How often to you clean vinyl and the needle?

Every record new or used goes thru my RCM, VPI HW17, before first play,  Then every record is treated with LAST.  Then every record gets a quick brush before each play on each side every time.  If any record gets noisy it goes thru the RCM again.  Stylus is lightly brushed with Stylast before each side is played.  I inspect the stylus regularly with a lighted magnifying glass several times per week.  If there is any sign of buildup (rare) I clean the stylus with an ultrasonic cleaner that I bought on Amazon that is made by Hudson.  It is remarkably effective.  Every six months the stylus is inspected using my Wild-Herrbrugg microscope.  This is mostly to monitor for wear.

"I wonder how many of us who rarely clean their styli ever look at the stylus under high magnification after long term use. If you did you’d be motivated to clean the stylus every few sides. I routinely use Magic Eraser but to be really thorough I use a liquid solution and a tiny brush ."

lewm's point bears repeating.  Also controlling static one way or another and the use of antistatic sleeves are all important points well made.  The first records I bought with paper route money in 1963-4 are still in my collection today.  The one tool from yesteryear that I miss is the Dustbug.

I looked for any signs of residue after using my Onzow using my Wild-Heerbrugg microscope.  For those who may not know this is a very high quality microscope, one that McIntosh required their dealers to buy and have available for turntable service many years ago.  Audio Technica followed suit.  I actually own one of each as the two companies specified different models, M5 and M3 respectively.  At any rate, these microscopes allow you to examine a stylus in minute detail.  My conclusion was that I could not reach a definitive conclusion.  Certainly any residue buildup took a long time and many, many repetitive uses to form.  The occasional use of a liquid cleaner, there are many on the market, removed any residue.  I was able to form a residue using the Onzow exclusively, by waiting over a long period of time (months of daily use).  My feeling is that this is not the way the device is used in practice.  So whereas it is possible to develop a buildup, the user really has to be trying to do so, or be extraordinarily negligent.  I bought a new Onzow as mine was very old a year or so ago and have no qualms about using it.  I do think the new buzzy gadgets work better though.