Clearaudio Groove Care Record Cleaner for Vinyl

Clearaudio Groove Care is a ready-to-use cleaning fluid for vinyl records that lifts dust, dried-on liquids and traces of grease out of the groove without leaving residue.

Clearaudio deliberately formulated it milder than its big brother Pure Groove: Groove Care contains less ethanol, meeting all requirements for international shipping. In return, suction takes a little longer — according to Clearaudio, this makes little difference to the result.

Why Groove Care?

Because it's the sensible choice for ongoing care. The fluid comes pre-mixed straight from the bottle, works with record cleaning machines from any manufacturer, and leaves the record free of haze and rings. That familiar vinyl shine comes back — with no chemistry ceremony in the bathroom.

What you get

A quieter groove: less crackle, less background noise, more detail that was previously buried under dust and pressing residue. And a stylus that has to scan less sandpaper — clean grooves are the cheapest wear protection there is for a cartridge.

Who is Groove Care for?

For anyone who washes vinyl regularly and doesn't want to reach for the sharpest mix every single time. To be blunt: Groove Care is explicitly a vinyl fluid. It's not approved for shellac records (78s made from natural resin) — for those, there's Pure Groove Shellac. And if you regularly do battle with sticky flea-market grime, you're better off reaching straight for the stronger Pure Groove.

Our verdict

The unfussy everyday cleaner in Clearaudio's range: pre-mixed, machine-compatible, no hazardous-goods drama at shipping. If you're unsure which of the three vinyl fluids suits your collection and your machine, ask us at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil — we'll sort it out in two minutes.

Technical data

• Type: ready-to-use cleaning fluid for vinyl records
• Composition: alcohol-based, lower ethanol content than Clearaudio Pure Groove
• Effect: removes dust, dried-on liquids, traces of grease and pressing residue
• Use with: record cleaning machines from any manufacturer
• Suitable for: vinyl records
• Not suitable for: shellac records (78 rpm, natural resin)
• Shipping: formula meets the requirements for international shipping
• Available in: 0.5 L, 1.0 L and 2.5 L

Frequently asked questions

Is Groove Care alcohol-free?

No. Groove Care contains less ethanol than the stronger Clearaudio Pure Groove, but it isn't alcohol-free. That's precisely why the formula meets the requirements for international shipping. If you need an explicitly alcohol-free fluid — for shellac records, say — Pure Groove Shellac is the right choice.

Do I need to dilute Groove Care?

No, Groove Care is a finished product and comes ready to use straight from the bottle. You pour it directly into your record cleaning machine's tank. Diluting it with tap water would weaken the cleaning effect and leave limescale in the groove — two problems where there was none before.

What's the difference to Pure Groove and Pure Groove Essence?

Groove Care is the milder, shipping-friendly ready-mix for ongoing care. Pure Groove has the higher alcohol content and is the sharper blade against grease and fingerprints. Pure Groove Essence is the concentrate you mix yourself with alcohol to make Pure Groove. All three are pure vinyl fluids.

Which size should I get?

Clearaudio supplies Groove Care in 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 litres; you choose the size directly above. For a few dozen records a year, the small bottle is easily enough. If you feed a cleaning machine regularly, the larger containers make life noticeably more relaxed.

Why buy Clearaudio Groove Care from HD Zürisee?

Because we use Clearaudio's cleaners in our own workshop and know from experience which fluid suits which record and which machine. We'll also tell you honestly when the smaller bottle is enough. Call us on +41 44 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls), or write to shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

Clean records deserve good surroundings: turntables, cartridges and turntable accessories.