Record-playing Rituals?

To all you vinyl purists out there-tell me what I'm doing wrong. First I must tell you, 25 years ago, I would buy an album-off the "rack", then I would record it to a good quality cassette. I did this with the idea I could play the cassette as loud as I wanted to, no acoustical feedback and my album would stay new-forever. I now realize I was compressing the sound, but then-ignorance was bliss. I have recently started easing back into vinyl. My son just bought me a half speed master of Dark Side Of The Moon. I ran a dry parastat s l o w l y over the album before playing. I also have a grounded mat in place of the original turntable mat. I also use a Zerostat the last thing before playing the album. I have noticed after a couple of weeks, I hear more pops than when it was new. Ok-I can feel you cringing, because I am obviously doing something wrong and killing my new album. I have read threads about vacuuming the album and wonder if this is where I'm missing the boat. I have vinyl record sleeves, so paper isn't an issue. I saw a record washer reviewed - "Spin Clean Record Washer" and the reviewer said this, along with products from AIVS would do the trick. This is a washer only and since you know, most of my albums were only played once-until recently-dirty albums shouldn't be an issue. So how do I leave the pops behind? Also, I have noticed the pops aren't consistent across the board. Some albums (Thompson Twins-Across The Gap) sound great. Others-many pops etc. I don't have the resources, or at least I should say I'm not yet committed, to pouring big bucks into vinyl. I have a modest collection from 20-30 years ago (I found a Graham Nash "Songs For Beginners" and Cat Stevens "Teaser And The Fire cat" that are still sealed!) They are "Plain o" albums, but it's still cool to make that find. I regress. So after hearing, or reading my procedure, what am I doing wrong?

This was asked - and answered. To much '60's.

When I place the record on the turntable, I run the carbon fiber brush on it before setting down the stylus. Nothing real anal. I clean the records once a year usually.

Using a grounded brush works like a charm. Heres a link http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/42882/AcousTech-The_Big_Record_Brush-Record_Cleanerdont
I dont think you need to clean your vinyl again if you keep your fingers off the playing surface. Keep the lp in a good sleeve and brush before and after play.

Why of course. I take fine sandpaper and rub it on the record in a circular motion quite vigorously in the direction opposite the playing motion. This removes all the dust. I then appply copious amounts of Dawn concentrated dish detergent and let it dry slightly to set into the what is left of the grooves. then rub it to a foam with ordinary tap water. rinse and rub try wth a terry cloth or nited up woolen sweater. I then apply a good clump of dust bunny to my platinum pure sapjire body custom made Koetsu with palladium coils. The stylus is osmium coated quartz.This treatment will take all the shrill sounds out of it. Very mellow indeed.
Then sit back and enjor