Cleaning records. How often really?

Bill, it is my understanding that all records are pressed with a thin coating of a mold release agent applied to the stamper. If the stamper is not so treated, the LP's resist detaching from it after the cooling phase of pressing. That agent is not dissolvable with ordinary record cleaning fluid, which is why Walter Davies of Last (and others) created a chemical that DOES remove the agent from LP's without harming the vinyl.

Stop scrubbing Bill! According to Last, the preservative bonds to the vinyl of the LP at the molecular level. Scrubbing won't reverse that permanent bond.

Oh, wait a minute Bill. The Last Preservative is not designed or intended to remove the mold release agent (allegedly, if you prefer) found on new LP's. Nitty Gritty at one time offered a product named First for that purpose, but it's no longer available. The Preservative is to be applied to an LP after it has been completely cleaned. I don't know how widespread your opinion of the product is, but as always, better to error on the side of caution, especially when an application is permanent.

Another thing about the desert air (at least the low desert here in S. California) is the amount of dirt in it, blown around by the winds. Since there is little ground cover, there are actual dust storms when it gets windy. Even with all the windows shut (to keep the heat out, if for no other reason), there is dust everywhere, and the house has to be cleaned way more frequently than in L.A.

Dust a lot, Chris! A turntable with a dust cover that can be in place during play is a must, and I use an old-fashioned shaving cream brush to dust my table's platter. I will face a different challenge when relocated up in Portland, that of moisture in the air, not dust. I'll gladly take that!

ct0517---Being aware of the problem of dust covers resonating, I modified the base/dust cover of my Townshend Rock Elite table. The Rock's solid/non-suspended plinth (a folded sheet of steel, filled with plaster-of-paris) has three squishy (Sorbothane?) half-spheres on it's underside to isolate it from ground-borne vibration, and when used with the optional base and dustcover, sits on a thin sheet of wood that is the bottom of the base. To minimize the amount of vibration the base and dust cover may transmit into the Rock's plinth, I cut out the bottom of the base, leaving just a frame that surrounds the plinth, the two now connected only through the shelf they sit on. The base (with dust cover) sits on little rubber feet, and the Rock's plinth on roller bearings, both situated on a Townshend Seismic Sink. I may try a set of the new Townshend Seismic Pods under the plinth in the near future.