The Record Restore process removes contamination from inside the groove — where noise and distortion originate — not just from the surface. The result, independently assessed by audio professional Dave Askew on older records: a +11 dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio and a −8 dB reduction in noise floor, with no loss of musical detail.
Professional vinyl record cleaning service operating from the Blue Mountains, NSW. Postal service available Australia-wide.
Why this is different
Most cleaning methods — fluid systems, brushed vacuum machines, ultrasonic baths — loosen contamination inside the groove and attempt to remove it. The difficulty is that without a chemical mechanism to encapsulate what has been loosened, the cleaning pass redistributes as much as it removes.
Record Restore uses a proprietary antistatic surfactant formulation that encapsulates contamination within the groove and extracts it as a single, cohesive layer — without scrubbing, without cavitation, and without leaving residue or coating in the groove. Static is eliminated following each treatment.
Service tiers
Standard Clean — from $9.95 per record
Record Restore treatment applied to both sides. Contamination encapsulated and extracted from within the groove. Static eliminated following treatment. Records returned in existing sleeves.
Add an anti-static inner sleeve — 1mil, 2mil, or 3mil — for $1.00 per record. Split seam cover repairs included where feasible.
Premium Restoration — from $15.95 per record
Everything in the Standard Clean, plus:
Record Relaxing. Each record is heat-treated at a precisely controlled temperature inside the AFI FLAT.DUO. This tempering process improves playback clarity — particularly on records that have softened through improper storage or handling. A correctly relaxed record will often reveal detail that previous cleaning attempts could not reach.
Record Flattening. Warps corrected under controlled pressure using precision-machined aluminium plates and torque-controlled contact rings. Most storage-related warps resolve in a single cycle.
Severely Warped Records — $29.95 per record
For records with warps severe enough to affect tracking or throw the tonearm — including heat-ripple warps and complex compound warps. Treated using modified settings across multiple cycles. Suitable for records previously considered unplayable.
What customers are saying
“What a transformation! I can’t believe the difference in these records. The clarity and depth, even the ambience — sounds like a new record.”
— Trevor Day (100-album collection, 1960s–70s originals)
“The severely warped record I sent has come back near perfect. I am absolutely amazed at the result.”
“The detail and clarity I had never heard before — it was a revelation.”
— Brendan L.
“The transformation has been astounding, wondrous.”
— David Mac (90-LP collection)
How the service works
Order. Add one unit per record to your cart, selecting the appropriate service tier. If your collection spans multiple tiers, or you’re unsure which tier suits your records, contact us at record-cleaning-service@secretchordanalogue.au before ordering.
Ship. We send a lockable specialist record shipping case to your address (holds up to 50 LPs, returned with your records). Pack your records, notify us, and we arrange courier collection. Prefer your own packaging? That’s fine too.
Catalogue and clean. Every record in your order is assessed for condition — including warping — before treatment begins. Records are logged in Vinyl Record Tracker (VRT) by album title, pressing, and service tier. You receive login credentials and complete your cleaning selections through VRT before treatment begins. If we identify warping on a Standard Clean order, we contact you with details and a recommendation to upgrade to Premium Restoration before proceeding. Each record is then treated individually.
For a limited time, a one-year VRT Core licence is included at no charge — giving you a permanent home for your cleaning history and stylus wear tracking.
Return. Treated records are returned by courier. An invoice for return shipping is issued on dispatch.
Vinyl Record Tracker — Care Log and cleaning orders
Care Log is free. Vinyl Record Tracker’s Care Log tier is purpose-built for this: catalogue the records you want cleaned, compile your order list, and log every treatment — at no cost and with no expiry.
In Care Log, you add the records you want treated, set the service tier for each album individually, and flag any problem records for additional attention. The resulting list accompanies your order to SCA. VRT Core+ subscribers can dispatch the order directly from the app; Care Log users compile the list and submit it via the order form on this page.
After your records are treated and returned, Care Log records the treatment date against each album automatically. Play tracking resumes from that date — so you always know how many plays each record has had since its last treatment, and when it is next due.
Already tracking plays in VRT Core or above? Your Care Log is already there. The Record Care Report in your dashboard flags every album overdue for treatment — your cleaning list is already compiled.
Combined with VRT’s stylus wear tracking — which monitors cumulative groove contact across your cartridge — the result is a system that protects both the record and the equipment playing it. No other record cleaning service in Australia provides this level of integration.
Problem records
Records that have resisted previous cleaning attempts, or exhibit persistent noise at specific locations in the groove, can be noted on your cleaning selection form in VRT. These receive additional attention during the treatment process.
Serving collectors throughout Australia. All records handled individually. Postal service available nationwide.