Vinyl records need upright storage, protective sleeves, dust-free handling and alcohol-light cleaning solutions to stay playable for decades. U.S. vinyl revenue held near $457 million in the first half of 2025, with vinyl outselling CDs in units for a fifth straight year, according to the RIAA. This guide walks through buying, handling, cleaning and storing a collection based on practices described by record retailers and industry data.
Vinyl records remain a significant part of the U.S. physical music market. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported that vinyl revenue stood at $457 million in the first half of 2025, making up more than three-quarters of all physical music format revenue, and that vinyl units have outsold CD units for five straight years.
For anyone starting or maintaining a collection, the practical questions are usually the same: how to handle a record without damaging it, what to clean it with, and how to store it so it does not warp. The steps below are drawn from guidance published by record retailers Rough Trade, Fluance and Victrola.
Handling records correctly
Always hold a record by its outer edge and the center label — never touch the grooves, since even clean hands leave oils that attract dust, according to Fluance.
Insert and remove records from their jackets horizontally rather than dropping them in vertically, Rough Trade and Fluance advise, to avoid edge damage.
Lower the stylus gently onto the edge of the record and lift the tonearm straight upward by supporting it from underneath, per Rough Trade's guidance; never press down on it.
Return a record to its sleeve immediately after playing to limit dust exposure, Rough Trade notes.
Cleaning tools and method
Sources agree that dry debris should be removed before any wet cleaning. A carbon fiber brush, used along the direction of the grooves, is the tool most consistently recommended because it reaches between grooves without scratching the surface, according to Rough Trade, Fluance and Victrola.
Remove loose dust with a carbon fiber or anti-static brush, sweeping along the groove direction.
If using a liquid cleaner, choose a purpose-made record-cleaning solution with low or no isopropyl alcohol content — Rough Trade says cleaning products typically contain no more than about 10% isopropyl alcohol to protect the vinyl's surface coating.
Use distilled or de-ionized water rather than tap water, which Rough Trade says leaves mineral deposits that build up with repeated cleaning.
Wipe with a lint-free microfibre cloth or velvet pad, as recommended by Fluance and Victrola; Victrola specifically warns that materials like t-shirts and towels can harbor lint that transfers onto the grooves.
Let the record dry completely before playing it; playing a damp record presses whatever residue remains into the groove, worsening the problem, Rough Trade notes.
Clean the stylus itself weekly with a dedicated stylus brush, moving from back to front in the direction of rotation, as described by Fluance.
Storage: sleeves, position and environment
All three guides agree on vertical storage. Records stacked flat on top of each other are at risk of warping under their own weight, Fluance and Rough Trade both state. Inner and outer protective sleeves — placed between the record and its jacket, and around the jacket itself — are recommended by Rough Trade as a barrier against scuffs and damage.
Environmental conditions matter as much as physical position. Victrola says extended sun exposure can distort records and fade jacket artwork, while Rough Trade warns that attics and garages expose collections to temperature extremes and humidity even when sheltered from direct weather.
If a record is already warped or scratched
Rough Trade notes that dedicated record-flattening devices use controlled heat to soften a warped disc before it is cooled flat again, though this requires specialized equipment. Scratches, by contrast, are described by Rough Trade as often irreparable — anti-static cleaning machines may help with light surface scratches but will not remove deeper groove damage.
Why the hobby keeps growing
The RIAA's mid-year 2025 report found vinyl unit shipments and revenue broadly stable compared with the prior year, with vinyl continuing to outship CDs for a fifth consecutive year. Streaming still dominates overall U.S. recorded music revenue, reaching $4.6 billion and 84% of the market in the same period, but vinyl's hold on physical format spending shows the format's niche has proven durable rather than a short-lived fad, according to the RIAA data reported by Digital Music News.
Quick reference: what to use and what to avoid
Task
Recommended
Avoid
Dusting
Carbon fiber or anti-static brush
Fingers on the grooves
Wet cleaning
Low/no-isopropyl record solution + distilled water
High-alcohol cleaners, tap water
Drying/wiping
Lint-free microfibre cloth or velvet pad
T-shirts, towels
Storage position
Vertical, upright in crates or shelves
Flat stacking
Storage location
Cool, dry, dark room
Attics, garages, near windows/vents
Sleeves
Inner sleeve + outer protective sleeve
Bare jacket with no inner sleeve
Questions
How often should I clean my vinyl records?
Sources recommend using a carbon fiber or anti-static brush as a first cleaning step, with a deeper wet clean only when visible grime builds up; the stylus itself should be brushed weekly, according to Fluance and Victrola.
Can I use rubbing alcohol to clean records?
Rough Trade's guide advises against high-isopropyl-alcohol solutions, saying most record-cleaning products contain no more than about 10% isopropyl alcohol to protect the vinyl's protective surface layer; it recommends purpose-made record-cleaning solutions with low or no alcohol content instead.
Is it bad to store records flat/stacked?
Yes — Fluance and Rough Trade both state that records stacked flat on top of each other risk warping under the weight; vertical, upright storage is recommended instead.
Is vinyl collecting still growing in 2025?
According to the RIAA, vinyl held roughly $457 million in U.S. revenue in the first half of 2025 and outsold CDs in units for a fifth straight year, indicating the format's popularity has remained stable rather than declining.
Can a warped record be fixed?
Rough Trade's guide describes dedicated record-flattening devices that use controlled heat to reshape a warped disc, though this requires specialized equipment; scratches, unlike warping, are described as often irreparable.
This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this
Classical-era harmony, counterpoint and form are still the starting point of composition training, and several working composers say they directly rework material from Bach, Beethoven and other classical-era composers into new pieces. Juilliard's own course catalog describes counterpoint as a structural, controlling force in Western music syntax rather than a historical curiosity, while composers from John Adams to Hildur Guðnadóttir trace their current methods back to classical training.
Bologna is holding a five-day public tribute, from October 29 to November 2, 2026, to singer-songwriter Francesco Guccini, who died on August 6, 2026, at age 86. The programme includes a mass singalong of his songs in Piazza Maggiore and honours six decades of creative partnership with the band Nomadi, which began in 1966.
Peter Maffay's new duet album "Nashville," recorded with singer Johannes Oerding, entered the German charts at number one on 9 October 2026, giving the 77-year-old musician his 22nd chart-topping album — a record no other artist has reached in Germany. The milestone, confirmed by German chart data, caps a recording career that began in 1969.
Ian Hill, Judas Priest's bassist since 1970, announced his retirement on October 9, 2026, citing advanced arthritis and a torn shoulder tendon that forced him to miss a London show in September. Uriah Heep bassist Davey Rimmer, who filled in for Hill on short notice, has been named his permanent successor.
