LP Cleaning Services

I'd suggest seeing if there is a local audio club with members who could let you use their machines.  If you live near Williamsburg, VA, you could come over and use mine, though it's only a VPI 16.5, not one of the more effective ultrasonic cleaners.  Failing all that, here's a link to a record grading service that  might help: Home (aagservices.org)

You might try this company for your record cleaning needs.

"I recently bought two, from a well respected lp resale shop, and they are both dirty as all get up.  I am not blaming the store..."

I wouldn’t have have much respect for a record store selling "dirty as all get up" records.

I would find a store that cleans their records before sale. Does the "well respected" store even have a record cleaning machine? Maybe they would let you use it even if they don’t.

If you are in Phoenix, AZ I would be happy to clean a few record for you.

Also, if in Phoenix, what record store?

To date, I have not been to a used record store that cleans all LP's prior to selling them. In addition, some of those records are on shelves for a long time and will attract dust over time. Regardless, all used LP's should be cleaned properly prior to playing.  If you want a clean LP, buy new, although that is not a guarantee either.

The In Groove in Phoenix offers ultrasonic cleaning, $8 an LP. Shipping at your expense, of course. Send a bunch at once  If you're in SoCal, Atomic Records on Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank has a VCM (VPI 16.5, I believe). A great inventory of Jazz LP's, as well. Very cool owners, a pair of brothers.

A very hearty endorsement for Perfect Vinyl Forever…. i get similar but not quite a good results w my 2 step Degritter process. Send 16 LP and it works out to around $12 per LP….

@bdp24  calculating drive time to Burbank…. thanks for planting that seed brother 

I wouldn’t expect a used record store to be cleaning their inventory.  These are shoestring mom and pop stores and probably carry a lot of unsold inventory.  They could be wasting thousands of dollars cleaning inventory that they never sell.  Alternatively they might clean it upon purchase and wind up selling it a few years later and it might reacquire some dust in the interim and lead to customer complaints.

  Ironically one of the two records Purchased looked better in the store but sounded far worse than the other, which had obvious issues on inspection.

  I appreciate the offers to come to peoples homes and use their machines but I live in Chicago.  The store is in Oak Park, Il. and called Val’s Halla.  Val probably was reselling lps before CDs came out.  She worked hard to keep the vinyl flame going during the CD era, doing her own record days and many community events, lugging playback equipment and records with her despite severe COPD.  Hopefully she made a few bucks from the vinyl revival before she died a few years ago.  The store was slated to close but her nephew, a true analog apostle, and who has a “regular “ job, is busting his butt to keep it going.  Although I don’t intend to buy many records for reasons stated in the OP, I wish them luck.  The inventory is well arranged and easy to work with and I can be responsible for my own record cleaning.  I suggested to them that they buy a nice cleaner and charge a fee but its a step to far for them

Like others, I’d be happy to clean a few records for you in my Degritter. But shipping them back and forth between Chicago and DC metro area would be expensive these days. 

@mahler123 

Check out Pure-Grooves in Berwyn.  US cleaning for $5 per record with volume discounts.  No affiliation - yet.  I have been meaning to give them a try as they are very close to me.  

@pkatsuleas 

Thank you so much!  Exactly what I was looking for.  I wonder how you found them as my Googling turned up nothing.  I live in the Oak Park/River Forest area and this very close to me.  I am off tomorrow and hopefully I can just drop the lps off, as I have another errand close buy.  I will call them today and report back

@pkatsuleas 

btw, the Pure-Grooves site lists Val’s as one of their drop off sites, but Val’s Nephew didn’t mention them as an option when Inquired.

@mahler123 

I've enquired about the drop offs at Val's and OP Records before and both said that don't really do it anymore.  Have you spoken with Pure-grooves?

@pkatsuleas 

I have been in email contact with them.  They just told me the best way to be in contact was to drop off records at Val’s, although Val’s didn’t mention their service.

  I will probably drive to Berwyn over the weekend and update you here

Yes, there are businesses that offer LP cleaning services. Many record stores and audio restoration companies offer ultrasonic cleaning services for LPs. This can involve a manual cleaning process with special solutions and tools or an ultrasonic cleaning machine. Prices can vary depending on the type of cleaning service you require and how many LPs you need cleaning. You can also hire a professional audio restoration specialist to clean your LPs at home. They will bring their own cleaning supplies and machines, so you don't have to worry about buying or renting one yourself.

Hey 

There's a record store nearby that cleans discs for $6 each.

Does that sounds reasonable?

I have emailed every local record store a few months ago and none offered cleaning services nor they clean the LPs before selling them. Yet, every single one of them had one or to cleaning machines near their registers.

I was finally told that the friendly audio store (we have non-friendly ones as well) lets you clean them for $0.50 with a VPI. So that’s what I did. I would pay up to $5 per record. I don’t see how anything above that is not a ripoff (for people from Planet Earth with midfi, not for the folks who spend 10K on cables)

There is one in Wisconsin for $5 per record. I forgot the name of the company.They go to Axpona and exhibit there. You can call Quintessence audio here in buffalo grove Illinois, they know the place.They do a good job.Its ultrasonic cleaning.

I think you drop your LPs at Quintessence then they will send it to that company in Wisconsin.

@lmn600 you linked a house cleaning company

@mahler123 

I don't see how it wouldn't boost their business

if they just offered a $4 cleaning service of what you purchase, I would gladly pay for it. That would mean more profit on the cleaning than on the album.

Try the link below. They also have a good selection of precleaned vinyl.

http://www.clevelandvinyl.com/cleaning-process.html

@sc53

 Shipping records . CD's or books by USPS " Media Mail " is the best deal in shipping ,  I have shipped 15 records across the country to a record cleaning service for around $6.00 !  But you must go to the post office and request " Media " Shipping .

Just called my local record store..and they said they charge $4 a record and would give a better price if I have alot of vinyl (which i do)

I asked what machine they use and they said the Humminguru which is the one I had my eye on.

👍

Give the Record Genie a call  , he does single clean and double cleaning on 2 different US machines ,  Also gives discounts for different size batches .

Update:  Vince at PureGrooves cleaned my discs and provided new MoFi sleeves. He is a 10 minute drive from my house so this worked well.  Apparently the local record stores that had been drop off sites no longer work with him so I don't know what happened there

I would check out the Record Genie. I've used his services in the past. He also gives you a new record sleeve w/the cleaning.. Excellent service.

In Phoenix:

Richard Jensen, Analog Resource

(602) 717-2399

worksbau@gmail.com

@mahler123 

Good info to know.  I might reach out to Pure grooves.  How would you rate the experience, service, and cleaning?

many recommendations, no REVIEWS....please share results!!

I just got a second batch back today so lets me play through them