Do you clean your records before play, after play, or once (and then never again)?


All my records have been cleaned at least once, but after play, I'll drop it in my Klaudio ultrasonic cleaner for a quick re-clean. I figure if my stylus is digging / loosening anything in the grooves, it's a good opportunity to get that junk out of there. How about you?
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On cleaned lps, when I dip the stylus onto the ONZOW, there are sometimes tiny black crud "crap" as well as dust. I find this more when I use my Dynavector Karat. I believe the stylus profile on this cart makes a difference.

I kind of find it hard to believe that proper cleaning no matter how often would harm the lp. A diamond dragging through vinyl? I think what harms the lp more is the actual playing of a record and playing  a dirty record.
On cleaned lps, when I dip the stylus onto the ONZOW, there are sometimes tiny black crud "crap" as well as dust. I find this more when I use my Dynavector Karat. I believe the stylus profile on this cart makes a difference.

I kind of find it hard to believe that proper cleaning no matter how often would harm the lp. A diamond dragging through vinyl? I think what harms the lp more is the actual playing of a record and playing  a dirty record.
I clean records once on a good record cleaner:  I own a VPI 16.5 but have used an Audiodeske at work (at an audio/video specialist).  New as well as used ones should be cleaned in my opinion as there are lubricants used in the record manufacturing process that need to be removed.  Usually I only clean them again if accidently fingerprinted, or if listening reveals something noticable has "landed" on the record and an annoying pop or click has suddenly appeared that wasn't there before.  Only use an Onzow stylus cleaner.  Our stylus microscope reveals it's very effective at removing  grunge from the stylus--better than most brushes and fluids!  PLEASE, please don't use a Magic Eraser as some suggest!!  I had one customer come in with a hopelessly clogged up stylus that took me many minutes to clean and guess what he was using?  Yes the Magic Eraser!  Folks, M. E. is NOT a good stylus cleaner!  It can leave a lot of stuff behind on the diamond that can clog up your stylus so badly it prevents proper playback!  Use an Onzow and be assured it will be clean.  I use one most every record just to be sure I'm not transferring dirt and debris from one record to another. My records sound clean and there's some I've owned and played quite often for over 40 years!  Trust me!  

For record cleaning, I have two vacuum units- a KAB EV-1 that uses our home vacuum for suction ($169) and a VPI 16.5 ($700 but I know a dealer that discounts them.)

All records get a deep clean using the KAB. The VPI is used as a maintenance/before play vacuum.

Deep Clean:

MoFi Pure Enzyme: 5 minute soak per side
Vacuum with KAB after each side
Spin Clean with fluid at 2x recommended strength using Aquafina water
Vacuum
Fresh Sleeve

Before Play:
Todd The Vinyl Junkie Vinyl-Zyme Gold fluid
Vacuum with VPI

Notes: don't go double strength on the Spin Clean fluid if you don't have a vacuum.

Also, you'll note that albums are vacuumed once before they hit the Spin Clean. You'll be shocked how much garbage still comes out in the Spin Clean vat. I'm thinking the Enzyme soak loosens the garbage in the grooves. The Spin Clean plus vacuum actually removes it.