As to cleaning fluids, everybody has their own favorite juice. I’ve tried a variety and use AIVS #15 for more rigorous cleaning and Hannl concentrate (no longer available) for milder cleaning. Others may suggest different fluids.
I’m a firm believer in a pure water rinse step, to avoid leaving residue of fluid on the record. In my estimation, any cleaning fluid, no matter how mild, will leave some residue. This is why I believe the rinse step is important.
I no longer have my VPI- it served me well for more than 30 years and was still working fine when I gave it to a friend.