How do you clean mold off records?

Rabaust
by Rabaust

The records are 33 and were damaged in the flood of Imma and I just found them packed away now.



  4 answers
  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Feb 21, 2019

    Rabaust...I would begin by using a slightly damp cloth and wipe careful then place them where they can dry separately and see how that works.

  • Landsharkinnc Landsharkinnc on Feb 21, 2019

    DO NOT "RUB" with anything .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6AcC5dGJgk ( this 'cleaning compound is probably alcohol based ).


    http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-mold-off-vinyl-records/

  • Dwp7470b Dwp7470b on Feb 21, 2019

    Either of the following:


    1. Mobile Fidelity's Enzyme Cleaner. It works and comes highly recommended online especially for getting mold out of the grooves without need to play around with

    A. Wood glue or Elmer's glue

    B. Potential need to de-warp these between 2 quantity 15 inch Glass Plates in an Oven set to 275° prior to A.

    C. Traces of the Glue on your needle necessitating cleanse of the needle repeatedly.

    D. Making your own makeshift Cleansing Solution and System out of your turntable as 2 (below) entails.


    2. A Mix of 46 to 40 half ounce parts as Follows


    A. 21 parts of Rubbing Alcohol

    B. 17 parts Distilled Bottled Water

    C. 6 parts Distilled Water with Enzymes or 2 parts of White Vinegar


    This is a basic enzyme solution recipe. Although you can reduce the Parts in B, to your liking, it dries faster and may resist motion of the record on the cloth to extents you need to adjust the turntable speed to 45 or 78. And Formulaically speaking 33/78 of 17 parts on 78 Speed will not result same squeaky clean result of cleanse as 33/45 of 17 parts on 78 or 45 Speed.

    Mold is not Fuzz nor Dust, unfortunately and needs more scrubs per minute for quite a few minutes each.

    With Dust, you might Cleanse once in a Lifetime.

    If you happen to have an old French's Mustard Container or Submarine Sandwich oil container, those are best, as you need something with that sort of Controlled Spout to adjust the actual speed as Higher Speed needs more dampening by solution than lower speed.

    Shake the Solution Well and let settle overnight in a warm area.

    Directions for use of the Generic Enzyme Solution are not easy until you get accustomed to this...

    Nobody should ever get Fond of this.

    After placing a Paper Towel or Slitted Soft Cloth (preferred) over the Table of the Turntable (to protect the Turntable from getting mold), you then place the record on the Turntable. If you use the Slitted Cloth you equip to Cleanse the Record with the Cloth on the Turntable by the Motion of the Turntable.

    Otherwise the Motion of the Record will Clean by your Cloth #2 and you need no further instruction than: Make sure you cleanse it while the Turntable is in motion.

    Per Use of The Cloth beneath the Record to Cleanse the Bottoms this must only be damp, Dampened by Solution. You cleanse with the turntable On by Gently lifting the Arm of the Turntable enough to turn it on, (even if you need to tape the arm to a Crumpled ball of paper), you can use 78 RPM or 45 RPM to Clean. Apply the Solution in a Straight Line to the Cloth not to the Record nor the Label. If you need to: Make yourself a Round out of Tape or place a Transparent CD Topper between the Label and the Cloth to prevent the Labels from getting Damp and ruined. Apply slight pressure on the Record Edges so the Cloth under the record on the Turntable moves but the Record doesn't. Always secure cleanse is in a Circular Motion (not back and forth from the Edge to the Center).

    As the Cloth gets Dry, lift the record, inspect and when you are ready, Dampen the Cloth with a bit more Solution, Gently not excessively. When Cleansed it will somewhat Squeak just like your ears when properly cleansed squeak too.

    Do not Play the Record until it is Completely Cleansed.