Top 5 Stylus and Record Care Products for Vinyl Lovers

(Records Anonymous meeting)

“Hi, I’m Tom and I collect records.”

“Hi Tom.”

I’ve been collecting for about four years, and I try to keep my records in the best condition possible.  With used records I’ve picked up, there is most times an improvement in condition once they’re in my collection.  There are a few tools I use to keep my collection sounding and looking it’s best and I want to share those with you.

1. Carbon Fiber Record Cleaning Brush  – these inexpensive brushes remove particles (spoken pops and clicks) from your records and they get trapped in the bristles, but…how you’re supposed to clean them?  At $20 they aren’t the cheapest, but neither was that 1st pressing of Corinne Bailey Rae – Corinne Bailey Rae (I paid $130 for my copy).  I get a new one every year or so and move the old one to wet record cleaning duty, where it does the same job on records being added to my collection (more on that later in the post).

2. Stylus cleaning brush – these brushes are small and inexpensive, but do a great job of removing crud from your stylus; the part of the cartridge that comes in contact with the record (needle for you nonconformists).

3. Microfiber brush – these can be used dry or wet, but I only use my in wet record cleaning.  I use it to get cleaning solution in to the grooves of albums, and across the entire surface by applying moderate pressure and avoiding the label.  See the video below for a demo.

4. Diskkeeper Audiophile Inner Sleeves – the sleeves that most of your albums come in are paper and put hairline scratches on your precious vinyl.  A few companies make sleeves for record storage and I’ve tried two, Mofi (Mobile Fidelity) and Diskkeeper.  If you have picked up a Mofi album, then you have seen their sleeves.  I find the Disk Keeper Audiophile Sleeve to be sturdier than the Mofi.  They are the same price for a 50 pack (which doesn’t go as far and I initially thought), so there is no “more $ is better”, it boils down to preference.

5. Outer Record Sleeves – I loathe dust, I don’t really care for dusting…disdain for the former leads me to the latter.  I probably wouldn’t have a record collection if I had to dust it.   Which led me to using these to protect my lovelies from the elements.  I went with Diskkeeper for this product too, choosing the sealing variety.  They cost more than the non sealing version, but if you’re going to do something…get what you want.  No fingerprints, dust or greasy fingers on my records while making a selection or passing for someone to look upon.  It looks pretty spiffy too.  See below.

Am I right?

I don’t really collect 45’s, but I have sleeves for them too, the same variety I use for LP’s.  I made the decision to sleeve early into collecting (around 40 albums) so it wasn’t a huge investment in time or money, rather something I factor into my record buying budget for the month.  My initial investment for my sleeves (100 of inner and outer, plus 25 double LP sleeves) $125.  The order lasted about 9 months, mileage may vary…depending on how often you dig.

Are you ready to try these products out on some of your freshly cleaned records?

Take advantage of our introductory Record Cleaning Service special.

Includes:

• Six stage wet cleaning – dust removal, two passes of wet cleaning on my VPI 16.5, ultrasonic cleaning, vacuum drying, and static removal.

• Upgraded sleeves (all listed above) to include Audiophile Inner Sleeves, Resealable Outer Sleeves

• Return Shipping

Contact me for more information.