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Writer's pictureAaliyah Williams

VINYL MAINTENANCE: Stylus Cleaning


STYLUS CLEANING: the dos and don'ts

Do you value your LP records? Here at LELLEON Vinyl we do. We understand that every LP has a significant meaning that reasonates with the owner; whether it be nostalgic, sentimental, monatery value or otherwise.

So why would you put time, effort, and money into finding the perfect tracks only to ruin them with improper upkeep? The answer is you wouldn't. However, with so many so-called experts in the field of music. Who can you trust? How are you supposed to know the best way to clean and maintain your equipment? In this series we're going to explore some of the best advice and guidance the internet has to offer. First issue: Stylus cleaning.

How often you ought to clean the stylus ultimately depends on how regularly you use it, however to be on the safe side we recommend a thorough clean every week in addition to a quick clean with a vinyl brush after every few plays.

Surface noise happens when your stylus is dirty, it is a good indicator to prove that your current regime isn't effective. You will notice this if your stylus has been clogged with dust and debris, there is significant damage to an LP after a play or if you hear static when trying to jam to your fave tunes.

The good news however is you will return to crystal clear sound quality after a deep clean! Cleaning the stylus will prevent from issues with playback due to accumulated layers of dust causing the muffled, sometimes dubbed 'scratchy' sound you're left with; as well as stopping any groove jumps as excess dust is in-fact, the most common cause.

If you're particularly interested in (or don't want to take our word for...) how a clogged stylus can damage your vinyl record please refer to the following video from The Vinyl Factory:

Now can you see the difference between these two pictures?

The difference between the two is shocking! Now I know you're dying to get cleaning so I'll dive right in.

1. GET A STYLUS BRUSH

This small and easy to use contraption can have wondrous effects on your sound quality. All you have to do is move it along the stylus back and forth... that's it!

2. MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASER

If budget is key for you then this is your answer! For an in-depth explanation please see the video below:

3. ZERO DUST STYLUS CLEANER

We left this one till last as it is probably the most expensive of them all.

The Onzow Zero Dust Stylus Cleaner, readily available on Amazon retails at £38.98. The method for use is largely similar to our D.I.Y magic eraser method. You simply lower the stylus onto the surface, higher the arm lever and you're done! So much for hard work...

We hope this article has helped you realise that it's not hard to give your most-loved appliance a thorough clean so long as you have the right equipment and knowledge to get you going. Which method with you choose? Let us know!

Tweet us: @LELLEONvinyl

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