Avoid Making These Vinyl Record Mistakes

Vinyl records can be a bit fragile in some ways and there are certain things you never want to do with them. There are also some things you need to be aware of, such as appropriate cleaning habits and properly storing your vinyl collection. To maintain the sound and value of your albums, make sure to keep in mind these things you should never do with vinyl records.

Don’t stack your records

Stacking your records is the biggest mistake a record collector can make. When you stack vinyl records, they can easily warp or crack. This will make it impossible to ever get the same sound quality out of them again. Records need to be stored upright on a shelf or in milk crates to preserve their quality.

Avoid dropping the needle or picking it up quickly

When a record is playing, you never want to drop the needle to start it or pick it up quickly, especially when a song is fading out. This can result in pops and ticks when an album is played. Instead, use the cueing lever at all times and cue songs just before the music starts.

Don’t clean records with a t-shirt

Many record enthusiasts wipe their records like they would a pair of sunglasses, rubbing their valued vinyl with a t-shirt. This isn’t a good way to clean your records and can scratch or scuff them. It’s much better to use a good vinyl cleaner for your records, since you won’t have to worry about causing damage.

Avoid scotch tape on the album cover

Scotch tape or packing tape should never be used to fix a record jacket or cover. As it ages, it will become gooey, brittle and yellow. This makes things look far worse than they did before and can cause further damage. Instead, use a poly outer sleeve for the record jacket.

Don’t drop your record into a jacket or sleeve

It may be tempting to drop the record into the jacket or sleeve, but it can destroy your albums. When carelessly dropped into the jacket, you can unintentionally split the cover or cause damage to the record. Make sure you put your records away in a gentle manner, slowly sliding the vinyl into the jacket or sleeve.

Make sure the platter stops first

You don’t ever want to pick your record up while the platter is still spinning. This is the fastest way to scratch the flipside of the record and destroy it for good. Make sure the platter has completely stopped prior to snatching the record from the player.

These are just a few of the things you should never do with your vinyl records. It’s always best to be very gentle with your records and keep them clean with an approved cleaning system. For more information, contact us today at 1-800-931-5850.

. Vinyl records can be a bit fragile in some ways and there are certain things you never want to do with them. There are also some things you need to be aware of, such as appropriate cleaning habits and properly storing your vinyl collection. To maintain the sound and value of your albums, make sure to keep in mind these things you should never do with vinyl records.

Don’t stack your records

Stacking your records is the biggest mistake a record collector can make. When you stack vinyl records, they can easily warp or crack. This will make it impossible to ever get the same sound quality out of them again. Records need to be stored upright on a shelf or in milk crates to preserve their quality.

Avoid dropping the needle or picking it up quickly

When a record is playing, you never want to drop the needle to start it or pick it up quickly, especially when a song is fading out. This can result in pops and ticks when an album is played. Instead, use the cueing lever at all times and cue songs just before the music starts.

Don’t clean records with a t-shirt

Many record enthusiasts wipe their records like they would a pair of sunglasses, rubbing their valued vinyl with a t-shirt. This isn’t a good way to clean your records and can scratch or scuff them. It’s much better to use a good vinyl cleaner for your records, since you won’t have to worry about causing damage.

Avoid scotch tape on the album cover

Scotch tape or packing tape should never be used to fix a record jacket or cover. As it ages, it will become gooey, brittle and yellow. This makes things look far worse than they did before and can cause further damage. Instead, use a poly outer sleeve for the record jacket.

Don’t drop your record into a jacket or sleeve

It may be tempting to drop the record into the jacket or sleeve, but it can destroy your albums. When carelessly dropped into the jacket, you can unintentionally split the cover or cause damage to the record. Make sure you put your records away in a gentle manner, slowly sliding the vinyl into the jacket or sleeve.

Make sure the platter stops first

You don’t ever want to pick your record up while the platter is still spinning. This is the fastest way to scratch the flipside of the record and destroy it for good. Make sure the platter has completely stopped prior to snatching the record from the player.

These are just a few of the things you should never do with your vinyl records. It’s always best to be very gentle with your records and keep them clean with an approved cleaning system. For more information, contact us today at 1-800-931-5850.

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