"Cleaning" Vinyl Makes It Worse Not Better!

Like most things in audiophile land, it all comes down to how much you want to spend.  Want easy, no fuss and effective?  Get the Degritter Mark II.  Want a more inexpensive alternative that will be just as effective but more laborious?  Fashion a system of your choice from CleanerVinyl.com or consider the contraption(s) suggested by reubent.  Improvements on the latter two ideas would be using an Elmasonic P60H US cleaner instead of a basic 40 Hz US machine and doing a final rinse in only distilled water with a Spin-Clean or Knosti Disco Anti-Stat.  Of course, there are very effective and minimal cost manual methods to consider, as well, but that's as labor intensive as it gets.  For cleaning solutions, however, that is a whole other dialogue!  Think Tergitol, maybe Liquinox but, by all means, listen to what viridian is telling you!  Not an easy read but worth the effort and then some!

@vitussl101 I've used Mofi's Super Record Wash (nothing else with or added to it) in an US machine at room temp with excellent results.  While doing so, I've never allowed the fluid temperature to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit.  However, Mofi doesn't recommend using Super Record Wash in US machines.  I couldn't get them to tell me why or what's in Super Record Wash that makes it inadvisable for use in US machines.  Their Ultra Record Wash concentrate, which they say is specifically designed for US machines, is probably the same or very similar to Degritter's cleaning fluid or just the quadruple distilled water, very little Tergitol and whatever the hell an anti-static cleaning additive is.  You can make your own at a fraction of the cost.

@vitussl101 Yes, I know what you mean.  The little bottle you're talking about is Mofi's Ultra Record Wash concentrate for ultrasonic cleaning machines.  Again, you can make your own for a fraction of the cost.

@vitussl101 Again, I cannot emphasize enough how important I think it is for all those interested in record cleaning to read "Precision Aqueous Cleaning of:  Vinyl Records" at the Vinyl Press.  BTW, if you haven't already figured this out, "antinn", a contributor in this thread, is the author of that book.  It's not an easy read for non-scientific minds, like me, but definitely worth the time.  I tried, as best I could, to incorporate Neil's guidance into my cleaning approach.

That being said, without going into too much detail, here's the method to my present madness:

I use a Knosti Disco Anti-Stat (basically, the same as a Spin-Clean but with goat hair brushes) to pre-clean my records prior to cleaning them in my ultrasonic machine.  I fill the Knosti with MOFI SUPER RECORD WASH for this.  I think this step can be avoided for records that are already relatively clean.  However, for records that are really dirty (I don't have any), I would definitely do this or some kind of pre-clean step.  When my MOFI SUPER RECORD WASH supply runs out, I'll fill the Knosti with distilled water and 0.5% Liquinox, instead.  All of this is done at room temperature.

After this pre-clean step, I use a basic 6-liter 40 kHz 110-volt machine filled with distilled water and 0.004% Tergitol 15-S-9 set to operate between 27C and 31C and run it for 30 minutes without any records in it.  Then, I use equipment I purchased from CleanerVinyl (record spinner; bath filter; record spacers; etc.) to put the pre-cleaned records into the US cleaner.  I do 2 records at a time, spaced 1.25" apart and run them at 0.5 RPM for 15-minute cycles making sure the bath fluid temp never exceeds 37C.  Then, I use my record lifter device to raise the records out of the US tank bath and let them rotate above the machine at 5 RPM for about 15 minutes to help with drying.  After that, the records go into my Knosti's drying rack until they are completely dry.

When I get around to it, I'll invest in a small HEPA air cleaner that I can set up near my drying station to help catch as much airborne dust motes as possible.  Also, I intend to purchase a better US machine (i.e.  Elma Sonic P60H) at some point to continue tweaking my cleaning approach.  On the other hand, I may just say "to hell with it", bite the bullet, get a Degritter Mark II and use the contraption(s) I have now as a pre-clean step and/or final rinse step.

So, Neil, if you're still following this thread, have I learned anything?

@vitussl101 the reason I gave you a little detail (i.e.  more, evidently, than your mind can handle) was to attempt to point out that there are many different record cleaning methodologies (i.e.  different equipment, conditions, fluid temperatures, rotational speeds; etc.) and this is only my present approach.  However, since you want answers fed to you like pablum, here 'ya go:  "distilled water and 0.004% Tergitol 15-S-9" in a US machine" set to operate between 27C and 31C" (not to exceed a fluid temperature of 37C) for "15 minute (cleaning) cycles" with records rotating "at 0.5 RPM" in the cleaning fluid and "spaced (at least) 1.25" apart" if you are cleaning more than 1 record at a time.  Does that work for 'ya or is that still too much to digest?  Try getting up on the other side of the bed, for a change.  It might improve your crotchetiness.  Happy Holidays to you and yours!

@antinn thanks again, bud!  You're the best!  Happy & healthy holiday wishes for you and all your loved ones!