Mythbusting - Does alcohol damage vinyl records? Rubbing Isopropanol
Posted by ADAM ELLIS on
We make no secret that our standard formula includes alcohol - it states so on the bottle! Its the same tried and tested formula we have used for years and its an effective cleaning solution.
'Despite this there is a general consensus by some that alcohol and all alcohol products are bad but its simply not as straight forward as that!'
It is conjecture but generally a myth that alcohol damages vinyl , especially in the purity & dilution of our product.
You will find many of the fluids on the market that actually clean properly contain alcohol to some degree.
Just because something is marketed as 'safe' 'non toxic' 'organic' does not necessarily mean its any safer for use at all.
In fact some brands out there use the fact that alcohol is bad just to sell the product that doesn't contain it! its generally a gimmick and marketing ploy.
Don't believe all the hype!
There are so many factors at play (excuse the pun) such as type of alcohol ingredient, quality of said product, its dilution, the quality / age of the pressing being cleaned, the correct storage of the record, the equipment used to play it, the apparatus used to clean & the manner in which it is cleaned all play a role.
Remember Even playing a record causes wear! - if alcohol damaged plastic then it could not be stored in plastic bottles could it??
There is a general consensus by some that alcohol and all alcohol products are bad but its simply not as straight forward as that!
Just wanted to give you a bit more information to make an informed decision.
For general use on your average 12" LP made of vinyl (PVC) there is little to no risk of using alcohol based cleaners - but its up to you.
We do supply an alcohol free version should you wish to try it and want something gentle on your records.
Clear Groove Advanced Record Cleaner - use with caution 😉
T-Total Record Cleaning Fluid - no harsh chemicals
