MAKE IT CUTE

The vibes of the vinyl section at Urban Outfitters are ~so immaculate~ that it's hard not to be inspired to grow your record collection. For music fanatics, vinyls are a fab way to enjoy your favorite albums without being tied to a device (guilty as charged).

But the totally retro aesthetic comes at a price: You have to keep your vinyl clean to make sure you can keep impressing your besties with crisp tunes. (Pro tip: You should technically be cleaning your records every 20 plays.)

Before you start stressing about which cleaning products to use, we've got *all* the vinyl maintenance hacks.

The method

To clean all your favorite records, start at the center above the label and follow the grooves clockwise until you reach the outer edge. Then, repeat this in the opposite direction until you reach the center again. Make sure to do this gently with a flat finger.

Dusting tool

When there's too much dust on your vinyl, it can cause a crackling sound that absolutely ruins a record's iconic sound. To combat this, use a carbon fiber brush to clean your records. This helps avoid static electricity.

Boundless Audio Record Cleaner Brush, $15

Cleaning solution

When cleaning your records, it's best to use a special cleaning fluid from a record-cleaning kit instead of typical cleaning products. Dish soap and tap water could leave a residue on your vinyl, which could cause sound distortion.

Pro tip: Use deionized or distilled water (just nothing with isopropyl alcohol in it, pls) to prevent excess minerals from messing with your vinyl's rims. 

EVEO Premium Vinyl Record Cleaner Kit, $22

Drying towel

After you're done cleaning your record, dry it off with is a microfiber cleaning cloth (we heart these because they pick up dust and remove static).

HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, $14

Tag us in your record collection pics on Instagram @girlslifemag!

Slider image: @rubyonvinyl
Top image: @jeaurdynspyns

by Grace Walker and Madi Willoughby | 10/24/2023