First, we will go over our thoughts on used and new records. Brand new records are normally in very good condition. However, you have to think about how they stamp records. You have a metal stamper that presses down into the vinyl. In researching this subject we have found some record producing companies spray what is called mold release compound onto the stamper, while others put an anti stick compound into the vinyl itself, negating the need for the release compound. The catch is, with a new record, there is no way to know. In some cases, this compound can reduce the audio quality a bit.
We also see some new records where static has caused small dirt particles to stick to the vinyl.
Used records are a whole different story. You can look at them and see surface scratches, or even grim, but without a super powerful microscope, you have no idea of knowing what is really on them. The store you bought it from could have cleaned it just using tap water, which will leave a residue. It could have been exposed to finger oils, tobacco or cannabis smoke, or had soda, beer, wine or whatever spilled on it then just wiped off.
So what is the point of all this? It comes down to the fact that we think you need to use a wet cleaner if you want your records really clean. And when it comes to wet cleaning, you can get really deep into it, or do some basic steps.
There are a variety of wet cleaning machines on the market and we want to go over our top four choices. Before you think: “why should I spend money on a cleaning machine?”, just add up the cost of your vinyl collection. For many collections, buying a good cleaning machine is less than a dollar or two per record in your library, or even less.
Let’s look at our favorite wet cleaning systems.