As with any hobby, listening to your collection of vinyl records requires a bit of time and effort. Not only do you have to spend the occasional Saturday afternoon scouring record fairs for those rare EPs and picture discs you’ve been dying to get your hands on, but you also have to keep your precious discs in tip-top condition by giving them a clean once in a while. Failure to do so and you’ll end up with all kinds of goo in the grooves, rendering your favourite albums and singles pretty much useless.
If choosing the right tools for this particular job sounds like a daunting task, don’t worry as I've put together a list of options that you can buy right now. I've included something for every budget – from ultrasound machines to anti-static brushes – meaning you can keep your vinyl pristine no matter what state your bank balance is in.
Looking for more inspiration? Then check out our guide to the best turntable speakers, plus our round-up of 12 cheap upgrades you can make to improve your vinyl setup.
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, including record players and vinyl gadgets, Paul would surely give Iron-Man a run for his money.
Best vinyl record cleaners: Product guide
Weight: 8kg
Type of cleaner: Electronic suction machine
Single/multi use?: Multi
+ Quick and efficient
+ Attention-grabbing looks
- Takes up a lot of room
It might be a bit on the pricey side and look a little unwieldy – but this metallic vinyl cleaning machine from the audio masters at Pro-Ject is a much-loved bit of kit. Not only will the VC-S3 steam-vacuum your grooves in just two revolutions, but it also uses a special eco-friendly cleaning solution, 2.5-litres of which can be contained within the unit’s built-in tank. There’s a magnetic clamp for protecting your record labels, too, ensuring your precious discs don’t lose any of their value during the process.
Weight: 440g
Type of cleaner: Hand cleaning kit
Single/multi use?: Multi
+ Has a range of good-quality products
+ Great price
- You’ll have to do the cleaning yourself
If you can’t be bothered buying all the individual cleaning components, then an all-in-one solution will be right up your street – and this six-in-one kit ticks all the right boxes. Recommended by music professionals, not to mention a bunch of newspapers, it comes with 250ml of Deep Track cleaning fluid, two audiophile-quality microfibre cloths, 15ml of stylus cleaning fluid, a stylus brush and even a drying stand. What more could your records want?
Weight: 59g
Type of cleaner: Brushes
Single/multi-use?: Multi
+ High-quality carbon-fibre bristles
+ No need for cleaning fluid
+ Contemporary design
- Electric kits may be more effective
Inside the box, you get two brushes – one for vinyl and another for the stylus – both of which are made from premium carbon-fibre bristles that help remove groove dirt. The brushes are electrically conductive, too, and they eliminated static in a matter of moments. Fitted with ergonomic, easy-grip handles, I could use the brushes with precision which ensured my equipment wasn't battered and bruised. And neither will there be any spillages, since this kit is dry-clean only.
Weight: 600g
Type of cleaner: Hand cleaning kit
Single/multi use?: Multi
+ Easy and convenient
+ Will protect your labels
+ Easy to store
Watching the demo video for this bargain kit gave me a real sense of satisfaction – it makes the whole record cleaning process look so easy... and it is! You simply place your vinyl disc on the soft platter, use the silicone clamp to cover up the label, spray some of the anti-static cleaning solution on to the microfibre cloth, and begin wiping away any unwanted residue. Within a matter of moments, your vinyl will be fresh as a daisy. A really neat way of keeping your albums in great condition - and the kit doesn't take up too much space.
Weight: 10kg
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: 91g
Type of cleaner: Brush
Single/multi use?: Multi
+ No fuss
+ Wooden handle
+ Cheap
- Might struggle with ingrained dirt
The kits and contraptions I've featured here will do a great job of deep-cleaning your vinyl, but if your records are just a little dusty, then something simpler might be called for – like the Fasmov Vinyl Record Cleaning Brush. Looking a lot like one of those brushes that barbers use to lather on the shaving foam, this little device combines a solid-wood handle with a mane of soft hair to give you a cleaning solution that's as stout as it is simple. It didn't remove stubborn detritus when I tested it, but if you want something that'll sweep away those lighter particles, then this handheld gadget has your back.
Weight: 46.5g
Type of cleaner: Anti-static brush
Single/multi use?: Multi
+ Easy to use
+ Soft velvet pad is kind to records
- You just get the brush
If you’ve already got all the other cleaning accessories and just need a good brush to complete your set-up, then I can’t recommend this anti-stati brush enough. Marrying a non-scratch velvet pad with an easy-grip wooden handle, it glides easily over a record’s surface, neutralising static and shifting debris within seconds. It can also be used dry or with an alcohol-based cleaning solution, meaning you can either carry out a quick or a more thorough scrub depending on your need.
Best vinyl record cleaners: Buying advice
How to 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. 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 we believe to be the best vinyl record cleaners available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are music fans, and we want others to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set and ease of use to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best vinyl record cleaners on the market right now.
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- How to properly set up a record player: Get the most from your system
- How to store vinyl: Tips on keeping your collection in great condition
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