My not-so-brief Spin-clean routine for those that might need to explore the method or process in more detail.
There exists pages of detailed vinyl record cleaning devices, methods, and chemicals because we are a passionate group of listeners. I’m on a low budget and never purchased or used any of those very impressive cleaning machines. I have a pretty good ear for detail, a usb microscope on my iMac, and don’t mind spending the time to do what I find is a thorough cleaning of my vinyl. I will get to the point. I use the latest version of the Spin-clean device and set up my cleaning area by making that area as pristine as possible. I follow the Spin-clean directions with a few variations. I pre clean the vinyl surface in various ways depending on what I can determine cannot be easily removed in the cleaning process. That would be mostly visible fingerprints, dust/dirt, any liquids such as bodily fluids from a sneeze, cough, or blowing. This, I do with simple rinse under the tap under my kitchen faucet. If it is minor, I use an old Discwasher-type brush gently in the direction the stylus would normally trace. Keep fingers off any part of the vinyl where the stylus will track! If smudges and fingerprints persist, I use two drops of Dawn dish detergent in a 3-4 oz. container and with my finger (plastic or vinyl disposable glove is good) gently move back-and-forth with the grain until it is visibly erased. I use distilled water from a spray bottle and wipe, following the direction of the stylus movement with a clean microfiber cloth (I have micro fiber cloths exclusively for cleaning vinyl only) then place my vinyl into the Spin-clean washer device. Following the directions the manufacturer describes I spin clean up to fifteen discs per batch and thoroughly clean the Spin-clean container between batch/sessions. I don’t spare the distilled water. Immediately dry each vinyl record with care after I’m sure there is no Spin-clean residue left. That often takes a healthy spray of distilled water sprayed liberally across the vinyl over the sink. After a good wipe (place the vinyl on a flat horizontal surface layered with a couple of microfiber layers) with the microfiber cloth I dry on an upright drying rack checking again, a close visible inspection. If I don’t like what I see. I start over! Once dry, I place the vinyl into a new sleeve/jacket. You will experience better quality music, and unfortunately you may expose some surface noise as well. A clean vinyl record should have a nice shiny surface if you are successful. I do clean new vinyl prior to playing it. I hope this is brief, but clear enough to understand.
