Is Alcohol Bad for Your Vinyl Records?

Rabbit holes can be deep, and some go much deeper than others. Do a little research on if it’s okay to clean your vinyl records with alcohol. The hole you’ll find yourself in has so many twists and turns you’ll come out of it no wiser than you were when you went into it.

That being said, the question is a good one and deserves an answer. I’ll warn you, though, that while this may be the definitive conclusion I’ve come to, there are counterarguments that will tell you the case is not closed.

The Case

In this instance, the case involves the cleaning of your vinyl records. More specifically, the solution, and by “solution”, I mean the liquid mixture or formula, many will recommend. You can do a quick Google or Amazon search on record cleaning solutions, and you will find many results, some of which have been around for decades. Some contain a small amount of isopropyl alcohol; others do not. Whichever solution you end up with, there will come a time when you’ve used it all up and think, “Why buy another bottle? I’m sure I can make my own. I mean, how hard can it be?”

Once you’ve reached that point, there’s no turning back. I know because I’ve been there. Over the past few decades, I’ve changed the formula I use at least half a dozen times based on advice, rumors, and old wives’ tales. The one that causes the most debate is whether using isopropyl alcohol on your records is safe. I’ve used it off and on for years, but I still wonder… have I done irreparable damage on some level?

Let’s check out some arguments against its use. So I don’t have to keep typing “isopropyl” I’ll sometimes use the term “alcohol”, but I always mean “isopropyl alcohol”.

Arguments Against

Before we go any further, please note this concerns the use of isopropyl alcohol on vinyl records. Never use any type of alcohol on shellac records. Those are the old 78s you may have in your collection or have seen in your grandparent’s basement or attic. Alcohol can dissolve the shellac record’s surface, and there’s no going back from that.

What about vinyl? Can alcohol dissolve that, too?

To be fair, isopropyl will not damage the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that your record is made of. There’s a caveat to that statement. The companies that make the PVC and sell it to record companies each use their own formula. These formulas are closely guarded secrets, and the very fact that they are “formulas” means there’s more to the PVC than meets the eye. These compounds contain stabilizers and plasticizers that give the resulting PVC flexibility and stability. Because we don’t know what these “additives” are, we cannot say how the introduction of isopropyl alcohol will react to it. Many collectors will argue the alcohol will break down the bonds of these additives to the PVC and “destabilize” the record. There are also claims that alcohol will strip a mythical layer of protection from the grooves. I use the term “mythical” because no protective layers are added to the pressing process. It’s all PVC, both inside and out (along with the additives).

Another argument against its use is there’s no need for it. Isopropyl evaporates quickly, and any cleaning opportunity is lost. Furthermore, it leaves behind some of what was collected from the record’s surface when it evaporates. Fair enough. But that argument assumes a high concentration of alcohol in the solution.

So why even consider it, given these concerns?

Arguments For

The main reason for using isopropyl alcohol as a cleaning agent or a portion of the agent is its degreasing properties. It’s excellent for removing grime and grease. It’s also powerful as an antimicrobial for bacteria and fungi – although that’s not as much of a concern with vinyl records and not why it’s used. Many users claim it cleans very well in its diluted form (when mixed with distilled water). This was the direction I took when I first began using it. My “homemade” formula included distilled water, 91-99% isopropyl alcohol, and a few drops of Dawn dish soap. I no longer use that mix. The records exposed to it have been in my possession for decades and still play exceptionally well. I listened to Prince’s Under a Cherry Moon a couple of days ago, a copy I bought in 1986, and there’s no hiss or pop on it. It’s been through my many record-cleaning phases.

Isopropyl alcohol continues to be a popular ingredient in some commercial and home-brew solutions, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon.

The Verdict

So, where does all this leave us? Are we any closer to a verdict?

Yes.

And no.

I know – way to avoid the question, right? Let me explain.

I said I’ve come to a definitive answer, and I have. So here goes…

Should you clean your vinyl records using isopropyl alcohol?

Drumroll, please…

No.

There are better solutions you can use. Always use distilled water. If you want to add an agent, try Tergikleen, which contains the surfactant Tergitol. Why a surfactant? It allows the water/cleaner to enter the grooves to get at the dust and grime. Surface tension prevents this without the use of a surfactant. If you don’t want to spend the extra money on Tergikleen, mix a few drops of Dawn dish soap into a gallon of distilled water. Dawn is also a surfactant, but not as effective.

While isopropyl may not eat through your records like acid, I’d rather err on the side of caution. Repeated use, even diluted, may have adverse long-term effects. If you must use a degreaser, mix a capful of distilled white vinegar with a gallon of distilled water. With any solution, it’s always best to rinse or wash with pure distilled water as a final step.

So there you have it.