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Deep Cleaning Records With Steam?

It has happened again. Major tweak and record provider has available a steam cleaner made especially for records. Anybody try steam for cleaning lp’s? What were your results? Since a unit can be had for about $20 at Target, 15% of what the tweak provider is charging, is it worth a try?.
tiger

Showing 3 responses by davidsss

davidsss
43 posts
 
I'm in AU and got one from Godfreys (no affiliation).

I'm convinced, the records are a lot cleaner. No, it won't get everything off, I still have some gunk on records which won't move, but it reduces surface noise enormously. I recently bought an old copy of the Stones High Tide and Green Grass and it sounds fabulous after a steam clean.

DS
davidsss
43 posts
 
The steam cleaning works very well for me, but I'll comment on the really dirty records mentioned above. I have found a diluted vinegar solution to be quite effective on those really cruddy records. There are still a couple of records I can't quite get clean but they are certainly closer to being clean than they were and with repeated steam cleaning and vinegar I reckon I can get just about anything off.

The post above which states you can't get rid of scratches is, of course, correct. But you would be amazed at what does come out. I have a record I thought was scratched with a huge click right across side 2. The click is now a quiet muffled noise since steam cleaning. It must have been dirt and not a scratch. You would be amazed at how many scratches are really just dirt.

Lastly, there is a thread on AudioKarma where someone has got some old records and tried a few treatments. The upshot of it has been that some pretty powerful cleaners have done no damage to his records. I think we all need to realise that vinyl is pretty tough stuff. Yes, the grooves are microscopic and we need to take care, but, remember, vinyl is not some fragile material, it is actually quite strong and durable.

DS
davidsss
43 posts
 
Halcro, I too am in Australia and picked up a hand held steam cleaner very easily. I went to Godfreys but you could try another vacuum cleaner store or even a department store or KMart or the like. Mine cost about $30 and works a treat. Just look around.

On the above discussion I do use the elbow attachment for convenience and if it starts getting a bit spitty I just run it for about 10 seconds spraying into the air and then steam the record. Works for me with no ill effects.

DS
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