Anti-static brush

An anti-static brush is a small handheld brush, usually made of fine carbon fiber bristles, swept gently across a spinning record just before the stylus drops to remove loose dust and reduce static buildup on the vinyl surface.

Dust sitting in the groove gets pressed against or picked up by the stylus during play, contributing to surface noise, clicks, and even accelerated groove wear over repeated plays, while static charge attracts more dust to the record between uses and can occasionally cause audible pops. A quick pass with a carbon fiber brush before dropping the needle addresses both problems at once in a matter of seconds.

Look for genuine carbon fiber bristles rather than synthetic substitutes, since the conductive fiber is what actually discharges static rather than just brushing dust aside. Keep the brush itself clean and stored away from dust between uses, since a dirty brush just moves grime around instead of lifting it off the record. A common mistake is pressing too hard while brushing, which can push loose dust further into the groove rather than sweeping it away.