| Although the majority of music is sold on CD or | | | | carefully and thoroughly before replacing in the sleeve. |
| electronic download, many passionate music lovers still | | | | 4. Don't expose your records to excessive heat or |
| have extensive collections of vinyl records. Classic | | | | dust. |
| vinyl are still popular at many yard sales, on eBay and | | | | 5. Store records by standing them vertically. Stacking |
| at used book and music retailers. To get the most for | | | | them atop one another on a flat surface or leaving so |
| your investment, follow these steps to care for your | | | | much space between records that they lean may |
| vinyl records. | | | | cause warping. |
| 1. Dull or dusty turntable needles can diminish sound | | | | 6. If you purchase vinyl that is packaged in a old plastic |
| quality and damage your vinyl. Replace your turntable | | | | sleeve, remove your record and place it in a |
| needle (also known as a stylus) when sound quality | | | | static-free paper sleeve. Plastic sleeves may adhere |
| begins to diminish. | | | | to vinyl records, particularly if used in warmer climates. |
| 2. Handle your records carefully. Although fingerprints | | | | New anti-static polyliners are also a good choice for |
| can be removed from vinyl, the best way to avoid | | | | protecting your albums. |
| prevent damage from oil and dirt is to handle records | | | | 7. Records that sound scratchy may still be |
| carefully by the edges of the record. | | | | salvageable. |
| 3. When cleaning is necessary, use a gentle mixture of | | | | Finally, try to load sleeve-covered albums back into |
| dish soap and water with a soft cloth or a static-free | | | | their jackets open side first. Doing so will limit exposure |
| wet wipe. Wipe very lightly to avoid pushing dirt into | | | | to dust and minimize the risk that albums will spill out of |
| record grooves. Do not immerse your records in | | | | jackets. |
| water as it will dissolve the label's adhesive. Dry | | | | |