How often, and how, do you clean your stylus?

Almost never.  My cleaning process leaves my records dirt/dust free and the records are always stored in a Diskeeper sleeve.  Once in a blue moon I use Blu Tack but there is never anything left on it.  Viewing under a microscope confirms this.  I consider my record cleaning system to be as much a part of my system and anything else.

Soundsmith recommends only 
Blutac....   he told me to throw the brushes away

I use the DS Audio every two sides

@stringreen 

+1

heard the same from a Soundsmith tech

How do you guys use the Blutac?

Touch it lightly to the stylus from below?

Special purpose gel for cleaning the stylus are not expensive, like this Audio Technica Gel. There are a number of different brands. I would stick (😊) to something made for the purpose, lest you damage it.

Before every side and after.
+1 for melamine foam (Magic Eraser material) available as thin sheets that lay perfectly on the platter. I learned this technique from Joseph Long (groovetickler) who has seen and repaired lots of cartridges damaged by liquid and gel cleaners. Microscopically, melamine foam has lots of open spaces to grab particles, much finer than even the finest brushes. Dropping the stylus into it causes dirt, etc., to be trapped in the foam and it leaves no residue to fuse to the stylus during play.


100% agree with comments about insuring the cantilever is free of debris before wet cleaning. I wet-clean very rarely, then finish with dry melamine foam.

My own microscope reveals tiny white flakes , more on cantilever than on stylus, left behind by ME. It was easy to remove with a brush.

Good old discwasher stylus brush as needed. Gently wipe a bit of Mofi stylus on the brush with a brush that comes with the solution. Probably end of doing it once or twice a month. After brushing the brush with fluid it is absorbed so as not to be visible. Don't want any excess fluid on the stylus. It's metal remember?

Does anyone use pressurized air to clean the stylus?

I buy a new stylus every week. New ones are usually come clean. If only I had known there was a way to clean them?

Dear @tigerdog  : Coming from Joseph Long ( he is my cartridges prefered re-tipper. ) I will use rigth away that melamine foam and will forget all what I have and used for years.

Thank's for your post. Great !

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.