
Vinyl records can make you feel like you're back in time when you play them. People think that rich, full sound can't be beat by any CD or MP3.
With vinyl sales on the rise, there are a lot more people who own record players and have a lot of questions.
In fact, many record collectors don't even know that you should clean the needle. You aren't alone, so don't worry if you haven't. In this article, we're going to talk about how to clean the needle on your record player the right way.
In a record player, what is the "needle?"
When you play a record, the needle on your player is known as a stylus. The stylus goes into the grooves of a vinyl record to read the vibrations and make the sound.
Stylus tips are often made of diamond or sapphire, so you can see how important it is to keep them clean.
Thanks to its strong material and long-lasting tips, the needle will last for years. You won't have to think about replacing it for a long time.
To clean the record needle, I need to
A lot of people don't like the sound of vinyl because it sounds a little shaky. Many people just think that's part of the player's charm. Most of the time, what's really going on is dust getting stuck in the grooves of a record and the needle picking it up.
If there is even the smallest amount of dust or dirt on the stylus, it can change the sound and make your favorite albums sound a little dull. When a record player doesn't work right, you can't enjoy a favorite song.
A lot of dirt and dust can build up on the vinyl record if it's not cleaned for a long time. With vinyl records being more expensive than they used to be, you'll want to keep them in good shape.
The first thing we'll look at is the magic eraser. If you go through some cupboards and closets in your home, there's a good chance you'll find one of these and not know it.
You don't want to use a magic eraser to clean away the needle. That will just damage the stylus and make things even worse than they were before.
Rather, cut off a small piece of the eraser and put it on your record player, right under the needle. In the next step, gently poke the needle into the eraser and then pull it back out.
In the eraser, you should find that most of the dust has been pushed into it. You can now play your favorite songs again!
If you don't have a magic eraser around the house, look for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. If you search for a melamine eraser, you'll find a lot of different kinds.
Method 2: With a Brush.
A magic eraser isn't the best way to clean the needle.
People who buy record players at a store like this might have a special brush for this. If you can't find one, you can use a very soft paint brush. Take a toothbrush or Q-tip and start scrubbing. Do not do this. These materials are too rough for the needle, and you might break it.
Once you've found the right brush, you want to gently move it against the needle in one direction (the same direction the record goes). Magic eraser: This will get rid of all the dust that gets on the needle. Before you start, you can see how dirty it was.
With a magic eraser, this method works pretty much the same as with one. The important thing is to find the best solution for your needs.
You want to use a gel-based cleaner instead of a liquid one. Liquid soap can mess with the bonds that hold the stylus together, so if you use it too much, your player might break down.
Record stores have a lot of space for this kind of thing.
Once you've found the right answer, gently dip the tip of the needle into it and pull it back out. When you clean it, you'll be able to tell when it is done.
Cleaning solutions are great because they will get rid of all the dust that has built up on the needle and they will also help to get rid of any old vinyl gunk that has built up.
I should clean my record needle a lot.
Cleaning the needle isn't something you'll have to do very often.
A lot of people like to play vinyl records so they need to clean their needle at least once a week. If they play them every day, they should clean it more often.
However, this isn't something you should worry too much about, as I said. In general, if you notice that your records sound a little distorted, you should clean the needle.
So, you might have to change the needle at some point. You should be able to play for at least 500 hours with a standard needle, and maybe even more with a high-end one.
Because it only takes a few seconds to clean your stylus with any of the methods we looked at in this article, you shouldn't have any trouble.
Enjoy the music now that you know how to keep your record needle clean.