How to handle them
First rule never touch the surface of the discs with your bare hands, but take them by the edges: in this way you avoid dirtying them with the grease of the fingertips that retains the dust and clogs the microsolchi as well as dirty the needle which consequently worsens playback.
The best way to manipulate them to remove them or put them back in the bag is to hold them with one hand, being careful to place the disc on the middle finger and thumb. The middle finger will touch the center hole while the thumb will approach the outer edge of the vinyl. This grip is rather safe and stable.
If it should happen to touch it, immediately clean it with a special ultra soft brush or a soft, lint-free, anti-static cloth impregnated with appropriate liquid to avoid charging the surface of electricity that would attract dust and generate discharges on the turntable needle.
In the case of persistent dirt the best advice is its washing with distilled water and two drops of neutral liquid soap. Use your hands to soap and rinse without wetting the label. Allow to air dry without rubbing the disc surfaces.
There are also special machines for washing vinyl discs and special evaporating liquids. The machines have various price categories as well as cleaning liquids and their purchase and use must be evaluated according to the size of their collection.
Be careful when removing or replacing the disc in the envelope. The opening of the inner envelope must not be in the same direction as the opening of the cover to prevent accidental falls due to the removal of the disc and to protect it from dust.
Do not leave the discs on the turntable plate
It will seem trivial and so simple but storing the discs in their case after listening to them is the best way to minimize the risk of ruining them by being exposed to dust, in the light of the sun in case the turntable is near a window, to the boring fly how curious it could be in the environment and settle on the surface of the vinyl by dirtying it.
Store discs vertically
Avoid storing vinyl records horizontally or worse in oblique, the risk is their deformation. The most correct way to store them and store them vertically, like the books in the bookshop. Keep your collection of discs away from sunlight, sources of heat and moisture.
Use transparent pvc bags
To keep the covers as new, protected from scratches, stains and tears, use transparent bags made of soft but strong plastic. Those in PVC are the best ever. Always use internal envelopes for the disk and if it is damaged replace them with new envelopes. If the inner envelope is printed with the texts of the songs, photos and credits, put it on the cover next to the new one that will wrap the vinyl.
Pay attention to the turntable
One of the things that is often overlooked is the fact that even the turntable may be due to the deterioration of the vinyl record.
First of all, avoid using particularly simple or unstable turntables. Some machines are real "tractors" that do not have a minimum of adjustments on the reading arm or the weight of the needle.
Make sure the stylus is intact and clean and fitted correctly; To clean the needle use the soft brush that should be supplied with the head. Check that the turntable is positioned in an easily accessible and stable place; that the weight of the needle is the correct one for the model in use and that the turntable, when not in use, is protected from dust with its cover.
In the event of uncertainties when positioning the head on the disk, always use the appropriate lever raising arm.
Avoid placing the disc with the turntable plate in motion so as not to scratch the opposite side of the disc.
Avoid listening to the disc with the lid of the turntable closed because the static electricity that is generated during the rotation of the plate could create a magnetic field that could blow the head and scratch the surface of the vinyl record.
