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How to Get Heavy Mildew Off of LPs

Vinyl LPs can be a goldmine for enthusiasts and resellers. Whether you plan to enjoy them yourself or sell them, though, it's integral to keep them in good shape. Unfortunately, buried treasures like record albums are often stored in less-than perfect environments, allowing them to collect dust, and even mildew, which can seriously hamper their performance--if not render them completely unplayable. Mildew will eventually destroy the vinyl altogether. Fortunately, removing even heavy mildew from vinyl LPs is not difficult, allowing you to preserve these pieces of musical history.

Things You'll Need

Ventilation mask
Vinyl, latex or rubber gloves
Soft cloths
Isopropyl alcohol (70 percent by volume)
Water
Empty spray bottle

Instructions

- 1
  Assemble supplies in a well-ventilated area. Put on ventilation mask and gloves.
- 2
  Remove loose, powdery mildew from the LPs with a soft cloth, working in the direction of the record's grooves. Replace or turn cloth often to prevent re-soiling the LP, removing as much mildew as possible.
- 3
  Mix one part isopropyl alcohol with three parts water in the spray bottle. Spray a clean, soft cloth with alcohol solution.
- 4
  Wipe the record with the cloth, working in the direction of the grooves. Replace the cloth as it becomes soiled. Continue wiping LP until the cloth comes away clean.
- 5
  Dampen a clean cloth just barely with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. Wipe gently over the LP's label to remove any mildew. Take care not to saturate the label, though.
- 6
  Wipe the LP dry, very gently, with a soft clean cloth. Allow label to air dry to avoid smearing ink.

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