I always enjoy watching how other people clean their records. It seems like practically everyone has their own method. To me, the most important thing is that it works for YOU. Enjoy the music!
Well done Melinda. What a joy it is restoring an old dingy record then playing it and having it sound beautiful. It takes you back in time to when that record was brand new. So worth the time and money.
Thank you so much for showing how you take care of your records. I need to clean some of my records too!! I will tune in next time. Have a pleasant rest of your week. Take Care. 🎤🎵🎸🥁
All I can say is you’re a better person than I Melinda. I give you a tremendous amount of credit for putting in so much energy into getting your records and jacket covers clean and I’m obsessive compulsive about things like this. Some of my record jackets may be worn from keeping them packed to tightly in their shelves so that’s the price I paid for squeezing them together. Every one of my 600+ vinyl records that I wanted to keep has been treated like an a DaVinci since the day I bought them new. The rest of them were just not quality recordings but the records that I enjoy have been treated with Last Record Cleaner and Last Record Treatment then put into MOFI inner sleeves. No record cleaners involved. It’s just a matter of keeping them in the same condition throughout the years. I purchased too many poor quality recordings In the past so I gave over 800 to my sons who can do with them what they please. The only thing that I want to do now is to create my own database of my recordings that I have on vinyl snd CD and try to determine their current worth. Then I’ll keep up with their value over the years that I have left on this earth. This way my sons will have a very good idea of my collections value. I own over 2000 CDs, most of them sound incredible but most cannot compare to vinyl recordings.
I highly recommend using Discogs to keep up with the values of your record collection. That's what I use and my family will thank me for it someday. Lol. I appreciate your kind words. I do try my best to clean every record and make it look and sound it's best. Thank you and take care.
You're welcome. The #1 comment I get on my channel is that my records look beautiful and what inner sleeves am I using. 🤗♥️ Congratulations on making such awesome products.
Excellent! I learned a lot from your methods, especially applying the Mr. Clean magic erasers. I have lots of bargin bin "trashed" records, especially the covers. how to gently use common household cleaners is a godsend!
Thanks for recommending the Magic Eraser, I had not thought about using it before. I also collect 1st edition/1st printing books and I'm going to try out the Magic Eraser on a few dust jackets that need a little love and attention. Funny thing is that after I watched your video, I asked my wife if she would add some Magic Mr. Clean to the grocery list and she said, 'do you mean Magic Eraser' and I said 'yes, that's it', then she went and pulled one out from the pantry and threw it at me 🤣🤘
Kudos to you Melinda. Funny thing is I was cleaning up some of my father’s records. Great tip for cleaning album covers with Mr Clean Magic eraser. Gonna try it on those album covers. I purchased the same sleeves from Vinyl Storage Solution and they are great although I still use the Mofi inner sleeves. As for record cleaning duties, it is handled by my VPI record cleaner. Great info.
Thank you! Don't press too hard when using the magic erasers. Sometimes they work too well and can remove words or color. 😳 It sounds like you know what you're doing.🤗 Take care.
Great video Melinda. I love my vinyl vac. I used it for every record I buy. I have been buying the VSS sleeves for my gatefolds and love them. Rock on!
Hi Melinda again, I have another recommendation for you. You have previously mentioned your appreciation of Pink Floyd and there is now out a wonderful edition of the 1987 album 'A momentary lapse of reason'. It is available on double vinyl but I picked up the CD/ Blu ray version. The album remix is a totally immersive listening experience when played at a decent volume! It very much transforms the original recording and is well worth a listen.
Thank you for letting me know. I don't have that album yet. I'm glad to hear that the sound is very good. Maybe I can find a deal on it. Have a wonderful week! 😀♥️
I have a VPI Record Vac and love it, yes, it's more than the Vinyl Vac, but I think it's worth it. When you have a larger collection it's nice to have a clean record in literally 60 seconds with little effort. That being said, as long as you clean your records I'm all for whatever you use. Great video :)
The VPI probably comes in handy when you have a large number of records to clean at a time. Deep cleaning on r records is always a good thing. Thank you and take care.
Nice tutorial Melinda. When I’m cleaning “dirty”used LP covers I aim for an 85% improvement or better. Sometimes if you aim for 100% , you overdo it ,and remove colour or printing unintentionally. Then you regret it.
I use something very similar to the vinyl vac. Except I just made my own. You can use old vacuum attachments or go buy some pvc pipe. I use an old broken turntable to put the records on. & a Mobile Fidelity brush & L'art Du Son fluid. The brush & fluid are the only things I actually had to pay for. But I made my own wands for my mini shop vac. Also I line the attachments with craft felt that has adhesive on one side that I got at walmart. They're the size of a standard sheet of paper & I got a pack of 5 two or three years ago & still have some. Because you only need to cut out the size you need to line the slit cut in the attachment where the dirty fluid gets sucked into. I have an attachment for LPs & a smaller one for 7" records.
Another awesome video Melinda. I'm the same as you when it comes to the inner sleeves. I really can't stand those paper sleeves because they can leave surface scratches on the vinyl. I am in the process of replacing all my paper inner sleeves with the anti static plastic ones. I also love to have all my records in PVC outer sleeves as well. I get all mine on Ebay, they're made by a company called Spincare. They are very good and does the job well for me, I really love them. For cleaning records I use a completely different method. What I use to clean them is Titebond II wood glue. Now this might sound crazy, but I've seen various videos on TH-cam demonstrating this method and it actually does work. When you peel off the dry glue it pulls all the dirt and gunk out of the grooves. The results are amazing. I do like the magic eraser tip for cleaning the jackets. I have a few rather grubby looking ones myself. I might get one and give it a try myself. Thanks for the tip Melinda. Take care.
The glue method sounds interesting. I have heard of others cleaning their records that way. 😀 The inner and outer sleeves really do a great job of protecting records. Thank you and take care.
I clean my vinyl pretty much the same way but I've never really tried to clean an album cover. I have like a little record spinner thing I fell with the distilled water to rinse mine before I hit him with the record vacuum. Wonderful video Melinda
I clean my vinyl with a 6 liter ultrasonic cleaning tank and a Cleaner Vinyl Pro motor assembly. I heat the tank to 30 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes and air dry on a dish rack. Great results. Cheers.
I'm so glad that you did this video, thank you! I never thought about using the magic eraser and I have several of them -- I stocked up when they were on sale -- I'm adding one to my record care box today. I am considering trying the Vinyl Vac. I've tried to win one a few times, as you know, but haven't gotten lucky 😂. I just need to invest in one. I love you and your channel, Melinda. ❤️
The Vinyl Vac isn't that expensive and it's so worth it. I need to find that magic eraser sale. They have a gazillion uses. Lol. Thank you so much Lisa. ♥️ Take care.
Good tips, MM! One thing I think is very important is to clean a record every time I play it by letting it do a few turns under a carbon fiber record brush before lowering the stylus. There's always some household dust settling on a disc. (Having cleaned a couple of new records and not noticing a difference, I only do wet cleaning if there's a problem. Some may hear an improvement, but that's not my experience.)
Outstanding tutorial Melinda! I learned a lot - and holy heck that Magic Eraser cleaned that album up nice! I've used them for other things, but never even thought of using it for album jackets. - Joel
They work great as long as I don't press too hard when using it. They can take the shine off of a laminated album. For an old album like the one I showed, it greatly improves the appearance. I appreciate your kind words! Have a wonderful weekend.
Columbia Classical never sounded as good as Columbia's Jazz pressings, but probably their best sounding were still the early six eye pressings. They were still using a mostly tube recording/mixing/cutting chain back then, and the strings and pianos have a nice warmth too them. Much better than the later two eye and logo circle stuff. I'm sure that Chopin record must be nice, I think I have that on mono somewhere (sometimes it can be hard to keep track haha).
You know, it sounds good but it didn't blow me away like so many of the 6 eye Columbia labels do. The separation of instruments wasn't as great as I expected. It's still a beautiful piece of music and very enjoyable. Thank you and take care.
You made cleaning record a sience with chemicals and brushes for every groove a " special," one.😂😂😂😂 And vacum cleaner too!!!😂😂😂😂 You made my day. Thank you very much.😁😂🤣 Take care.🌹
Great educational video. I used to clean my records using a Spin Clean record cleaner, but I felt it ended up being a lot of work for just OK results. Your method seems like it's more work but with probably better results. I'll have to give your method a try. Thank you for the time and effort you put in to show us how you care for your growing vinyl collection!
Aloha Melinda, Thank you for such an awesome informative video. Thanks to you, I also use the Vinyl Vac. I also used that paint fiber brush that you used. I was purchasing mofi rice inner sleeves, than I started buying "Hudson rice paper inner sleeves now " last time I purchased them they were (500) count for $65.99, now they are $ 75.99 for (500) count, still a good deal for me. Thanks again Melinda, looking forward to seeing your next video. Mahalo Ed
Aloha! That is a great deal for inner sleeves. 😃 The Vinyl Vac is great. My records always sound so much better after using it. Thank you and take care.
I absolutely love VSS outer sleeves- particularly the 4 mil. dual pocket resealable ones. I'm currently in the process of sleeving the rest of my collection. Little tip- they sell magic eraser knock offs at the Dollar Tree and they work just as good!
Hi Melinda … props to your fashion sense - great shirt! Also, good tips for cleaning - I have the ProJect machine now and I like it, but I’ve also had good success with the manual spin clean type washers. The trim brush from the paint store is a clever hack, I have to say … good tips!
I also use vinyl storage solutions, great product. I wish Mike hadn't discontinued the clear inner sleeves tho, I like how you could still see some of the back cover and also how you could look at both sides of your vinyl without removing it from the sleeve.
I’ve used regular Lysol wipes to remove dirt from sleeves and it works well, never thought of trying the magic eraser though. I’ll give it a go, thanks.
HI Melinda, I enjoyed this video. Your so clever with the products you use. I would have never thought of Mr. Clean wipes but I can see they work well. Take care
My collection started when I was a kid. I wouldn't attempt to clean having so many aged jackets. I have the felt like velvet soft brushes. Amps with humming usually means the power supply capacitors need to be replaced. Big vinyl collection on the Beatles. Got both the red and blue vinyl 1962-1966, 1967- 1970.
Thanks Melinda! Great video as usual. I really don't like to put my records out of the sleeve, i keep them inside in a sleeve very thik of polyline. I know of the ringware, but i have records of over 40 years and they don't have ringware and they never has to be outside the cover, and sound amazing, after the wet cleaning process, and my only product i use is destilled water in a spray bottle, and a super soft brush, like you have in the video. And thats all. Thanks, Melinda for the Video!!!
A record spa? Now I know where to send my records to. Nice demonstration I don’t have anything fancy but a spin clean. Lucky for me my local store just got in one of those nice ultrasonic systems he said I can use for free. You system is easy to use
Some comic collectors like to use the Mr. Clean MagicErasers on covers as well. Thanks for showing. Believe it or not, some have used a slice of Wonder Bread...! If I have a very sticky dust jacket or other surface that's plastic coated, I have decades of experience using VM & P Naphtha to remove decal residue. You have to use caution though because it can lift off colors (and it's highly flammable). Isopropyl alcohol is good in some cases to remove marker ink marks, and hairsprays sometimes will dissolve ballpoint pen ink.
My cleaning protocol is to first not buy any really dirty records and second to use a dry swiffer cloth to clean any used ones I buy. You'd be surprised how well those things work to clean off dust and grime from a record. btw that has to be the nicest counter I've ever seen someone cleaning records on :)
Wouldn't a dry cloth tend to scratch the vinyl if there were minute pieces of grit in the grooves? I believe using a liquid to loosen the dirt is a better first step.
Hi Melinda just a quick note to say what interesting and engaging videos you do. Your obvious enthusiasm for the art of record collecting always shines through. This video was just as interesting as your others. I also wanted to give you a couple of music tips. Firstly I haven't heard you mention the fantastic group The Velvet Underground. There is currently a bit of a renewed interest because of a new documentary streaming on Apple. Start with the wonderful 1970 album 'Loaded' and work your way back to the earlier stuff. There was some amazing music from that group. I also wanted to recommend the new Black Sabbath set for the very underrated 1976 album 'Technical Ecstasy'. The set showcases an amazing sounding album that marked a real progression in the band's songwriting. Cool stuff. I should also add that I am a CD devotee rather than vinyl collector but keen on things that go on in the vinyl community. Thanks again for your great videos. You have a real talent for presenting interesting and valuable info!
I love that CD devotees watch my channel. It really does come down to the music. I need to check out The Velvet Underground. I haven't given them a chance yet even though they are very popular. I also need to hear that Black Sabbath album. That album gets mixed reviews and I am curious about it. Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate the encouragement. Have a great night.
Nice video, Melinda. I use almost the exact same process for cleaning my records and it works great. I get a little more aggressive scrubbing them with the paint edger, too, and have no issues with scratching as long as you go with the grooves. The Vinyl Vac is great, inexpensive tool for record cleaning.
Giday, I use a spin clean MkII record washer, it has a bright yellow dish so you can see the dirt that gets removed from the grooves, you don’t vacuum have to worry about the label getting wet as this product cleans so the water drips around not over keeping them dry,, it comes with soft carbon brushes and you insert these into the bowl with rollers for record sizes you rotate the record manually after you gently slide the vinyl edge between them it’s great I use it especially on secondhand or new records that have press residue it looks after your stylus as well happy listening…
I've seen the Spin Clean and I'm sure it does a good job. I know people that use it to clean the records and then use the Vinyl Vac to dry them. Thank you and take care.
I used to get razed by my friends growing up as I always cleaned the lp first. Ha. 40 plus years later they still are sounding great. Started using Discwasher sleeves in early 80s. Mofi are the same. Static free and as new. Well worth the investment
Most of the time, to clean used record covers, I just use a very slightly damp microfiber cleaning cloth to gently remove any gunk, grime, or marks from covers. I also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean the record grooves around and around. For really dirty or dusty records, I use a soft soapy sponge with some dishwashing soap to loosen off any dust or to remove finger prints and wash off the extra soap under a slightly cool tap in the kitchen. Yes, I know that using distilled water is far better (where gallon jugs are cheap at Walmart, etc.), but for thrift store records, my method is just fine and makes a big difference. Obviously, I would treat more valuable or new records with greater care (record cleaning liquids and a microfiber cloth or other methods). :)
Now THAT"S a deep clean. All I do is spray on my homemade formula and wipe off with a micro fiber right there on my turntable. Probably not the best cleaning, but I don't have that much patience. Looked like that eraser did a pretty darn good job.
Thank you! I used to use micro fiber clothes as well. The vacuum keeps the records from getting the lint residue on them. That's why I made the switch. Do what works for you. 😃Those magic erasers are an amazing invention. Take care.
What a great video! I learned so much and I know I'm going to have questions once I watch it again. I had no idea you could clean the album cover. Yes I never use the paper sleeves. You know what I love is the sleeves they have out now that have plastic inside the paper. You know what I mean like the Beatles 180 g.
Great video Melinda, I will look to see if any of those products are available over here in England. Those PVC record sleeves certainly keep your records in good condition. I have some records I purchased back in the mid-70s where the sleeves are as pristine as when I bought them. But big warning! Beware of "outgassing" (aka "offgassing"). I'd not heard of it until very recently and decided to go through my entire collection. Sure enough four records were badly affected, two of which entirely unplayable. Not a large number considering I have nearly 1,000 LPs but these were records that I had had a very long time, meant a lot to me and were very difficult to replace. I ended up removing all the records from their pvc sleeves and selling as many of the sleeves as I could on eBay. I have about 300 left still! Love the section where you demonstrated the vinyl vac. Very ASMR!
@@MelindaMurphy It's not the inner sleeves Melinda but the clear PVC outer ones. Poly outers (kinda cloudy, softer plastic) are OK though, as are the poly inner liners you use. Its a risk that you have to weigh up though. I had just under 1,000 LPs and four were ruined. It might be worth you doing a bit of searching on the net about it. There's quite a bit of discussion on Discogs and other forums and some videos on TH-cam too.
I picked up a VPI 16.5 years ago and I love it, but honestly I probably could've saved money and just done far less expensive methods. Inner and outer sleeves are an absolute must for me for sure though.
The VPI machines are nice but I have been very happy with the Vinyl Vac. I agree that buying inner and outer sleeves are a must. They are well worth the investment. Thank you and take care.
Great video ! Thanks for demonstrating these items. I'm a big fan of Vinyl Storage Solutions products , especially the dual pocket with flap outer sleeves. I've been using the Mofi inners for years but lately they are hard to find and expensive when you do find them , so I will be giving the VSS inners a try.
owning vinyl is hard work I guess. takes so much cleaning the actual records and turntables . it's delicate but I'm sure uts worth it beautiful melinda. another great video and great tips 👍
Great info and education as always, Melinda! I've never seen the dual flap double pocket sleeve before - the ones I use from Vinyl Storage Solutions are already sealed on the top, so that top flap kinda surprised me! Maybe I'm not using the 4 Mil, although I thought I was...thanks also for the info I asked you about on FB regarding the Jukebox cards, it was very helpful! - TC
I'm glad I was able to help. Having a jukebox is really cool. There are several different choices when it comes to the VSS sleeves. I definitely like the thickness of the the 4 mil sleeves best. Thank you and take care.
Either Melinda dosent sleep or is a time management pro. She cleans her huge lp collection, does weekly vids, replies to thousands of comments, travels to buy records, employed, keeps house perfect, lounges in her pool, etc that we dont know about. Maybe she has clones.
I use the Spin Clean (plastic yellow in colour) manually operated machine. Does a good job but has cloths to dry the vinyl. The Vinyl Vac for drying looks a better bet so will probably get one of those to replace the cloths.
I personally like the Vinyl Vac better than micro fiber clothes. The ones I used left some lint behind. Whatever you decide, it sounds like you take good care of your records. Thank you and take care.
That record really looks nice after cleaning. Very strange I have Vladimir Horowitz Chopin Sonata in B-Flat Minor op.35. RCA Victor Red Seal Record in very good condition with a sticker on the label with "Sonia Horowitz" written on it. Just off hand, I'd say it was her record. Thanks for the demo!
Great video,Melinda.Thanx for taking the time.Many sixties albums were not laminated on the back cover.Sny tips for this? I use pencil erasors,,but it's only partially successful.
There are many little things we can try to make our records look better but there's nothing wrong with an album cover that looks it's age. The marks give them character and reveals the history (like the initials for example). Thank you and have a great weekend. 🎃.
Great idea the magic eraser, I know it does a great job on a tub going to use it on the cover of old albums. Also, great video about cleaning vinyl and the inner and outer sleeve products. I'll check that Canadian company out. And thanks for Andrews channel, its great.
I was thinking, "She must have OCDC" or whatever that compulsive thing is. But then I remembered what I do. I will take a black or red ballpoint pen and, if a record cover has the red or black parts worn, I'll tap the point of the pen many, many times onto the cover until the worn part is covered. It comes out almost unnoticable at arms-length. I get a huge satisfaction from it. I'm the Georges Seurat of cover restoration. I'm also retired.
I agree. I don't always remove the former owners name. I still have those initials on the record label. 😃 I wouldn't risk trying that on the label. Thank you and take care.
Great to see the rapid response you now receive [over 200 views a hour]. Would be interesting to give him your beaten up KISS LP, you purchased only for the rarity, obviously not the condition. A Before & After vid for you and a complete process vid for him
Haha! He would have to be a complete miracle worker to make that record look good. We actually joked about that. 😃 If I thought he could do something with it, I would gladly send it his way. Thank you and take care.
Thank you, great video. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 I do wet cleaning just like you except I don't use the Vinyl Vac. For drying I use very soft microfiber towels. I just don‘t know, what to do with damaged covers.
Sometimes we can make small touch ups and sometimes we just live with the album covers flaws. Some age on a record looks cool. 😃 Thank you and take care.
I would like to let you know about what I do after I have cleaned a used record that I have bought that still has an annoying amount of surface noise and it is not from scratches. I use a dirt devil steam cleaner filled with distilled water that I bought from amazon for $35. There are videos on you tube showing the technique. I have had some pretty good luck. It doesn't work every time, but many times it does. If you choose to try this make sure you keep the nozzle at least an inch away from the record surface.
Great video. I've never tried a Magic Eraser, but will give it a shot. Probably best to avoid them with glossy covers, as in my experience Magic Erasers can dull glossy surfaces. For cleaning covers I will normally use a white pencil eraser, like the Pentel Hi-Polymer plastic eraser, which works super well. On glossy laminated covers, those alcohol sanitizing wipes we've all been using during the pandemic are very effective. For inner and outer sleeves I like the stuff from Sleeve City. Their Ultimate Outer sleeves are made from polypropylene, which gives them a super clarity that really makes the artwork pop much more than with typical polyethylene sleeves.
It sounds like you know what you're doing. You are right about the laminated covers. You can usually wipe them with a damp cloth and be done. Thank you and take care.
good video melinda like the vinyl vac i use baby wipes and then a soft cloth seems to do the job and keep an eye out for some uriah heep demons and wizards is a good one to start with
I would clean them even with a cheap record player. Cleaning not only saves wear on your stylus, but that same dirt that can damage your stylus is also damaging the grooves of your records. Take care of them now, and they will sound even better when you get an upgraded turntable.
I have a standard turntable, and i clean my records. And if you don't wan't to clean the records, get a antistatic brush and before you put the needle, gently apply the brush into the grooves and this solve the dirt and pops of you're records. Its only a suggestion. Take care.
Hi Melinda, great video! I started collecting vinyl earlier this year and find your videos very informative. Do you keep the hype sticker or the original shrink wrap of your records?
Most of the time I do keep the shrink wrap on a record and I do love keeping the hype stickers intact. If the shrink wrap is tattered or yellow with age I do remove it. Thank you and take care.
9:00 Melinda, the only thing I don't like about Mr. Clean Magic Erasers is apparently, they contain formaldehyde which is carcinogenic and can cause cancer. I suppose if you like using them since they are effective, you may want to wear gloves or plastic sandwich bags on your hands to protect your skin from absorbing any formaldehyde. All the best! :)
I enjoy all music formats for different reasons. I have music on vinyl, CDs, and various streaming services. What I like about vinyl is the sound quality which is often more natural and compelling musically. Yet vinyl does have to be cared for that can be a bit of a nuisance. My CD collection is probably a bit larger than my LPs. I like the CD format for it's ease of use, instant track selection, and purity of sound for lack of a better word. My bluesound streamer DAC is wonderful for bringing an enormous catalog of music with any number of steaming services such as Tidal and Spotify. The sound that I get is pretty much CD quality or better. And the convenience factor and flexibility is much superior to LPs or CDs.
I completely understand that I picked the most inconvenient and expensive music format. Lol. I love vinyl but I enjoy CD's and streaming while in the car. Thank you and take care.
Great video Melinda. I made my own vinyl vac wands, one for LPs and one for my 45s. I had about $5 in it and a little bit of time. I use my Spin Clean and then use my my vinyl vac that I made to suck up the liquid off the record instead of drying it with a micro fiber towel. I also sometimes use the paint edger like yours. A guy on you tube uses the vinegar based clear Windex, he said don't use the blue one.
I personally prefer the Vinyl Vac over micro fiber clothes as well. I'm not sure I would use any Windex on my records but that's just me. 😃 Thank you and take care.
I find with outer sleeves it’s a bit of a minefield because of the different sizes of record sleeves like gatefolds and wider spines etc. Then when you pick them you have to consider if you’re happy having some that might not be as transparent and then thickness of the plastic etc. I’ve been using the Spin Care ones from Amazon which seem to fit most. As for the inners, I think they’re Palmer poly lined paper ones. The mofi ones are stupid expensive in the UK. I think average £40 ($55) for 50. Which at over a dollar/pound per sleeve is insane to spend on something where there are cheaper alternatives. The deals may be better in the US though? With those things I just tend to try different ones and see how they are. It’s kind of a gamble until you find the ones that you like best.
The price of the inner sleeves used to be very reasonable here in the US. Not anymore. The shortage and inflation have caused the price to increase. I bought the ones from Vinyl Storage Solutions when they were having a sale and they were more affordable. Thank you and take care.
Another excellent video, I especially like the "eraser" tip - thanks Melinda - just a side comment, if you should ever have an opportunity to use or acquire one of the ultra sonic machines don't rule them out - I used a "Record Doctor" for years, and actually I still use it as a starting point with really mishandled records - which is similar to your process with very good results using "Last" products - couple of years ago I had a chance to buy an ultra sonic machine that had been factory reconditioned, saved a significant amount of money - the results took me by surprise - no mistaking the improvement over my original Record Doctor vacuum type machine. On one of my most prized records, the first time I used it, I was truly flabbergasted with the improved sonics and this record was already in pristine condition.
Thanks Melinda, I appreciate your reply - I do want to say that I didn't mean for my comment to come across as a "one up" - just sharing my experience - I think you took it down which I totally get and I apologize for kind of missing the boat - but I do want to express that I've followed you from the beginning and I'm so impressed with your work, this video is completely top shelf and excellently done, imho - - the record you showed after your process looked unbelievable - it was so cool that you got that shot perfectly - - so thanks for all and I hope you can carry on with your excellent work - by the way - I purchased one of the records from your top 20 - Miles Davis - it was, again imho, exactly how you described it!
Hi Melinda mobile fidelity just raised the price to 50 00 for 50 sleeves absolutely ridiculous I just purchased 75 sleeves exactly like the mofi sleeves for like 28.
I looked at walmart recently for something to clean my records and they had a little boxed audiotechnica set that came with a tiny black squirt bottle of cleaner and a little brush and wanted $24 for it. Well I'd recently back at the start of the Fall remodeled the master bedroom here at the house and I painted it, along with new flooring and thought those little edger brushes would be perfect and now that's all I use. I've got a carbon fiber brush and blower/puffer coming I found from Amazon tomorrow. The vinylvac I'd love but it would probably scare my poor cat as she hates the vac noise. I've seen some people here on youtube use nail manicure brushes and I cannot, every single one of those I've ever owned to keep under my nails clean are stiff and I could see scratching a record. What do you recommend for stylus cleaning? I've seen people lower one onto a tiny piece of magic eraser and I've been using a kids rounded soft bristled oral b brush to clean mine. When you live in a rural area you learn to improvise and find ways of keeping your collection clean that requires thinking outside of the box. I've next got to order some better inner sleeves that aren't paper as everything except my two Nirvana records came in paper sleeves which just creates dust.
I personally use an Onzow Zero Dust stylus cleaner. They aren't cheap at around $40 but it works great and can be rinsed off and used over and over again. Best wishes. 🤗♥️
Thanks for the shout-out Melinda! Great, thorough demonstration.
Thank you! I love the Vinyl Vac. ♥️
Hi @Melinda Murphy! Thanks so much for the shoutout! You’re killing it with the Magic Eraser technique! Love the videos!
You're welcome. 🤗♥️ I love hearing a compliment from the professional. Thank you.
I always enjoy watching how other people clean their records. It seems like practically everyone has their own method. To me, the most important thing is that it works for YOU. Enjoy the music!
I agree. We need to do what is most convenient and what works the best for our particular needs. 😃 Thank you and take care.
Well done Melinda. What a joy it is restoring an old dingy record then playing it and having it sound beautiful.
It takes you back in time to when that record was brand new. So worth the time and money.
I agree. The work is worth it. This record now sounds great. Thank you and take care.
Thank you so much for showing how you take care of your records. I need to clean some of my records too!!
I will tune in next time.
Have a pleasant rest of your week. Take Care. 🎤🎵🎸🥁
Thank you Dianne! May the rest of the week go by quickly. 😃Take care.
All I can say is you’re a better person than I Melinda. I give you a tremendous amount of credit for putting in so much energy into getting your records and jacket covers clean and I’m obsessive compulsive about things like this. Some of my record jackets may be worn from keeping them packed to tightly in their shelves so that’s the price I paid for squeezing them together. Every one of my 600+ vinyl records that I wanted to keep has been treated like an a DaVinci since the day I bought them new. The rest of them were just not quality recordings but the records that I enjoy have been treated with Last Record Cleaner and Last Record Treatment then put into MOFI inner sleeves. No record cleaners involved. It’s just a matter of keeping them in the same condition throughout the years. I purchased too many poor quality recordings In the past so I gave over 800 to my sons who can do with them what they please. The only thing that I want to do now is to create my own database of my recordings that I have on vinyl snd CD and try to determine their current worth. Then I’ll keep up with their value over the years that I have left on this earth. This way my sons will have a very good idea of my collections value. I own over 2000 CDs, most of them sound incredible but most cannot compare to vinyl recordings.
I highly recommend using Discogs to keep up with the values of your record collection. That's what I use and my family will thank me for it someday. Lol. I appreciate your kind words. I do try my best to clean every record and make it look and sound it's best. Thank you and take care.
Hi Melinda, thanks for the shout out. Great video as always. Mike
You're welcome. The #1 comment I get on my channel is that my records look beautiful and what inner sleeves am I using. 🤗♥️ Congratulations on making such awesome products.
First thing. That shirt is the coolest concert T-shirt I think I've ever seen. A tie-dye Rolling Stones now that is something else🙀.
Thank you! 🤗
Excellent! I learned a lot from your methods, especially applying the Mr. Clean magic erasers. I have lots of bargin bin "trashed" records, especially the covers.
how to gently use common household cleaners is a godsend!
Yeah the Mr. Clean magic erasers - that’s a good tip I’m going to give it a try.
The magic eraser has so many purposes. They are very effective so be sure not to press down on the album cover very hard. Best wishes and take care.
That Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Is A Brilliant Idea...Ive Been Meaning To Purchase That For My Microwave Oven...
You can use them for just about everything. 🤗♥️
Thanks for recommending the Magic Eraser, I had not thought about using it before. I also collect 1st edition/1st printing books and I'm going to try out the Magic Eraser on a few dust jackets that need a little love and attention. Funny thing is that after I watched your video, I asked my wife if she would add some Magic Mr. Clean to the grocery list and she said, 'do you mean Magic Eraser' and I said 'yes, that's it', then she went and pulled one out from the pantry and threw it at me 🤣🤘
Haha! They are so handy and have so many uses. They are probably on alot of pantries. 😀 Thank you and take care.
Spa Treatment... That's A Splendid Way To Put It!...🙂🙂
Haha! I thought it was funny. 😃
Kudos to you Melinda. Funny thing is I was cleaning up some of my father’s records. Great tip for cleaning album covers with Mr Clean Magic eraser. Gonna try it on those album covers. I purchased the same sleeves from Vinyl Storage Solution and they are great although I still use the Mofi inner sleeves. As for record cleaning duties, it is handled by my VPI record cleaner. Great info.
Thank you! Don't press too hard when using the magic erasers. Sometimes they work too well and can remove words or color. 😳 It sounds like you know what you're doing.🤗 Take care.
Great video Melinda. I love my vinyl vac. I used it for every record I buy. I have been buying the VSS sleeves for my gatefolds and love them. Rock on!
Very cool. You know exactly how great these products are. 🤗♥️ Thank you and take care.
Hi Melinda, thanks for the information, I’ll give it a try. BTW, super cute sweatshirt!
Thank you so much! 🤗♥️
Hi Melinda again, I have another recommendation for you. You have previously mentioned your appreciation of Pink Floyd and there is now out a wonderful edition of the 1987 album 'A momentary lapse of reason'. It is available on double vinyl but I picked up the CD/ Blu ray version. The album remix is a totally immersive listening experience when played at a decent volume! It very much transforms the original recording and is well worth a listen.
Thank you for letting me know. I don't have that album yet. I'm glad to hear that the sound is very good. Maybe I can find a deal on it. Have a wonderful week! 😀♥️
I have a VPI Record Vac and love it, yes, it's more than the Vinyl Vac, but I think it's worth it. When you have a larger collection it's nice to have a clean record in literally 60 seconds with little effort. That being said, as long as you clean your records I'm all for whatever you use. Great video :)
The VPI probably comes in handy when you have a large number of records to clean at a time. Deep cleaning on r records is always a good thing. Thank you and take care.
Nice tutorial Melinda. When I’m cleaning “dirty”used LP covers I aim for an 85% improvement or better. Sometimes if you aim for 100% , you overdo it ,and remove colour or printing unintentionally. Then you regret it.
I agree! I try not to overdue it. Sometimes the original flaw looks better than the clean up. 😃 Thank you and take care.
I love your videos, Melinda. They always put a smile on my face. I’m glad I subscribed.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. 🤗♥️
Great tips...I use furniture polish spray on a cloth to bring the shine back on dusty covers.
I use something very similar to the vinyl vac. Except I just made my own. You can use old vacuum attachments or go buy some pvc pipe. I use an old broken turntable to put the records on. & a Mobile Fidelity brush & L'art Du Son fluid. The brush & fluid are the only things I actually had to pay for. But I made my own wands for my mini shop vac. Also I line the attachments with craft felt that has adhesive on one side that I got at walmart. They're the size of a standard sheet of paper & I got a pack of 5 two or three years ago & still have some. Because you only need to cut out the size you need to line the slit cut in the attachment where the dirty fluid gets sucked into. I have an attachment for LPs & a smaller one for 7" records.
I appreciate your creativity. An old turntable works perfectly. 😀♥️ Have a great weekend!
I hate to take business away from someone but if you can just make your own, why not?
Another awesome video Melinda. I'm the same as you when it comes to the inner sleeves. I really can't stand those paper sleeves because they can leave surface scratches on the vinyl. I am in the process of replacing all my paper inner sleeves with the anti static plastic ones. I also love to have all my records in PVC outer sleeves as well. I get all mine on Ebay, they're made by a company called Spincare. They are very good and does the job well for me, I really love them. For cleaning records I use a completely different method. What I use to clean them is Titebond II wood glue. Now this might sound crazy, but I've seen various videos on TH-cam demonstrating this method and it actually does work. When you peel off the dry glue it pulls all the dirt and gunk out of the grooves. The results are amazing. I do like the magic eraser tip for cleaning the jackets. I have a few rather grubby looking ones myself. I might get one and give it a try myself. Thanks for the tip Melinda. Take care.
The glue method sounds interesting. I have heard of others cleaning their records that way. 😀 The inner and outer sleeves really do a great job of protecting records. Thank you and take care.
I clean my vinyl pretty much the same way but I've never really tried to clean an album cover. I have like a little record spinner thing I fell with the distilled water to rinse mine before I hit him with the record vacuum. Wonderful video Melinda
It sounds like you have a similar cleaning set up. The vacuuming is an important step in my opinion. Thank you and take care.
I clean my vinyl with a 6 liter ultrasonic cleaning tank and a Cleaner Vinyl Pro motor assembly. I heat the tank to 30 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes and air dry on a dish rack. Great results. Cheers.
That's wonderful! I'm sure your records sound great. 😍 Thank you and take care.
Loving that shirt Melinda! I've been interested in trying the vinylvac! I enjoyed watching how you care for your records, take care!
Thank you! I was very colorful in that video. 🤗 The Vinyl Vac does a great job. Thank you and take care.
I'm so glad that you did this video, thank you! I never thought about using the magic eraser and I have several of them -- I stocked up when they were on sale -- I'm adding one to my record care box today. I am considering trying the Vinyl Vac. I've tried to win one a few times, as you know, but haven't gotten lucky 😂. I just need to invest in one.
I love you and your channel, Melinda. ❤️
The Vinyl Vac isn't that expensive and it's so worth it. I need to find that magic eraser sale. They have a gazillion uses. Lol. Thank you so much Lisa. ♥️ Take care.
Good tips, MM! One thing I think is very important is to clean a record every time I play it by letting it do a few turns under a carbon fiber record brush before lowering the stylus. There's always some household dust settling on a disc. (Having cleaned a couple of new records and not noticing a difference, I only do wet cleaning if there's a problem. Some may hear an improvement, but that's not my experience.)
I use a carbon fiber brush before playing records as well. It keeps the record sounding good and protects the stylus. Thank you and take care.
HI MELINDA GREAT VIDEO ON HOW YA CLEAN YOUR VINYL, THE COVERS AND HOW YOU PROTECT THEM. YOU HAVE AN EXCELLENT SYSTEM THAT WORKS. TAKE CARE.
I appreciate that! Thank you so much. 🤗♥️
Outstanding tutorial Melinda! I learned a lot - and holy heck that Magic Eraser cleaned that album up nice! I've used them for other things, but never even thought of using it for album jackets. - Joel
They work great as long as I don't press too hard when using it. They can take the shine off of a laminated album. For an old album like the one I showed, it greatly improves the appearance. I appreciate your kind words! Have a wonderful weekend.
Columbia Classical never sounded as good as Columbia's Jazz pressings, but probably their best sounding were still the early six eye pressings. They were still using a mostly tube recording/mixing/cutting chain back then, and the strings and pianos have a nice warmth too them. Much better than the later two eye and logo circle stuff. I'm sure that Chopin record must be nice, I think I have that on mono somewhere (sometimes it can be hard to keep track haha).
You know, it sounds good but it didn't blow me away like so many of the 6 eye Columbia labels do. The separation of instruments wasn't as great as I expected. It's still a beautiful piece of music and very enjoyable. Thank you and take care.
You made cleaning record a sience with chemicals and brushes for every groove a " special," one.😂😂😂😂 And vacum cleaner too!!!😂😂😂😂 You made my day. Thank you very much.😁😂🤣 Take care.🌹
Thank you so much! 😀
Great educational video. I used to clean my records using a Spin Clean record cleaner, but I felt it ended up being a lot of work for just OK results. Your method seems like it's more work but with probably better results. I'll have to give your method a try. Thank you for the time and effort you put in to show us how you care for your growing vinyl collection!
Thank you! Let me know if you do notice a difference. I have been very pleased with this method. Take care.
Wow! Melinda! Your hand moves so fast! 😆
Aloha Melinda,
Thank you for such an awesome informative video. Thanks to you, I also use the Vinyl Vac. I also used that paint fiber brush that you used. I was purchasing mofi rice inner sleeves, than I started buying "Hudson rice paper inner sleeves now " last time I purchased them they were (500) count for $65.99, now they are $ 75.99 for (500) count, still a good deal for me.
Thanks again Melinda, looking forward to seeing your next video.
Mahalo Ed
Aloha! That is a great deal for inner sleeves. 😃 The Vinyl Vac is great. My records always sound so much better after using it. Thank you and take care.
I absolutely love VSS outer sleeves- particularly the 4 mil. dual pocket resealable ones. I'm currently in the process of sleeving the rest of my collection.
Little tip- they sell magic eraser knock offs at the Dollar Tree and they work just as good!
Nice tip Beth! Thank you! I need to splurge and buy enough for my entire collection as well. I hope you have a wonderful Halloween. Take care.
Hi Melinda … props to your fashion sense - great shirt! Also, good tips for cleaning - I have the ProJect machine now and I like it, but I’ve also had good success with the manual spin clean type washers. The trim brush from the paint store is a clever hack, I have to say … good tips!
Thank you! The makers of the Vinyl Vac came up with the painters trim brush idea. They deserve the credit. 😃 Take care.
Thanks for the heads-up on that restoration site. I went there and very informative. 🧡🧡🧡
Hi Mike! How are you??? Andrew's videos are very interesting. Take care.
I also use vinyl storage solutions, great product. I wish Mike hadn't discontinued the clear inner sleeves tho, I like how you could still see some of the back cover and also how you could look at both sides of your vinyl without removing it from the sleeve.
I agree. Those sleeves were great for our "cool" labels. 😍 Thank you and take care.
I’ve used regular Lysol wipes to remove dirt from sleeves and it works well, never thought of trying the magic eraser though. I’ll give it a go, thanks.
The Lysol wipes probably work well as long as they aren't too wet. They are probably very similar in what they do. 🤗 Thank you and take care.
HI Melinda, I enjoyed this video. Your so clever with the products you use. I would have never thought of Mr. Clean wipes but I can see they work well. Take care
Thank you so much! ♥️🤗
Another great learning video! Melinda you do a great job and I enjoy your videos . Your a good teacher. Have a nice weekend 🙂👍
Thank you so much! It's always great hearing from you. I am so ready for the weekend. 😃 Take care.
My collection started when I was a kid. I wouldn't attempt to clean having so many aged jackets. I have the felt like velvet soft brushes. Amps with humming usually means the power supply capacitors need to be replaced. Big vinyl collection on the Beatles. Got both the red and blue vinyl 1962-1966, 1967- 1970.
Those Beatles albums are wonderful. 😍 Good for you to start your collection as a child. ♥️ Thank you and take care.
Thanks Melinda. Most informative and helpful.
Thank you so much! 🤗♥️
Aha. Now I see how you store record outside of jacket-- DUAL pocket sleeves Thanks Melinda
Exactly! Have a great week!
Thanks Melinda! Great video as usual. I really don't like to put my records out of the sleeve, i keep them inside in a sleeve very thik of polyline. I know of the ringware, but i have records of over 40 years and they don't have ringware and they never has to be outside the cover, and sound amazing, after the wet cleaning process, and my only product i use is destilled water in a spray bottle, and a super soft brush, like you have in the video. And thats all. Thanks, Melinda for the Video!!!
What you do is clearly working for you. 😃I'm glad to hear that you don't have ring wear. Thank you for sharing that. Have a great night.
@@MelindaMurphy Thanks, Melinda. We all have different methods, but the meaning of all is keep protecting the records.
Hi Melinda. Those erasers look like they work well for the album cover. I will give it a try.
Nice thorough video. Have a great day!
Thank you Jeff! 🤗♥️
A record spa? Now I know where to send my records to. Nice demonstration I don’t have anything fancy but a spin clean. Lucky for me my local store just got in one of those nice ultrasonic systems he said I can use for free. You system is easy to use
It would be nice to have a record store that cleans your records for you. ♥️ I'm jealous. 🤗
I have used the 2 and 4 mil dual pocket, but I use the one with the adhesive strip. I order from them all the time.
I have used those adhesive ones as well. They are all great! Thank you and take care.
Some comic collectors like to use the Mr. Clean MagicErasers on covers as well. Thanks for showing. Believe it or not, some have used a slice of Wonder Bread...! If I have a very sticky dust jacket or other surface that's plastic coated, I have decades of experience using VM & P Naphtha to remove decal residue. You have to use caution though because it can lift off colors (and it's highly flammable). Isopropyl alcohol is good in some cases to remove marker ink marks, and hairsprays sometimes will dissolve ballpoint pen ink.
All excellent tips. I have used the hairspray trick in other instances before. 🤗 Thank you and take care.
My cleaning protocol is to first not buy any really dirty records and second to use a dry swiffer cloth to clean any used ones I buy. You'd be surprised how well those things work to clean off dust and grime from a record. btw that has to be the nicest counter I've ever seen someone cleaning records on :)
Wouldn't a dry cloth tend to scratch the vinyl if there were minute pieces of grit in the grooves? I believe using a liquid to loosen the dirt is a better first step.
@@alanshapiro5669 I guess that's a possiblity but I've never noticed any scratches from them. Then again I don't apply much pressure when using them.
Buying clean records in good condition is really the best advice for anybody to follow. Thank you for the tip! Take care
Hi Melinda just a quick note to say what interesting and engaging videos you do. Your obvious enthusiasm for the art of record collecting always shines through. This video was just as interesting as your others. I also wanted to give you a couple of music tips. Firstly I haven't heard you mention the fantastic group The Velvet Underground. There is currently a bit of a renewed interest because of a new documentary streaming on Apple. Start with the wonderful 1970 album 'Loaded' and work your way back to the earlier stuff. There was some amazing music from that group. I also wanted to recommend the new Black Sabbath set for the very underrated 1976 album 'Technical Ecstasy'. The set showcases an amazing sounding album that marked a real progression in the band's songwriting. Cool stuff. I should also add that I am a CD devotee rather than vinyl collector but keen on things that go on in the vinyl community. Thanks again for your great videos. You have a real talent for presenting interesting and valuable info!
I love that CD devotees watch my channel. It really does come down to the music. I need to check out The Velvet Underground. I haven't given them a chance yet even though they are very popular. I also need to hear that Black Sabbath album. That album gets mixed reviews and I am curious about it. Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate the encouragement. Have a great night.
Nice video, Melinda. I use almost the exact same process for cleaning my records and it works great. I get a little more aggressive scrubbing them with the paint edger, too, and have no issues with scratching as long as you go with the grooves. The Vinyl Vac is great, inexpensive tool for record cleaning.
I agree wholeheartedly! I am very pleased with the Vinyl Vac. It works great! Thank you and take care.
Top stuff! Thanks for the vid Melinda
Thank you! 🤗♥️
So many great tips. I must look into the vinyl vac. Enjoyed the video
Thank you so much! 🤗♥️
Hi Melinda! Great video with useful information on record cleaning. This is beneficial to those who don’t own a cleaning machine.
Thank you! 😃 Have a great weekend!
@@MelindaMurphy you do as well!
Giday, I use a spin clean MkII record washer, it has a bright yellow dish so you can see the dirt that gets removed from the grooves, you don’t vacuum have to worry about the label getting wet as this product cleans so the water drips around not over keeping them dry,, it comes with soft carbon brushes and you insert these into the bowl with rollers for record sizes you rotate the record manually after you gently slide the vinyl edge between them it’s great I use it especially on secondhand or new records that have press residue it looks after your stylus as well happy listening…
I've seen the Spin Clean and I'm sure it does a good job. I know people that use it to clean the records and then use the Vinyl Vac to dry them. Thank you and take care.
I used to get razed by my friends growing up as I always cleaned the lp first. Ha. 40 plus years later they still are sounding great. Started using Discwasher sleeves in early 80s. Mofi are the same. Static free and as new. Well worth the investment
It's wonderful that you took care of your records and you still have them. 😀♥️
Great shirt
Thank you! 😀
Thanks for your advice (tips) currently anywhere in the world, the products you recommend to clean record are available
That's good to know. 😀 Thank you so much. Take care.
Most of the time, to clean used record covers, I just use a very slightly damp microfiber cleaning cloth to gently remove any gunk, grime, or marks from covers.
I also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean the record grooves around and around. For really dirty or dusty records, I use a soft soapy sponge with some dishwashing soap to loosen off any dust or to remove finger prints and wash off the extra soap under a slightly cool tap in the kitchen. Yes, I know that using distilled water is far better (where gallon jugs are cheap at Walmart, etc.), but for thrift store records, my method is just fine and makes a big difference.
Obviously, I would treat more valuable or new records with greater care (record cleaning liquids and a microfiber cloth or other methods). :)
I have done that for light cleaning and it worked very well. Thank you and take care.
Now THAT"S a deep clean. All I do is spray on my homemade formula and wipe off with a micro fiber right there on my turntable. Probably not the best cleaning, but I don't have that much patience. Looked like that eraser did a pretty darn good job.
Thank you! I used to use micro fiber clothes as well. The vacuum keeps the records from getting the lint residue on them. That's why I made the switch. Do what works for you. 😃Those magic erasers are an amazing invention. Take care.
What a great video! I learned so much and I know I'm going to have questions once I watch it again. I had no idea you could clean the album cover. Yes I never use the paper sleeves. You know what I love is the sleeves they have out now that have plastic inside the paper. You know what I mean like the Beatles 180 g.
I agree. Those sleeves are very nice. I wish every label used them.
Great video Melinda, I will look to see if any of those products are available over here in England.
Those PVC record sleeves certainly keep your records in good condition. I have some records I purchased back in the mid-70s where the sleeves are as pristine as when I bought them.
But big warning! Beware of "outgassing" (aka "offgassing").
I'd not heard of it until very recently and decided to go through my entire collection. Sure enough four records were badly affected, two of which entirely unplayable. Not a large number considering I have nearly 1,000 LPs but these were records that I had had a very long time, meant a lot to me and were very difficult to replace.
I ended up removing all the records from their pvc sleeves and selling as many of the sleeves as I could on eBay. I have about 300 left still!
Love the section where you demonstrated the vinyl vac. Very ASMR!
Oh wow! What types of inner sleeves cause that problem? Yikes! 😳 Thank you for your kind words. Take care.
@@MelindaMurphy It's not the inner sleeves Melinda but the clear PVC outer ones.
Poly outers (kinda cloudy, softer plastic) are OK though, as are the poly inner liners you use.
Its a risk that you have to weigh up though. I had just under 1,000 LPs and four were ruined.
It might be worth you doing a bit of searching on the net about it. There's quite a bit of discussion on Discogs and other forums and some videos on TH-cam too.
I picked up a VPI 16.5 years ago and I love it, but honestly I probably could've saved money and just done far less expensive methods.
Inner and outer sleeves are an absolute must for me for sure though.
The VPI machines are nice but I have been very happy with the Vinyl Vac. I agree that buying inner and outer sleeves are a must. They are well worth the investment. Thank you and take care.
Ready to spin "Monster Mash" from my 45 record collection...Happy Halloween from Clearwater Florida. 🎃
Very cool! Have a wonderful time in the great state of Florida. ♥️👻🎃👽
Great video ! Thanks for demonstrating these items. I'm a big fan of Vinyl Storage Solutions products , especially the dual pocket with flap outer sleeves. I've been using the Mofi inners for years but lately they are hard to find and expensive when you do find them , so I will be giving the VSS inners a try.
You'll really like the VSS inner sleeves. They're nice. The outer sleeves are so incredible. Thank you and have a great week.
owning vinyl is hard work I guess. takes so much cleaning the actual records and turntables . it's delicate but I'm sure uts worth it beautiful melinda. another great video and great tips 👍
Thank you so much! To me, it is worth the work. ♥️ Take care.
incredible video and amazing shirt
Thank you!
I love your T-shirt 👍✌️ fabulous
Thank you so much! ♥️🤗
Great info and education as always, Melinda! I've never seen the dual flap double pocket sleeve before - the ones I use from Vinyl Storage Solutions are already sealed on the top, so that top flap kinda surprised me! Maybe I'm not using the 4 Mil, although I thought I was...thanks also for the info I asked you about on FB regarding the Jukebox cards, it was very helpful! - TC
I'm glad I was able to help. Having a jukebox is really cool. There are several different choices when it comes to the VSS sleeves. I definitely like the thickness of the the 4 mil sleeves best. Thank you and take care.
Either Melinda dosent sleep or is a time management pro. She cleans her huge lp collection, does weekly vids, replies to thousands of comments, travels to buy records, employed, keeps house perfect, lounges in her pool, etc that we dont know about. Maybe she has clones.
This might be my very favorite comment - ever!!!! 😃 No clones! Thank you!!!!
I use the Spin Clean (plastic yellow in colour) manually operated machine. Does a good job but has cloths to dry the vinyl. The Vinyl Vac for drying looks a better bet so will probably get one of those to replace the cloths.
I personally like the Vinyl Vac better than micro fiber clothes. The ones I used left some lint behind. Whatever you decide, it sounds like you take good care of your records. Thank you and take care.
Vinyl record cleaning in my house is done exclusively with Titebond II wood glue! Live the dream :)
Haha! Whatever works for you. 😃
That record really looks nice after cleaning. Very strange I have Vladimir Horowitz Chopin Sonata in B-Flat Minor op.35. RCA Victor Red Seal Record in very good condition with a sticker on the label with "Sonia Horowitz" written on it. Just off hand, I'd say it was her record. Thanks for the demo!
That was probably her record. 😀 What a beautiful piece of music. ♥️ Those old RCA records are really nice. Thank you and take care.
Great video,Melinda.Thanx for taking the time.Many sixties albums were not laminated on the back cover.Sny tips for this? I use pencil erasors,,but it's only partially successful.
There are many little things we can try to make our records look better but there's nothing wrong with an album cover that looks it's age. The marks give them character and reveals the history (like the initials for example). Thank you and have a great weekend. 🎃.
Great idea the magic eraser, I know it does a great job on a tub going to use it on the cover of old albums. Also, great video about cleaning vinyl and the inner and outer sleeve products. I'll check that Canadian company out. And thanks for Andrews channel, its great.
Haha! I use a separate magic eraser for my tub as well. 😃
@@MelindaMurphy I love your passion for vinyl, and music (I say that because I have vinyl, but cds as well, and I have the same passion).
I was thinking, "She must have OCDC" or whatever that compulsive thing is. But then I remembered what I do. I will take a black or red ballpoint pen and, if a record cover has the red or black parts worn, I'll tap the point of the pen many, many times onto the cover until the worn part is covered. It comes out almost unnoticable at arms-length. I get a huge satisfaction from it. I'm the Georges Seurat of cover restoration. I'm also retired.
That's a good idea. 🤗
Thanks for the magic eraser tip! That hadn’t occurred to me.
You're welcome. Just don't press too hard at first. They work very well. Take care.
The thing about the vinyl has always been the ownership of an original it’s a piece of history
I agree. I don't always remove the former owners name. I still have those initials on the record label. 😃 I wouldn't risk trying that on the label. Thank you and take care.
Great to see the rapid response you now receive [over 200 views a hour]. Would be interesting to give him your beaten up KISS LP, you purchased only for the rarity, obviously not the condition.
A Before & After vid for you and a complete process vid for him
Haha! He would have to be a complete miracle worker to make that record look good. We actually joked about that. 😃 If I thought he could do something with it, I would gladly send it his way. Thank you and take care.
Thank you, great video. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 I do wet cleaning just like you except I don't use the Vinyl Vac. For drying I use very soft microfiber towels. I just don‘t know, what to do with damaged covers.
Sometimes we can make small touch ups and sometimes we just live with the album covers flaws. Some age on a record looks cool. 😃 Thank you and take care.
Amazingly interesting video, Melinda!!!😁👍
Thank you so much! Take care. 😃
@@MelindaMurphy Welcome indeed :-)
I would like to let you know about what I do after I have cleaned a used record that I have bought that still has an annoying amount of surface noise and it is not from scratches. I use a dirt devil steam cleaner filled with distilled water that I bought from amazon for $35. There are videos on you tube showing the technique. I have had some pretty good luck. It doesn't work every time, but many times it does. If you choose to try this make sure you keep the nozzle at least an inch away from the record surface.
Thank you for the suggestion. That's an interesting idea. 🤗♥️ Take care.
Great video. I've never tried a Magic Eraser, but will give it a shot. Probably best to avoid them with glossy covers, as in my experience Magic Erasers can dull glossy surfaces. For cleaning covers I will normally use a white pencil eraser, like the Pentel Hi-Polymer plastic eraser, which works super well. On glossy laminated covers, those alcohol sanitizing wipes we've all been using during the pandemic are very effective. For inner and outer sleeves I like the stuff from Sleeve City. Their Ultimate Outer sleeves are made from polypropylene, which gives them a super clarity that really makes the artwork pop much more than with typical polyethylene sleeves.
It sounds like you know what you're doing. You are right about the laminated covers. You can usually wipe them with a damp cloth and be done. Thank you and take care.
@@MelindaMurphy Give the alcohol sanitizing wipes a shot on a couple of laminated covers. They really work well.
I tried the vinyl vac. I went to a VPI record cleaning machine. How I clean my records is I run mine threw a spin clean first then I use my VPI next.
The VPI machines look nice. I'm sure your records are incredibly clean. 🤗♥️ Take care.
Very nifty Rolling Stones shirt. Good video.
Thank you so much! 🤗♥️
Very useful tips, cool video! Thanks
Thank you! 🤗♥️
good video melinda like the vinyl vac i use baby wipes and then a soft cloth seems to do the
job and keep an eye out for some uriah heep demons and wizards is a good one to start with
Thank you! I will keep an eye out for some Uriah Heep. Take care.
Very interesting video, my turntable is so cheap i wont be cleanin my vinyl til i get a better one
I would clean them even with a cheap record player. Cleaning not only saves wear on your stylus, but that same dirt that can damage your stylus is also damaging the grooves of your records. Take care of them now, and they will sound even better when you get an upgraded turntable.
I have a standard turntable, and i clean my records. And if you don't wan't to clean the records, get a antistatic brush and before you put the needle, gently apply the brush into the grooves and this solve the dirt and pops of you're records. Its only a suggestion. Take care.
I agree with Phillip. Take good care of your records so that they will stay in great shape. Best wishes. 🤗
Hi Melinda, great video! I started collecting vinyl earlier this year and find your videos very informative. Do you keep the hype sticker or the original shrink wrap of your records?
Most of the time I do keep the shrink wrap on a record and I do love keeping the hype stickers intact. If the shrink wrap is tattered or yellow with age I do remove it. Thank you and take care.
9:00 Melinda, the only thing I don't like about Mr. Clean Magic Erasers is apparently, they contain formaldehyde which is carcinogenic and can cause cancer. I suppose if you like using them since they are effective, you may want to wear gloves or plastic sandwich bags on your hands to protect your skin from absorbing any formaldehyde. All the best! :)
Thank you! I was not aware that any carcinogenics were in the erasers. That's such a shame. 🤔
I enjoy all music formats for different reasons. I have music on vinyl, CDs, and various streaming services. What I like about vinyl is the sound quality which is often more natural and compelling musically. Yet vinyl does have to be cared for that can be a bit of a nuisance. My CD collection is probably a bit larger than my LPs. I like the CD format for it's ease of use, instant track selection, and purity of sound for lack of a better word. My bluesound streamer DAC is wonderful for bringing an enormous catalog of music with any number of steaming services such as Tidal and Spotify. The sound that I get is pretty much CD quality or better. And the convenience factor and flexibility is much superior to LPs or CDs.
I completely understand that I picked the most inconvenient and expensive music format. Lol. I love vinyl but I enjoy CD's and streaming while in the car. Thank you and take care.
Great video Melinda. I made my own vinyl vac wands, one for LPs and one for my 45s. I had about $5 in it and a little bit of time. I use my Spin Clean and then use my my vinyl vac that I made to suck up the liquid off the record instead of drying it with a micro fiber towel. I also sometimes use the paint edger like yours. A guy on you tube uses the vinegar based clear Windex, he said don't use the blue one.
I personally prefer the Vinyl Vac over micro fiber clothes as well. I'm not sure I would use any Windex on my records but that's just me. 😃 Thank you and take care.
All good tips, Thank you
Thank you! 🤗♥️
I find with outer sleeves it’s a bit of a minefield because of the different sizes of record sleeves like gatefolds and wider spines etc. Then when you pick them you have to consider if you’re happy having some that might not be as transparent and then thickness of the plastic etc. I’ve been using the Spin Care ones from Amazon which seem to fit most. As for the inners, I think they’re Palmer poly lined paper ones. The mofi ones are stupid expensive in the UK. I think average £40 ($55) for 50. Which at over a dollar/pound per sleeve is insane to spend on something where there are cheaper alternatives. The deals may be better in the US though?
With those things I just tend to try different ones and see how they are. It’s kind of a gamble until you find the ones that you like best.
The price of the inner sleeves used to be very reasonable here in the US. Not anymore. The shortage and inflation have caused the price to increase. I bought the ones from Vinyl Storage Solutions when they were having a sale and they were more affordable. Thank you and take care.
Another excellent video, I especially like the "eraser" tip - thanks Melinda - just a side comment, if you should ever have an opportunity to use or acquire one of the ultra sonic machines don't rule them out - I used a "Record Doctor" for years, and actually I still use it as a starting point with really mishandled records - which is similar to your process with very good results using "Last" products - couple of years ago I had a chance to buy an ultra sonic machine that had been factory reconditioned, saved a significant amount of money - the results took me by surprise - no mistaking the improvement over my original Record Doctor vacuum type machine. On one of my most prized records, the first time I used it, I was truly flabbergasted with the improved sonics and this record was already in pristine condition.
I wouldn't rule it out. If a great deal presented itself, I would love to have one. But I am really happy with the Vinyl Vac. Thank you and take care.
Thanks Melinda, I appreciate your reply - I do want to say that I didn't mean for my comment to come across as a "one up" - just sharing my experience - I think you took it down which I totally get and I apologize for kind of missing the boat - but I do want to express that I've followed you from the beginning and I'm so impressed with your work, this video is completely top shelf and excellently done, imho - - the record you showed after your process looked unbelievable - it was so cool that you got that shot perfectly - - so thanks for all and I hope you can carry on with your excellent work - by the way - I purchased one of the records from your top 20 - Miles Davis - it was, again imho, exactly how you described it!
HI Melinda great video and great cleaning tips to..
Thank you Curtis. I hope you have a fun Halloween night! 😃
@@MelindaMurphy you to my friend
Hi Melinda mobile fidelity just raised the price to 50 00 for 50 sleeves absolutely ridiculous I just purchased 75 sleeves exactly like the mofi sleeves for like 28.
Oh wow! I will have to look at their pricing. That's a huge jump. 🤔
great video and great shirt!!
Thank you! 🤗♥️
I looked at walmart recently for something to clean my records and they had a little boxed audiotechnica set that came with a tiny black squirt bottle of cleaner and a little brush and wanted $24 for it. Well I'd recently back at the start of the Fall remodeled the master bedroom here at the house and I painted it, along with new flooring and thought those little edger brushes would be perfect and now that's all I use. I've got a carbon fiber brush and blower/puffer coming I found from Amazon tomorrow. The vinylvac I'd love but it would probably scare my poor cat as she hates the vac noise.
I've seen some people here on youtube use nail manicure brushes and I cannot, every single one of those I've ever owned to keep under my nails clean are stiff and I could see scratching a record.
What do you recommend for stylus cleaning? I've seen people lower one onto a tiny piece of magic eraser and I've been using a kids rounded soft bristled oral b brush to clean mine. When you live in a rural area you learn to improvise and find ways of keeping your collection clean that requires thinking outside of the box. I've next got to order some better inner sleeves that aren't paper as everything except my two Nirvana records came in paper sleeves which just creates dust.
I personally use an Onzow Zero Dust stylus cleaner. They aren't cheap at around $40 but it works great and can be rinsed off and used over and over again. Best wishes. 🤗♥️