Vinyl grading & cleaning guide

The Goldmine grading standard

Mint (M)

Sealed, untouched, perfect. We rarely grade pre-loved stock this high.

Near Mint (NM / M-)

Looks and plays as new. Maybe one or two faint sleeve marks; no audible defects.

Very Good Plus (VG+)

Light surface marks that don't affect play. Minor sleeve wear at corners or spine.

Very Good (VG)

Plays well with light surface noise in quiet passages. Visible marks; honest used copy.

Good (G) / Good Plus (G+)

Playable but worn. Surface noise throughout; sleeves often split or taped.

Poor (P) / Fair (F)

For die-hards only. Skips, scratches, badly worn sleeve.

How to clean a vinyl record at home

1. Dry-brush before every play. A carbon-fibre brush, two slow rotations, lifts the dust before the stylus drags it through the groove.
2. Wet-clean for stubborn grime. Use a microfibre pad with a record-safe cleaning fluid (isopropyl alcohol + distilled water 1:4 works in a pinch). Work with the groove, never across it.
3. Rinse with distilled water. Tap water leaves mineral deposits in the groove and adds surface noise.
4. Air-dry on a rack or pat with a clean microfibre cloth. Never put a damp record back in its sleeve.
5. Replace inner sleeves. Anti-static poly-lined inners cost pennies and save a record from a lifetime of paper-fibre scratches.

Storing records to keep them Near Mint

• Store upright, never stacked. Stacked records warp and ring-wear sleeves.
• Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from radiators — vinyl warps above ~50°C.
• Outer poly sleeves stop ring-wear and keep covers looking sharp.
• Handle by the edges and the label. Fingerprints attract dust and dust scratches grooves.