Do I need a record cleaning machine

You don't necessarily need a cleaning machine, but I do think you do need to clean your records. There is tremendous concensus that clean records sound better than non-cleaned ones, even new pressings.

I built a simple RCM with a thrift-shop Ice Cream Maker, a hockey puck, a cheap wet/dry vac, and some commercial RCM parts. EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE with only about $50 invested.

Many folks stand by their manual cleaning routines and I respect that, but it wasn't for me. After a period of various manual cleaning methods, I went the wet wash and vacuum dry route and am glad I did.

Hope this helps! Don

I agree with Nrenter that my DIY RCM was the best upgrade I ever did to my system.

Any previous equipment upgrades tended to make the flaws in my vinyl (mostly used) all the more clearer, sometimes making upgrades sound great for other media (CD, SACD, etc.) but disappointing for records, even really good ones.

Being able to clean records much more effectively (my opinion) than I could using any manual method, my enjoyment of vinyl recordings has increased exponentially.

I have no experience with steam cleaning vinyl, but there is much (also hotly debated) information around to check out.

Now get out there and build a RCM and clean those records! :)