It’s a well-known truth that cleaning your stylus on a regular basis extends its lifespan and the life of your vinyl records.
Dust and dirt (including hair and tiny paper shreds from the inner sleeve) end up sticking to your vinyl records and will be picked up by the stylus tip as the record plays.
In spite of its appearance, micro dust and other material deposited on the stylus tip may reduce sound quality and even harm the stylus, which is why it is important to keep the tip clean.
This article explores how and why you should clean your record needle, the different methods, and their pros/cons.
I’ll also take you through the best techniques for cleaning your stylus, and I’ll show you some of the best products for the job.