New vinyl records can arrive with light residue or debris from pressing plants. Learn why this is normal and how to safely clean your record before first play.
Even brand-new vinyl may arrive with a little surface residue. Pressing plants aren’t sterile environments—small particles like paper dust, debris from inner sleeves, or pressing compound residue can cling to records during production and packaging.
A little surface noise doesn’t always mean your vinyl is defective—records are analog by nature, and some albums include light pops or background texture that reflect the original recording. That said, let’s make sure your record is performing as it
If your record skips, the cause is often the turntable setup, not the vinyl itself. Slight adjustments usually resolve the issue quickly. Inspect the tonearm balance. Make sure your tonearm’s tracking force matches the cartridge manufacturer’s recomm