-high frequency while recording the surrounding cleaning solution, which helps grit and dirt fall into the cleaning basin as it rotates on the included motor. After cleaning, just place them on the included drying rack.