Record cleaning · Mansfield · UK only
Record cleaning service
Got records that crackle like a bonfire night? We clean vinyl with a Degritter Mark II ultrasonic cleaning machine. Every record bought from our website is hand cleaned before it's sent out, and now you can add a Degritter ultrasonic clean at checkout for £2 + VAT per record, or send your own records in. For now we're cleaning 12-inch LPs only. Drop them off by appointment in Mansfield or post them in from anywhere in the UK, and they'll come back to you cleaner, quieter and ready for the turntable.
UK only, 12-inch LPs only
This service is for UK customers only. You can drop records off in Mansfield by appointment, or post them in from a UK address, and we only post cleaned records back to UK addresses. Sorry, we can't accept records sent from outside the UK. For now we're only cleaning 12-inch LPs. 7-inch and 10-inch records are coming soon.
Enquire about cleaningWhat ultrasonic cleaning does
Record grooves collect dust, grime, old fingerprints and the odd bit of mystery gunk from forty years in a loft. A brush only gets so far, because the grooves are tiny.
Ultrasonic cleaning works differently. Sound waves far above human hearing agitate the cleaning water, creating huge numbers of microscopic bubbles that form and collapse against the record. That action loosens dirt from the surface and from inside the groove itself, and nothing has to scrub the playing surface.
What that can mean for you: less surface noise, and fewer of the clicks and crackles that are caused by dirt sitting in the groove.
What cleaning can't do
Cleaning removes dirt, not damage. Scratches, scuffs, groove wear from years of heavy play, warps and pressing faults will still be there after a clean. If a crackle comes from grime, cleaning can make a real difference. If it comes from a scratch, it won't. We'd rather tell you that now than have you disappointed later.
About the Degritter Mark II
We use a Degritter Mark II, a fully automatic ultrasonic cleaner built specifically for vinyl records. Here's what it does, in plain English:
- Two ultrasonic transducers on each side of the record, working at 120 kHz (sweeping between 120 and 125 kHz) to spread the cleaning energy evenly across the surface.
- Pulse mode, which rapidly switches the ultrasonics on and off at high power for a stronger cleaning effect.
- Touch-free cleaning. Nothing inside the machine rubs against the record.
- It's designed to run on purified water with a small dose of cleaning fluid. Tap water is a no-go, because limescale leaves residue on records.
- The cleaning water is pumped through a replaceable filter during washing, so the muck that comes off doesn't end up back on the record.
- It keeps an eye on the water temperature and adds cooling time automatically if it gets too warm, to protect the vinyl.
- Records are dried with a flow of filtered air.
- Wash cycles run from 2 minutes 15 seconds to 6 minutes 45 seconds, with an optional pre-soak to loosen dried-on grime and an optional rinse from a separate tank of clean water.
Machine details are taken from Degritter's official Mark II product page and user guide.
How it works
- 1. Get in touch. Email us with roughly how many LPs you'd like cleaned. We'll confirm the price, return postage if you're posting them in, and how you'd like to get them to us.
- 2. Drop off or post in. Drop them off in Mansfield by appointment (we'll share the address when we book you in, same as click & collect), or post them to us from a UK address. We'll send the posting address by email once you've booked.
- 3. We clean them. Each record goes through the Degritter one at a time.
- 4. Back to you. Collect them by appointment in Mansfield, or we'll post them back to your UK address, packed as carefully as every record that leaves the shop.
Prices
Prices are per disc, and every clean comes with a new anti-static inner sleeve. A double LP counts as two, and box sets are welcome as long as every disc is 12-inch.
All prices are plus VAT, added at checkout.
Launch offer
Try it: 2 LPs for £6 + VAT
Two LPs, standard clean, new anti-static inner sleeves included. A good way to hear the difference for yourself. One per customer. Offer ends 31 October 2026.
Standard clean
A full Degritter ultrasonic clean, with a new anti-static inner sleeve included.
- 1–4 LPs
- £4 each + VAT
- 5–9 LPs
- £3.50 each + VAT
- 10–24 LPs
- £3 each + VAT
- 25+ LPs
- £2.50 each + VAT
Deep clean — £6 per LP + VAT
For the grubby charity-shop and loft finds. We hand pre-clean the record first, then run it through the Degritter's longest cycle. A new anti-static inner sleeve is included.
Getting them to us and back
- Drop-off in Mansfield (by appointment)
- No extra charge
- Posting in (UK addresses only)
- You pay the postage to send them to us
- Return postage (UK)
- Charged at cost. We'll quote it when you get in touch
- 20 or more LPs
- Free return postage
Book and pay for a clean
Book your clean and pay online now. Prices include a new anti-static inner sleeve for every disc, with VAT added at checkout. Prefer to talk it through first? Email us using the details below instead.
What we clean, and what we don't
We clean
- 12-inch LPs
- Box sets and multi-disc albums, as long as every disc is 12-inch. Each disc is priced as one LP, so a double LP counts as two.
7-inch and 10-inch records: coming soon.
We don't clean
- Sleeves, covers or inserts. It's the vinyl that goes in the machine.
- 7-inch and 10-inch records, for now
- Shellac 78s
- Cracked or broken records
- Acetates, lacquers and dubplates
- Records sent from outside the UK
Questions, answered
- How long will it take?
- We'll confirm turnaround when you book.
- Will it get rid of all the crackle?
- Only the crackle that's caused by dirt. Cleaning can't fix scratches, wear or warps. Plenty of noisy records come out sounding far better, but we won't promise miracles.
- What's the difference between a standard and a deep clean?
- A standard clean is a full Degritter ultrasonic clean. The deep clean is for the really grubby ones, such as charity-shop and loft finds: we hand pre-clean the record first, then run it through the Degritter's longest cycle.
- Is ultrasonic cleaning safe for my records?
- The Degritter is built for vinyl. Degritter chose its 120 kHz frequency to keep records safe, the machine watches the water temperature so it never gets too warm, and nothing touches the playing surface.
- Do you replace inner sleeves?
- Yes. Every standard and deep clean includes a new anti-static inner sleeve, because a freshly cleaned record in a grubby old paper inner can pick the dirt straight back up.
- Can I drop records off in person?
- Yes, by appointment in Mansfield. We're not a walk-in shop, so email us first and we'll arrange a time and share the address.
- How should I post my records to you?
- Pack them as you'd want a record packed: a proper record mailer, stiffeners either side and plenty of padding. We'd recommend a tracked service. UK addresses only, please.
- Do you accept records from outside the UK?
- No, sorry. The cleaning service is UK only, both for sending records in and for posting them back.
- Do you clean 7-inch singles, 10-inch records or 78s?
- Not yet. For now we're cleaning 12-inch LPs only. 7-inch and 10-inch records are coming soon.
- How do I keep them clean afterwards?
- Store them upright in clean inner sleeves, handle them by the edges and label, and keep your stylus clean.
Book a clean
chris@wholelottavinyl.co.ukTell us roughly how many LPs you'd like cleaned, and whether you'll drop them off in Mansfield or post them in from a UK address. We normally reply within one working day.