Vinyl's long resurgence has brought a wave of new collectors — and with them, a lot of dusty, crackling records that aren't being cared for properly. A new Engadget guide tackles the question head-on: what's the right way to clean your records? The answer, the outlet says, depends on your budget and how hardcore you want to get.

At the entry level, basic maintenance means anti-static brushes and careful handling to keep dust out of the grooves in the first place. Step up a tier and you're into cleaning solutions and manual washing systems designed to lift embedded grime without damaging the vinyl.

At the hardcore end sit dedicated cleaning machines, which automate the process and deliver the deepest results — at a price that only makes sense for serious collections. The through-line across every tier: clean records sound better and last longer, so even the cheapest habit beats doing nothing at all.