Listening to music on vinyl can be one of the most rewarding experiences out there – after all, what could be more satisfying than hearing the needle drop on a pristine copy of Sgt Pepper’s or Electric Ladyland. For this to happen, you need to keep your records well maintained – and that means using one of the best vinyl record cleaners you can buy.
So put away that sponge you’ve been using to clean the bath – this job requires dedicated tools and accessories. To help, I've put together this guide which caters for a range of budgets and it covers everything from specialised cloths, brushes and fluids to machines that pretty much do the job for you.
Cleaning your vinyl isn’t the only way to extend its shelf life – protecting it from external influences such as sunlight and moisture is important, too. So, once you’ve finished reading this page, be sure to check out our guide to the best vinyl record storage.
Best vinyl record cleaners: Product guide
Weight: 4.6kg
Type of cleaner: Ultrasound
Single/multi use? Multi
+ Compact
+ It has integrated storage
- Design in a little boxy
- It's an expensive bit of kit
Yes, it’s expensive, and yes it looks like a toaster, but HumminGuru’s compact unit is just about the best record cleaner you can buy right now. Using 40Hz of ultrasonic power, and just 350ml of recyclable water per cycle, it’ll safely remove dust and debris from your records, then dry them so that you can start playing your pristine discs again straight away. There’s even storage space inside to stash away the cable once the job’s done.
Weight: 500g
Type of cleaner: Brushes/solution
Single/multi use? Multi
+ Comes with multiple tools
+ Great price
- Not automatic
If you prefer to clean your records with some good old-fashioned elbow grease, this is the kit for you. Designed by vinyl enthusiasts, this five-in-one kit contains everything you need to do it, including professional-grade record and stylus brushes, a microfibre cloth and a 200ml bottle of anti-static solution. With a neat drying rack also included in the pack, you’ll have everything you need to get your music sounding majestic again.
Weight: 12kg
Type of cleaner: Ultrasound
Single/multi use?: Multi
+ It’s a high-tech solution
+ Clean several records at once
- It’s not particularly attractive
- Hefty price tag
Emitting very high-frequency waves that are undetectable by the human ear, ultrasound devices are used for a variety of purposes, from scanning pregnancies to training dogs. You can even get ones that clean vinyl records. This one uses a combination of ultrasonic vibration, water and solvent to scrub up seven-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch discs, getting the job done in anywhere from 90 seconds to 10 minutes. It cleans up to six records at once, too, making it a great option for people who have a big collection they want to clean.
Weight: 1.69kg
Type of cleaner: Hand-rotating system
Single/multi use?: Multi
+ Offers a deep clean
+ Includes quick-dry cleaning fluid
- Might be a bit bulky for your taste
SPINCARE sells a whole range of record-cleaning products but this particular model is my personal favourite. This streamline set-up is ideal for people who don’t want to use up too much space or electricity. Hand-rotating your discs within the unit will subject them to ‘deep groove cleaning’, ensuring that no detritus remains embedded. What’s more, the proprietary fluid is quick dry, meaning you can start to play your discs within minutes of finishing the job.
Weight: 30g
Type of cleaner: Anti-static brush
Single/multi use? Multi
+ Respected brand
+ Easy to use
- No frills
Austrian manufacturer Pro-Ject is one of the biggest names in the turntable industry, so being able to buy one of its record cleaning accessories for this price is not to be sniffed at. This compact brush uses high-quality, conductive carbon fibres to remove fine dust particles from your grooves and free the surface of your records from static charges. Simple as pie to use, it’ll get your singles and albums back to their best in next to no time.
Weight: 90g
Type of cleaner: Anti-static brush
Single/multi use? Multi
+ Simple to use
+ Great brush quality
- It's a bit old-fashioned
Simple yet stylish – it looks like one of those shaving foam brushes you get at old-fashioned barbers – this accessory is a dream to use. Combining an ergonomic, solid wood handle with a thick head of high-quality, non-shedding, nano-fiber bristles, the anti-static brush will glide easily across your vinyl, effortlessly removing dust and impurities. It also comes with a mesh cover that’ll prevent it from splaying when stored away.
FAQ
How do I choose the best vinyl record cleaner?
When it comes to vinyl records, you don’t really have a choice as to whether you clean them or not. Simply put, if you don’t bother to do it, those albums and singles you spent a small fortune on will soon start to sound muddier than a pig pen in winter. I know this because I've been guilty of neglecting my vinyl.
However, you do have a choice as to how you clean your records, though, and the option you go for will likely depend on a number of factors.
The first of these is your budget. Obviously, if you're simply looking to give your collection a quick spruce up, then you’re probably not going to spend hundreds on the latest ultrasound or suction machine.
Even if you do have the money for one, you might not want something as bulky as that cluttering up your home. The other thing to bear in mind with such products is that they use up electricity. On the plus side, these units do a thorough job – and a quick one – making them an efficient solution.
Much cheaper are the non-electric machines, such as the Spincare vinyl record cleaner kit, and the hand-cleaning kits, which tend to include a fluid of some description, an anti-static brush and/or cloth, and a few other bits and pieces that the manufacturer deems necessary for the job (and which won’t bump up the price too much). These also do a pretty thorough job, though they’re obviously not as convenient – or indeed as cool – as one of the swankier contraptions.
How can I stop my records getting dirty?
This is easier said than done but there are ways you can limit the amount of grime that ends up clogging up the grooves on your records. For starters, handle your records with care. Never touch the grooves, instead hold the record at its edges. If you do get any finger prints or dirt on the playing surface, wipe away gently with a soft, clean cloth.
Storing your vinyl properly is another way to keep the grime at bay for longer. When I'm not playing a record I keep it in a dust cover inside its sleeve and store it in a built-for-purpose vinyl storage unit that's in a cool dry place and away from direct sunlight.
And this is a good tip generally: store your vinyl upright when it's not in use to prevent warping.
How we choose the best vinyl record cleaners
Here at Louder, we are music lovers and experts in our field, with many years of music listening and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products when selecting the recommendations for our guides.
When choosing what I believe to be the best vinyl record cleaners available right now, I combined my hands-on experience, with user reviews and testimonies and engaged in discussions with my editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are all music fans, and we all want others to find the right product for them. I took careful consideration into everything from budget to feature set and ease of use to come up with a list of what I can safely say are the best vinyl record cleaners on the market right now.
Why you can trust us
⚡ Louder was established in 2017 and founded on long-running brands including Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Prog (launched in 1986, 1998 and 2009 respectively)
⚡ Over 80,000 products reviewed on site, from music listening tech to albums and box sets
⚡ Our reviewers are all passionate music fans who draw on decades of testing experience
Louder’s reviewing team consists of music fans, musicians and professional product testers, who between them have accumulated decades of product reviewing experience, writing thousands of words on music listening gear across thousands of reviews on Louder. Our tests also inform our buyer's guide - just like this one.
As lifelong music fans, we're serious about the tech we listen to our favourite artists on. We want them to sound incredible, giving us all the detail those bands intended us to hear, and deliver the perfect balance of bass, mids and highs. We're looking for pure immersion in our chosen sounds, whether it's a classic '70s rock album, or a cutting-edge noise band.
Meet the experts
Paul has spent the past nine years testing and writing about gadgets and technology for the likes of Louder, T3 and TechRadar. He might not have the wealth or the looks of Tony Stark, but when it comes to knowing about the latest cool kit, Paul would surely give Iron-Man a run for his money. As for his musical leanings, Paul likes everything from Weyes Blood to Nirvana. If it's got a good melody, he's on board with it.
Chris Barnes is the eCommerce Editor for Guitar World, MusicRadar and Louder, and is also a drummer. With the sound of crash cymbals permanently ringing in his ears after 20+ years of playing, and with 26 years of attending and playing live gigs under his belt, he knows the importance of quality ear protection and has used everything from free foam earplugs to custom moulded in-ear monitors.
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