Should You Clean Before Selling ?

[Dave Thorley]

If you have records, that are store stock or warehouse new, that have never seen the light of day. Should you clean them before selling. Most records like this will have aquired a film of dust over the years.

I tend not to clean them, but send them out as is, for the new owner to clean in his own desired way. The danger with cleaning is that you might slighty discolour the label or even use a slighty firm cloth and leave tiny surface marks on the vinyl. When ever I remember I state that to the client.

So I sent one out like this the other day and the buyer sent it back saying it wasn't mint as stated.

Anyone have a view on this.

Dave

[Gary Samways]

after reading some peoples methods of cleaning records on here i'd say definately not!

[Mark Bicknell]

Place record in a cold pan of water bring to a boil then simmer for fifteen minutes, leave to cool, remove fucked record and place between two pieces of glass put out in sun for a further forty five minutes, remove glass and run over record in a jeep, lastly clean with brillo pad or wire wool stand back and enjoy.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Soulsmith]

Place record in a cold pan of water bring to a boil then simmer for fifteen minutes, leave to cool, remove fucked record and place between two pieces of glass put out in sun for a further forty five minutes, remove glass and run over record in a jeep, lastly clean with brillo pad or wire wool stand back and enjoy.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Don't forget - only floss the ones you want to keep.

[Reg Scott]

If you have records, that are store stock or warehouse new, that have never seen the light of day. Should you clean them before selling. Most records like this will have aquired a film of dust over the years.

I tend not to clean them, but send them out as is, for the new owner to clean in his own desired way. The danger with cleaning is that you might slighty discolour the label or even use a slighty firm cloth and leave tiny surface marks on the vinyl. When ever I remember I state that to the client.

So I sent one out like this the other day and the buyer sent it back saying it wasn't mint as stated.

Anyone have a view on this.

Dave

TBH Dave,

I like to receive buys clean. BUT, if and only if, I know the dealer uses a sensible method.

Otherwise I'm happy to receive the record and do the job myself.

The customer who returned, probably spun the record and heard some noise from the record due to the accumulated dust of time and didn't bother considering it might need a clean after 40 years!

ATB

Greg.

[Gary Samways]

Place record in a cold pan of water bring to a boil then simmer for fifteen minutes, leave to cool, remove fucked record and place between two pieces of glass put out in sun for a further forty five minutes, remove glass and run over record in a jeep, lastly clean with brillo pad or wire wool stand back and enjoy.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

don't forget the p.v.a. glue, thr w.d. 40 (for f**ks sake!) and the t-cut!!!!!

[Douglas]

Place record in a cold pan of water bring to a boil then simmer for fifteen minutes, leave to cool, remove fucked record and place between two pieces of glass put out in sun for a further forty five minutes, remove glass and run over record in a jeep, lastly clean with brillo pad or wire wool stand back and enjoy.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Thank you for your advice, i followed your instructions to the letter, and yes my copy of Frank Wilson does actually sound better.

[Ian Dewhirst]

If you have records, that are store stock or warehouse new, that have never seen the light of day. Should you clean them before selling. Most records like this will have aquired a film of dust over the years.

I tend not to clean them, but send them out as is, for the new owner to clean in his own desired way. The danger with cleaning is that you might slighty discolour the label or even use a slighty firm cloth and leave tiny surface marks on the vinyl. When ever I remember I state that to the client.

So I sent one out like this the other day and the buyer sent it back saying it wasn't mint as stated.

Anyone have a view on this.

Dave

I don't clean 'em either. Like yourself I'd prefer the buyer to use his/her own methods. The downside is I've sold records which have never been played and only been on the shelves for the last 35 years hence I've classified them as mint only to receive complaints. Likewise when I remember I try and put Mint but dusty!

Personally I think anyone's lucky to get a 30 year + record in mint condition these days......

Ian D

[Paul McKay]

Trouble is Dave unless you know for sure the record is virtually unplayed, dust and dirt can cover a multitude of sins which may be undetedtable until cleaning is done. So, I say clean 'em and if you have a large enough turnover get one of those VP(?) cleaning machines.

[Davetay]

Place record in a cold pan of water bring to a boil then simmer for fifteen minutes, leave to cool, remove fucked record and place between two pieces of glass put out in sun for a further forty five minutes, remove glass and run over record in a jeep, lastly clean with brillo pad or wire wool stand back and enjoy.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Mark, if you havn't got a jeep will a van do?

[Soul16]

If you have records, that are store stock or warehouse new, that have never seen the light of day. Should you clean them before selling. Most records like this will have aquired a film of dust over the years.

I tend not to clean them, but send them out as is, for the new owner to clean in his own desired way. The danger with cleaning is that you might slighty discolour the label or even use a slighty firm cloth and leave tiny surface marks on the vinyl. When ever I remember I state that to the client.

So I sent one out like this the other day and the buyer sent it back saying it wasn't mint as stated.

Anyone have a view on this.

Dave

I buy far more records than I ever sell,

I don't expect sellers to clean records before they sell them - A dusty/dirty record can still be considered mint, only permanent marks or damage affects the condition of a record.

All my records get cleaned (carefully) as soon as I get them - It's part of the experience, I enjoy it!

[Phild]

I prefer to clean them myself. Although I never actually get round to doing it.

Phil

[vince ayres]

If you have records, that are store stock or warehouse new, that have never seen the light of day. Should you clean them before selling. Most records like this will have aquired a film of dust over the years.

I tend not to clean them, but send them out as is, for the new owner to clean in his own desired way. The danger with cleaning is that you might slighty discolour the label or even use a slighty firm cloth and leave tiny surface marks on the vinyl. When ever I remember I state that to the client.

So I sent one out like this the other day and the buyer sent it back saying it wasn't mint as stated.

Anyone have a view on this.

Dave

i always clean them as all my records are put on ebay with soundclips,im sure most wouldnt sell if they were covered in dust.

[vince ayres]

Place record in a cold pan of water bring to a boil then simmer for fifteen minutes, leave to cool, remove fucked record and place between two pieces of glass put out in sun for a further forty five minutes, remove glass and run over record in a jeep, lastly clean with brillo pad or wire wool stand back and enjoy.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

why not set fire to the record aswell, then take it out mid atlantic an sink it just to be sure

[Garethx]

Would you clean your car or house before trying to sell it?

I think a wipe with a lint free cloth and nothing stronger than distilled water is fine.

I would leave any of the more extreme methods to the purchaser.

I think the need to try these methods is a compulsion for some. Fascinating experiments which are a throwback to childhood days of setting fire to model planes, decapitating your Action Man etc.

[Dave Thorley]

Trouble is Dave unless you know for sure the record is virtually unplayed, dust and dirt can cover a multitude of sins which may be undetedtable until cleaning is done. So, I say clean 'em and if you have a large enough turnover get one of those VP(?) cleaning machines.

I totally agree, but as I said at the beginning of this thread. My comments are related to stuff I have purchased from old record stores, distributors, jukebox operators etc, where I know that apart from the dusts of time they are as new.

Yes it looks like I need to go down the road of the VP machine. Although there is still a strange thrill for me to find records with that thin film of dust, that says, old, original pressing, new been played. I feel an almost religious feeling coming on.

[John Elias]

when I receive records I allways clean with luke warm water and a drop of washing up liquid,rinsed with cold waters and dried with soft clean cloth.

Now,from time to timeI get,like you say "old store stock",never been out the sleeve and covered in a film of dust,absolute delight in blowing and polishing off the dust before they hit the deck....MAGIC!

[Rob Wigley]

BOIL THE BAST***DS AND BE DAMNED!

[KevH]

BOIL THE BAST***DS AND BE DAMNED!

What happened to good old vinyl cleaner?.

[Rob Wigley]

What happened to good old vinyl cleaner?.

Its for softies nowadays Kev-BOIL EM ALIVE til they beg for mercy

[Guest stevemcmahon]

Dave, I've got a Moth MKII cleaning machine I made from a kit & it does a great job on removing dust.

Must admit, the vacuum part sounds a lot like a Dyson when its on!

Steve.

[Guest Dante]

Place record in a cold pan of water bring to a boil then simmer for fifteen minutes, leave to cool, remove fucked record and place between two pieces of glass put out in sun for a further forty five minutes, remove glass and run over record in a jeep, lastly clean with brillo pad or wire wool stand back and enjoy.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Pissed myself with this one. Firtst laugh of the day, thanks Mark.

[Rob Wigley]

How about one of these little beauties for big collections ?

should get all the grit out

rob

[Guest stevemcmahon]

rob - LMFAO

[Rob Wigley]

rob - LMFAO

gotta do it mate

[Guest]

Place record in a cold pan of water bring to a boil then simmer for fifteen minutes, leave to cool, remove fucked record and place between two pieces of glass put out in sun for a further forty five minutes, remove glass and run over record in a jeep, lastly clean with brillo pad or wire wool stand back and enjoy.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

i think some that sell actually do this Mark - but in their defence they only list them as VG+

[Ian Seaman]

must admit i prefer to get them as they were found, dusty or not, trouble is as most people clean records to there own taste it can be a disaster !!!

send them out dirty i say !!

Ian.

[boba]

I totally agree, but as I said at the beginning of this thread. My comments are related to stuff I have purchased from old record stores, distributors, jukebox operators etc, where I know that apart from the dusts of time they are as new.

Yes it looks like I need to go down the road of the VP machine. Although there is still a strange thrill for me to find records with that thin film of dust, that says, old, original pressing, new been played. I feel an almost religious feeling coming on.

the problem is that a lot of new old store stock is NOT mint, and it's only apparent after you clean it. If they're sitting around in boxes, they can get tiny scuffs, etc. or if they are from a place where other people have been through them, taken them out of the sleeve, etc. I don't know if the buyer in this case was complaining about the film or if they had cleaned it, but in my case, i always clean the records.

[Guest Dante]

I say clean them gently and then grade them, not before.

[Mark B]

Dave, I've got a Moth MKII cleaning machine I made from a kit & it does a great job on removing dust.

Must admit, the vacuum part sounds a lot like a Dyson when its on!

Steve.

i thought andy dyson sounds pretty good over the mike when he Dj's

mark

[NEV]

If you have records, that are store stock or warehouse new, that have never seen the light of day. Should you clean them before selling. Most records like this will have aquired a film of dust over the years.

I tend not to clean them, but send them out as is, for the new owner to clean in his own desired way. The danger with cleaning is that you might slighty discolour the label or even use a slighty firm cloth and leave tiny surface marks on the vinyl. When ever I remember I state that to the client.

So I sent one out like this the other day and the buyer sent it back saying it wasn't mint as stated.

Anyone have a view on this.

Dave

Dave i'm sure you don't need me to say this but here goes.....some people just look for excuses to send a record back ,usually because they bought it impulsively or cannot afford it .

Out of interest i always clean my records before sending em out...not had any complaints about corroding or damaged labels etc.

Think too much paranoia about damage caused by cleaning .......come on theyre bits of fookin plastic

[Mach]

i always clean used records, for resale, but seldom clean new/old stock records, even with a fresh cleaning cloth you can make them look worse, it can take away the unplayed look, even though they have,nt been played,and give a dull appearance, having said that, most collectors can tell if a record as been played or not, just by quick visual inspection.

[Britmusicsoulfan]

I clean all of the records I sell with a soft cloth with washing-up liquid with a dry soft cloth, as I play and visually grade all of the records.

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

i would not clean any records proper. maybe a quick cloth round the record. but would play to grade. Would be better to leave it to buyers so they can clean how they want.

You will only get bad feedback if you clean a record and ruin it and sell to the buyer who no longer wants it

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

i would not clean any records proper. maybe a quick cloth round the record. but would play to grade. Would be better to leave it to buyers so they can clean how they want.

You will only get bad feedback if you clean a record and ruin it and sell to the buyer who no longer wants it