Record washing - Record washing with washing machine

Vinyl service - Professional record cleaning

The microgrooves of a record contain all the musical information - recorded with a precision that even the most modern digital formats cannot fully reproduce. But these fine groove structures are also a trap for everything that destroys the sound: dust, fingerprints, pressing residue, mold spores, dried moisture. What the ear perceives as crackling, hissing or an apparent lack of dynamics is often not a defect in the pressing - but simple dirt. Professional wet cleaning with vacuum extraction is the only method that removes this dirt from the groove permanently and without leaving any residue.

For this service we use the Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional Sonic - the reference machine among professional record washing machines. The machine cleans both sides simultaneously in a single pass: cleaning fluid, vibrating microfiber brushes, high-frequency sonic vibration and residue-free surface suction work simultaneously on the top and bottom sides. Finally, an antistatic brush on both sides neutralizes the charge generated during the washing process - so that your plate does not attract new dust particles after washing. The result: deep clean, shiny, crackle- and noise-free records - clear, dynamic and convincing from the very first note.

A standard carbon brush removes loose surface dust - nothing more. However, particles are deposited in the microgrooves of a record that can never be removed by simple brushing: dried pressing residues from the manufacturing process, caked-on dirt, grease residues from fingerprints, micro-fine dust agglomerates and, in worse cases, even mold spores. Even brand-new panels are proven to have release agent residues from the pressing process - so it is always worth a first wash.

Dirt in the groove directly costs information. The scanning needle - a precision-ground diamond in high-quality systems - must follow the groove geometry with extreme accuracy. Every foreign particle that gets between the tip of the stylus and the edge of the groove generates micro-impacts that the pickup records as noise in the signal. The result: trebles lose their transparency, stage imaging collapses, bass lines lose contour. A clean vinyl doesn't just sound quieter - it sounds deeper, wider and more natural.

There is also the protection of the pick-up system: dirty grooves considerably increase wear on the stylus and vinyl. The most effective way to protect your investment is to use a high-quality cartridge with consistently clean records. Professionally washed records run measurably smoother - and significantly extend the service life of the stylus.

We have worked with a Hannl Mera for over 20 years - a machine that has performed flawlessly and enjoys an excellent reputation in the audiophile world. The fact that we decided to change after this time says a lot about Clearaudio: The Double Matrix Professional Sonic is simply the best the market has to offer today. Clearaudio has been developing and building the finest analog technology in Erlangen for decades - the Double Matrix is the consistent further development of this expertise, the highest evolutionary stage of a long generation of devices to date and an international multiple test winner. The trade magazine STEREO judged: "Expensive, but unfortunately cool." Other specialist editors gave it the top score of 5 out of 5 stars. Dealers who use the machine on a daily basis in the studio report unanimously: "They simply don't know anything better.

Its key feature is the patented Sonic option: vibrating cleaning elements generate high-frequency oscillations directly in the cleaning fluid, which flush out dirt particles from the deepest groove structures - leaving the vinyl itself completely undamaged. Clearaudio has deliberately chosen a different approach to ultrasonic devices, which were originally designed for hard materials such as glass or jewelry and can permanently damage the sensitive PVC of a record: Sonic technology cleans just as intensively, but is completely gentle on the material.

The machine cleans both sides simultaneously - a real strength compared to devices where each side has to be treated individually. The right/left rotation of the rotary axis ensures that the cleaning fluid is evenly worked into all groove directions. The complete surface suction leaves a dry, residue-free panel surface - no waiting, no re-drying. The integrated anti-static brush at the end of the process ensures that the freshly cleaned panel is electrostatically neutral and does not attract any new dust particles.

Every record has its own history - and its own cleaning requirements. That's why we offer four coordinated programs, ranging from quick basic hygiene to double intensive cleaning. Each wash includes double-sided surface cleaning with sonic vibration, residue-free vacuum extraction, anti-static treatment and an optical inspection under special light.

Storing a freshly washed plate in an old, dusty inner sleeve would be counterproductive. That's why we offer a change of inner sleeve in three versions as a supplement to the washing service - choose the option that suits your collection:

Standard inner sleeves (80 g, coated inside, black or white) - solid basic solution for uncomplicated everyday use.

Nagaoka sleeves (half-round, antistatic) - the smart choice for records with printed hardcover inlets: the half-round opening allows insertion into the original cover without having to replace it. Antistatic and gentle.

Sieveking Sound Premium sleeves - the best the market has to offer for inner sleeves. Rice paper inner coating based on the legendary MFSL sleeves, but with an even higher quality finish. For valuable first pressings and all records that require optimum long-term protection.

If you have noticeably statically charged records, we also recommend the separate antistatic treatment: with the help of our antistatic arm, existing charge is specifically dissipated through several controlled record rotations - for a permanently neutral, dust-repellent condition.

Questions about packaging, shipping or the individual programs? You can find all the details in our FAQ section on plate washing - where we have answered the most frequently asked questions about the service in detail.