I see the aftermath of bad record care every week. Customers bring in collections where the music is ruined not by time but by preventable mistakes. Records warped from heat. Sleeves destroyed by poor storage. Grooves worn out by dirty styli. Every one of these is avoidable, and I’m going to tell you how.

Mistake 1: Storing Records Flat

This is the number one killer, and I see it constantly. Stacking records horizontally on top of each other seems intuitive — that’s how you stack books, plates, and most other flat objects. But vinyl is different.

The weight of stacked records compresses the lower ones, causing warps over time. It also creates ring wear on sleeves, where the edge of the record above grinds into the cover below. Ten records stacked flat for a year will show visible damage. A hundred records stacked flat will have warped vinyl and destroyed covers.

The fix: Always store records vertically, like books on a shelf. Not leaning at an angle — genuinely vertical. If they lean, the weight distribution causes warping on the lower records.

Mistake 2: Leaving Records in the Sun

Vinyl starts softening at temperatures around 60°C, and a record left in direct sunlight — on a shelf near a window, in a car, or on a turntable near a window — can reach that temperature remarkably quickly. In an Australian summer, the inside of a parked car can hit 70°C+ within minutes.

I had a customer bring in a collection that had been stored in a shed. Every single record was warped beyond playability. The shed had a corrugated iron roof with no insulation. That collection was worth nothing.

The fix: Store records in a cool, climate-controlled indoor space. Never leave records in a car, even briefly. Keep records away from windows, heating vents, and any heat source.

Mistake 3: Using a Worn Stylus

A stylus has a lifespan, typically 500-1,000 hours of play depending on the type. After that, the tip becomes worn and misshapen, which means it no longer tracks the groove accurately. Instead of riding smoothly along the groove walls, it grinds into them, causing irreversible damage.

The insidious thing about stylus wear is that it happens gradually. You don’t notice the sound degrading because it changes slowly. But the damage to your records is cumulative and permanent.

The fix: Track your playing hours. Replace your stylus at the manufacturer’s recommended interval. If you can’t remember when you last replaced it, replace it now.

Mistake 4: Touching the Grooved Surface

Your fingers deposit oils, salts, and microscopic debris onto the vinyl surface. These contaminants settle into the grooves and get ground in deeper every time the record plays, causing surface noise that becomes permanent.

I’ve graded records that looked fine visually but sounded terrible because they’d been handled by the playing surface for years. The fingerprint oils had bonded with dust and created a layer of grime in the grooves that even a cleaning machine couldn’t fully remove.

The fix: Handle records by the edges and the label area only. Never touch the grooved surface. When removing a record from its sleeve, let it slide out onto your clean fingers at the edge, supporting the label area with your other hand.

Mistake 5: Skipping the Inner Sleeve Upgrade

Most new records come with paper inner sleeves. These sleeves are fine for initial packaging, but over time they shed fibres into the grooves and offer no anti-static protection. Every time you slide a record in and out of a paper sleeve, you’re introducing microscopic debris.

The fix: Replace stock paper inner sleeves with poly-lined anti-static sleeves. Mobile Fidelity, Vinyl Styl, and other brands offer excellent options for $15-25 per pack of 50. Do this for every record you care about.

Mistake 6: Not Cleaning Before Play

Dust accumulates on records even in clean environments. Playing a dusty record grinds that dust into the grooves, creating surface noise and causing abrasive wear.

The fix: Use a carbon fibre brush before every play. Hold it on the spinning record for two or three rotations, then sweep toward the edge. Takes ten seconds and prevents the most common cause of surface noise.

Mistake 7: Incorrect Tracking Force

Too little tracking force causes the stylus to bounce and skip, potentially scratching the record. Too much force causes excessive groove wear. Both extremes damage your records.

The fix: Set your tracking force to the cartridge manufacturer’s recommended specification. Use a digital stylus force gauge ($15-30 online) for accuracy. Check it periodically, as counterweight settings can drift over time.

Mistake 8: Ignoring the Environment

Humidity promotes mould growth on sleeves and, in extreme cases, on the vinyl itself. I’ve seen mould-damaged records from collections stored in damp basements and garages. The damage is often irreversible.

The fix: Store records in a climate-controlled indoor space with stable temperature and humidity. If your storage room feels damp, invest in a dehumidifier. In humid Australian climates (coastal areas, tropical regions), this is especially important.

The Investment Perspective

Your record collection is an investment — not primarily financial, but personal. These records represent music you love, experiences you’ve had, and discoveries you’ve made. Taking basic care of them ensures they’ll continue to bring you joy for decades.

None of these fixes are expensive or difficult. They just require a small amount of knowledge and consistent habit. Start today, and your future self will thank you.