Pam said, “How do you remove mold from vinyl albums and especially the cardboard covers.”
Vinyl records are now considered antiques, which means they can often be found in garages, basements, and other places where mold could be lurking. Follow the steps in each section below to remove the mold and restore your records to their old glory.
Removing the Mold from the Record
You Will Need:
- A soft cloth
- Isopropyl alcohol
Steps to Remove the Mold:
- Get a soft, lint-free cloth, such as a T-shirt.
- Moisten the cloth with isopropyl alcohol, then wring the cloth out so that it is only damp, not dripping.¹
- Wipe the cloth over the record in a circular manner to remove the mold.²
- Turn the cloth to a fresh location and wipe the record again to kill any mold spores.
- Dry the record with a soft, lint-free cloth, always wiping in circles.²
Removing the Mold from the Sleeves
You Will Need:
- Distilled water
- A cloth
- Sunlight
Steps to Remove the Mold:
- Moisten a soft cloth with distilled water.
- Wring the cloth out so that it is only damp, not dripping, then use it to gently wipe off the mold.
- Pat the paper dry with a soft cloth.
- Set the sleeve in the sun for 30 minutes. Do not leave the sleeve out for any longer or the sunlight could cause fading.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Do not put the record itself out in the sun as it can become warped.
- Isopropyl alcohol should only be used on vinyl records, not 78s, as the 78s are shellac rather than vinyl.¹
Sources
- Home Comforts; The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
- 1001 Do-It-Yourself Hints & Tips by Reader’s Digest
Are all of the larger records “78s” and shellacked, making them unable to be cleaned? Mine look just like the 45s, only larger. Could you help me to clarify please?
Kim,
The physical size (diameter) of a record does not equate to RPMs (78, 55, 33, etc.). You could have a 12″ 45 or a 7″ 78. However, there are several ways to tell the difference. One of the easiest ways to tell the difference is to look at the back of the record: 78s are often able to be played on both sides, so they will be labeled on both sides and have grooves, etc. Another way to tell is to look closely at the grooves: 78s have very big grooves whereas 45s have narrow grooves. If you’re still unsure, another idea is to look at the age of the music or artist; 78s stopped being used just after WW2 (1950), so any music produced later than that is likely not on a 78. You can also take the record to a record store for better identification. Good luck!
Source: Wikipedia – Phonograph record
Source: StereoChoice – Differences Betweem 77, 33 and 45 RPM
Source: Electrohome – Vinyl Record Sizes and Speeds – What does 33 – 45 – 78 RPM mean?
Kim, you can certainly clean 78 RPM records. I have a dedicated record cleaning machine, but if that’s not in your budget you can use a drop of dishsoap in some lukewarm water to clean your shellac 78 RPMs. There are tutorials all over the inter-webs. 78 RPMs don’t always have larger grooves than an LP or 45 RPM record. I have some microgroove 78 RPMs.