Deep Cleaning Records With Steam?

Excuse my stupidity...

What is R/O water?

You people are driving me nuts!

I just bought a handheld steamer based upon this thread. I found an old junked TT at the kerb this week, stripped off/out everything except the platter, motor and mat. With the garment steaming brush attachment and microfibre cloths, I reckon I will have an excellent vinyl cleaning solution.

I would like to DIY record cleaning fluid but I cannot seem to find a surfacant, ie., Triton X-114, Monolan 2000 here in AU (Sydney).

Is there anyone in this forum from DownUnder that knows where I can find it in small quantities?

Thanks and regards,

Jan

Thanks Crem1 for all of your comments and suggestions.

It was never my intention to put cleaning solution into the steamer. The one that I just bought is the teapot design with attachments. I mentioned the garment atachment as it seems to be wide enough to cover the tracks of the disc.

Do you advocate steaming with the standard nozzle?

It appears to me that that with efficent steaming and air drying no chemicals need to be applied to the vinyl.

And, hey if the steamer doesn't work for records, I have 1000 (1001 - 1) other uses for it - hahaha...

Regards,

Jan

I bought something called demineralised water at the local supermarket. The usage recommendations state: car radiators, storage batteries, steam irons, garment steamers. No mention on the container as to what process was used to demineralise the water. There is a warning not to drink it. $1.05 for 2 litres.

Would this be ok for vinyl steaming?

Jan

Thanks Crem1,

I wrote up a whole narrative on a very primitive procedure that I used to steam clean vinyl only to find that the forums have a 700 word limit. I did save the diatribe locally. Possibly I will write it up as a review.

I will say this, while not a cureall for worn or damaged vinyl, steam cleaning DOES work. I am quite happy with the results that I am getting especially with bargain-basement records.

Thank you for your patience, support and encouragement!

Kind regards,

Jan

On the topic of enzymes and steaming, how about using a highly diluted enzyme laundry detergent?

It seems to me the a solution of laundry detergent and "good" water would provide both a surfactant and cleansing agent. All rinsed away with steaming several times.

I resent having to pay the prices charged by purveyors of commercial record cleaning solutions.

The question is, will phosphates in laundry detergent harm the vinyl? Has anyone tried diluted laundry detergent with and without steaming?

Regards,

Jan

Not having the funds for an RCM, I grab a bath towel, put it on the kitchen counter, place the record on the towel, spray on then paint the cleaning solution over the entire record, wait a minute or so and then steam/wipe, steam/wipe and then one more steam/wipe cycle using several different microfibre cloths.

It takes about 8-10 minutes per side. I write the date of the cleaning on the inner sleeve.

Garage Sale records might take another few cycles but the results are worth it.

All I can say is that it works for me (Thanks Crem1 again!), although steaming fogs up my eyeglasses (grin).

Regards,

Jan

For members in AU or NZ, topbuy.com.au sells a handheld steamer like what has been discussed in this thread:

http://www.topbuy.com.au/tbcart/pc/1000W-Multi-function-Steam-Cleaner-185p756.htm

I have absolutely NO affiliation with this company.

Regards,

Jan