Deep Cleaning Records With Steam?

Hey Crem give us more info on your destatic/drying unit.

Another convert. After seeing this thread on top for months i had to give steaming a try. Went to Walgreens and got the Perfection steamer for 29.99. Used the long nozzle with the bent adapter. The only worthy water i had was from my Walker system. I had enough to clean 21 lps. I used my 16.5 with two mats, side one on both steam vac, apply cleaner scrub steam scrub vac, steam scrub with a different brush vac, steam one more time vac, flip remove mat and repeat. Put lp on a plate rack do another. Package in MFSL sleeve and ready for play.

From the lps i have played the improvement in clarity is very audible. I will need a better water source for less cash.

Crem1 many thanks for finding new ground in record cleaning. A step in the right direction for better sounding vinyl.

Gregm is you are interested in a EV-1 i have one for sale. If you would like it get in touch.

Do any of you have any sources for pure water. I have done some research on line and it seems that ultra pure h2o can be rather expensive. I went through a 16oz bottle of Walkers water for 21 lps.

Not trying to get to crazy with this but after searching water here on audiogon several have reported differences in there lp play back by what water they used to steam with.

After hearing several more of my steam cleaned lps its looking like starting with my favorites, all will have to be steamed. The clarity and absolute full sound i am hearing is startling. There is certainly no denying the audible improvements with steamed vinyl.

I say thanks again Crem 1

Tom what interesting info on water. I am a big drinker of Ozarka Spring water. Dont know if my local market has there Distilled water. Your tests dont lie and .3 TDS is i would think good enough. Like you i have two vac towers for my 16.5 and use 17h brushes for cleaning and rinsing.

Charlie again word of mouth and threads like this have made learning whats a better way in accomplishing things so easy and in this case money saving. Thanks again

Heres a question for you guys and gals, We all know that lps we buy need the whole clean routine. My question is lps we already have cleaned by other than steaming methods. Has any one gone over those cleaned lps and made one or two passes with the steamer as a re rinse. Did you get better sounding vinyl.
I have some Nerl Ultra Pure Reagent Grade Water coming for cleaning and steaming. Will continue my steaming at that time.

Hdm i kind of evolved my lp cleaning method in the past 2 years. I was strictly manual with using Disc Dr.s wash with locally bought distilled water along with MFSL brushes on a large lazy susan. I also used a small shop vac with the little attachment and a cotton cloth covering the opening. Then i went with Walkers Prelude system still using my manual method. I broke down and bought a 16.5 and really glad i did, along with Walkers cleaners. When i switched to Walker i marked the outer cover with a W so i know which i cleaned and rinsed with Walkers water. And at that time i could hear a difference for the better rinsing with Walkers. I bought some Audio Intelligence cleaner and water not long ago. And it was that water i used in my first steam cleaning. Like i said above steaming takes a lps sound farther for better sound IMO. I will most likely steam rinse my lp collection, though i will be getting 5 gallons of Nerl water on my next order for that job and hopefully more lps out there i may get in time.

Jahaira please get back to us on your findings.

Many thanks for the input guys.

Jahaira i use Walkers enzyme. There are others who sell it also.

Crem sounds like you are on to something there good luck and thanks for the info. I just steamed 18 lps using Nerl lab water. Going to hear what that water does for vinyls sound.
Have you experimented with this. I have read this here i think, its better to wait 24 hrs before playing a steam cleaned lp. Is that a fact. Thanks again Crem

This is one super thread. Thanks Crem again

I use a grounded photo lens dust brush before playing a lp with good results. With the static problem i have using my 16.5 i have to brush. I have a De Stat now and it takes several passes with it to eliminate the static build up. I like to pass the lp on the 16.5 after steaming and thats only 2 turns max. Going to figure out this static problem one day.

With todays cleaning i noticed that the vinyl got some what distorted or wavy as i worked the nozzle to the center of the lp but when done it was perfectly flat.
This time i tried this first i applied AIs super cleaner lightly brushed with a VPI 17f brush then a light steam with the brush on the lp spinning on 16.5. Vac that up and rinse with Nerl water with another VPI brush vac, then a steam rinse and vac for the final step. On the dish rack then a MFSL sleeve. Before and after each side i used my Furutech De Stat.
I played several tonight and the results were as good or better than my first steam effort. And the best part after removing the lps from my turntable i had no static build up as prior cleaning with 16.5. Yea all right.

Allvinyl i use a 16.5 and yes it will get wet but i have had absolutely no problems at all with it. I have no problems ether with the label and i dont cover it. I work the steam from the outside in with my cleaning method.

Allvinyl Jahaira has answered your questions like i would. The only difference is i hold the nozzle 1 to 2" away for all cleaning. You will notice on some Record company labels that a wavieness of the vinyl will happen when steaming. Dont worry the lp will return to its original shape. Experiment on a lp or two thats in real bad shape that you dont play for that reason, hear what results you achieve. If that works then go for one of your favorites and listen to the difference for the better. Happy Steaming.

Tvad i have refined my steaming using regular distilled water when cleaning and using Nerl lab grade water for a double rinse not in the steamer but by manual application.

I dont know if leaving water in the steamer after finishing your cleaning is a good idea. I poured a small amount out days later and you could see a lot of particles mixed in the water.

I have found just a slight push of the trigger gives the best coverage of a lp. You dont need to blast the lp. Apply your preferred cleaner to the lp start at the outside of the lp and work your way to the label with the steamer about 7 seconds. I use VPI 17f brushes. Steamer in one hand brush in the other. Then i vac and pass the steamer only vac again then the first Nerl rinse vac then the final Nerl rinse vac and package in a MFSL sleeve.

Hands down steaming along with your preferred method of cleaning is the best way to get the best sound and least noise from a vinyl record.

Happy vinyl play to all with your steamed cleaned records.

Volleyguy i cant agree more with you on using a RCM. I used a lazy Susan and a shop vac for years. I have acquired most of my favorites and realized that the ease of a RCM is priceless if you are going to be cleaning a lot of LPs. I usually wait till if have 20 or so and then do my steam cleaning method. But i sure can understand others being happy cleaning LPs there way.

Bottom line if you are going to use vinyl playback as your main source the first step is ultra clean LPs.

A RCM in conjunction with steaming is my choice for sure. I would not be able to scrub and steam at the same time the first step in cleaning for me.

Photon46 i came to that same thought after seeing the left over water in my steamer after a cleaning session. It was obvious that the water in your steamer gets residue from the interior of the unit. I was using Nerl lab grade water for my whole routine of steam cleaning. Now i use distilled water in the steamer and use Nerl water for two manual rinses. I also am saving cash not using the expensive lab water in the steamer. With no loss of sound that i can hear from eather way of steaming. I believe the double rinse with ultra pure water makes a marked improvement in the sound of a LP.

Tvad like i just mentioned above another pure water source is NERL Ultra Pure Reagent Grade Water at http://www.nerl.com/product/water.aspx?id=34.

All with the help of Crem and this thread i have discovered that the use of steam in your record cleaning method is priceless for superior LP playback and sound. I made this video with the help of my wife to show just how easy it is to get your LPs clean so you can get the very best in sound and playback. You dont need a record cleaning machine but it makes it easier for me. Thanks again Crem for starting this thread.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6OjtKUZ048

Thanks Tvad you are so kind, yes i work hard to get the best sound i can with my vinyl and system like i'm sure you also do. Trying to pass the ease of lp cleaning on to others.

My apologies to you Tiger. I was going to start a new thread on steaming by showing the video but thought it would be unfair to this thread. From reading the thread it seems as though Crem states he was the founding father of steaming.

I was really hoping by doing this, that some who saw how easy it is to steam clean LPs wound give it a try by making the video showing steaming in motion. I can hear the difference in my steam cleaned LPs and surly want to share that with others and for no other reason. For me music enjoyment is the bottom line and nothing else. I hope i did not ruffle any feathers as that was not my intention at all.

All there is no doubt about it rinsing with high grade water is a very important part of vinyl cleaning. And doing that a few times completes the job for better playback and sound.
Sunnyboy I'm glad steaming is working out better for you now.
In the end its the sound that matters and nothing else. Steamed cleaned LPs will bring that goal of better sound to those who give it a try. IMHO

Crem as you can see i use the 90 degree attachment with perfection in conjunction with VPIs 16.5, i aim the steam spray right into the grooves in the direction that the stylus contacts the modulations in the vinyl. I experience no problems using perfection this way. And find i get a better cleaning job on my vinyl using this procedure.
Looking forward to your video.

Yes Madfloyd clean all of your vinyl new and used.

Hey Madfloyd and welcome to steam cleaning your lps. The brush you are talking about is the nylon bristled housed in the black holder i am thinking. Yes i move it from side to side as you mention and use just enough force to get into the grooves, it will absolutely not do any harm to your lps. I use three of those brushes. I like using them instead of others out available. They do a better job IMO. Guys and Gals that vinyl is tough and hard to harm. If you are feeling a little nervous start with a few lps that are not in good standing. I have not harmed a single lp yet and thats a lot of lps cleaned.

Madfloyd wow whats up with your VPI rig? And you warped a lp also sounds like a Monday instead of Friday. Are you sure that it was not warped to begin with? Thats the first time i have heard of something bad like this happening using steam. I hope you started with some of your worst lps. Did all three warp? Maybe Crem will chime in with some insight.

Crem i totally agree with you on Perfection a good choice for our application. I also use it to steam all of my brushes and other items. I've had my fingers close to steam holding the brushes. They were not in the direct path of the steam but close, never a problem with heat or burns. I feel that using Perfection is like having a ace in the hole as you mentioned.
I'm hoping Madfloyd gets his table and steaming method figured out.
No problems here using steam just quite and super sounding lps. Going to drop the needle on a few now. Have a good one.

Madfloyd as you move from outside to the center of the LP the steam will leave a path to show you where you have delivered the steam spray. I will follow this until i reach the dead wax about 7 to 10 seconds. No need to go any further and this way i dont get near the label. Have you had any luck with your VPI rig.

Crem did i miss something here. You are saying that using the attachments that come with Perfection can and will harm lps at some time down the road? Cause i am not hearing anything now but the best sounding vinyl yet.

All its truly unfortunate that this fine thread has turned into a BS match. There is no doubt about it that steaming is the best way to clean a LP. For the life of me i cant understand whats the problem. I for one dont give a rats ass who came up with it. If its you Crem many thanks. All that should be going on here is the promotion of steaming. All of the other BS must cease. Please find your perspective on what important to the betterment of vinyl playback for all. We can agree that steaming is the answer to the best in vinyl cleaning which means better playback. So lets get back to the real meaning of this thread.

Deep Cleaning Records with Steam.

I also believe that a double rinse with lab grade water is more than enough to remove with vacuuming any left over contaminates. The difference in the sound of steamed lps is what tells me that the surface of my lps are as clean as it gets.
I only use distilled water in my steamer not lab grade due to the fact of seeing what it looks like after being inside after hear up. If anything this water seems like it would do more harm than what could come off of any of the attachments.
I have accepted this as part of the process and i am going with it.
Like most things we have the last say in what we accept. And for now a am very happy with the results i'm getting with my vinyl collection steam cleaning with my method.

Tvad lead in the cord what else is China dropping on us. At least you took the time to read the label. Thanks for the info. I will be tossing my Perfection as well. Lets find another steamer thats a fit for our quest of the cleanest vinyl possible that won't sneak up and kill us. How in the hell can our so political correct government let this kind of BS go on is beside me. Again many thanks for the very important information.