I tried a home use garment steamer to clean my records. I set up a record in vertical position and spayed the steam evenly at 4~6 inch distance for about 10 seconds (circling 4 times). And then wiped off the moisture with a micro fiber cloth. I tried about 10 records that I don't care much (but in still in VG condition). I used filtered water (not distilled water). After steam cleaning, all records played with lesser noise, but some thin records got warped a little bit. I guess I need to be more cautious about applying steam on very thin records.
Well I have been playing around with my steamer setup and a finding a general level of it working. Albums I have cleaned are sounding a little quieter, most are used and steam cleaning does not repair groove damage but dirt and dust can be alleviated.
The technique I have adopted for now goes like this.
1: On a terry cloth bath towel I lay the album down. I take a dessert dish and cover the centre label.
2: I take my home made cleaning fluid, about 80% distilled water, 20% of 99% pure alcohol and a drop of Ivory snow in a spray bottle. I wet the album and have a dedicated 2.5 inch wide paint brush to push and lightly scrub in the direction of the grooves the liquid.
3: I take a dedicated micro fibre cloth to wipe the solution up.
4: I take my steamer and in smooth circular motions at about 4 inches above the album spray a blast of vapour evenly as I can to cover the album.
5: I let is sit for about 10 seconds then with another micro fibre cloth wipe in in circular motions until the album is dry. I then repeat the process for a second time. I dry the album side as best I can then flip it over and do it all again on side B.
6: I let the album sit on its edge so that both sides can air dry a bit more for about 15 minutes before I put it back into its sleeve and jacket.
7: Prior to playback I run my carbon fibre brush grounding it wit my body to help give the LP a quick wipe and a bit of a cut in static. I ned to get me a ZEROSTAT.
My first few LP's have come out quieter for the most part. I can do about 10-12 LP's in a 1/2 hour or so.
When blasting a layer of steam vapour, how wet should you make the LP? I just bought a steamer and put an LP on my lazy susan style platter and used it to spin the LP as I spray the vapour but I m not sure how wet should I make it and how long should I leave the water on the surface before wiping with a micrio fibre cloth.
Can somebody show me a link to how to use Perfection Steam cleaner to clean records? Perfection Steam cleaner - does it refer to Perfection Deluxe Travel Iron with Fabric Steamer? I have no clue how to use steamer/iron to clean LPs. Thanks.
FYI : Two months ago a steaming unit I was operating malfuctioned. The metal heating tank ruptured sending water & steam everywhere : Besides my surprize no actual harm done. I located a small appliance store that offered free estimates , dropping the steam unit off.Yesterday, I got a call that metal heating tank costs $220.00 , before installation ($50). The whole house cleaning system cost less than $100 ! Lesson learned , sometimes these steamers fail and are not worth the cost of repair.
Joprras : The perceived loss of highs could be the result of "dirt" clinging to the record surface, "dirty" steam , improper steam cleaning methods or most likely records that need additional cleaning. Rarely, I have cleaned a Lp where gunk clinged to the grove requiring further steaming. This does not happened often but can happen.
As for the posting regarding a 6 hour difference between plays , I recall several articles in the late '70-80's in "Stereophile" that claimed recently cleaned or played LPs require a "rest" period of 2 hours or so for the vinyl grove to re-shape to pre-playing/cleaning condition. So, it not as if the phenom has not been remarked in print.
Don't ever play your records more than once every six hours. The vinyl needs time to recover. Supposedly, virgin vinyl records are more durable. I don't know if that is Urban Legend or not, but I have lived by it since the late 70's.
Is possible that steam cleaning could cause harm in anyway?; Im asking you this because I think after cleaning with steam some of my LPs I've lost some highs, sound is darker and flatter now. Is this just my imagination?
Readers: Excellent Thread/posting can now be found on the Forum for the Walker Vortex. More knowledgable because they are relating actual experiences. Worth the read.
I may purchase this tweak. In addition to the concern of the o-rings predisposing to warping when used with a steamer, I also wonder if the mat under the suspended disc would collect a lot of moisture from steam. I understand the wand can be used without the o-rings which may be the most sensible if a steamer is employed.
I've recently taken off my cork mat and exchanged it for an anti-static mat. Does anyone have any experience with with the static buildup (or lack thereof) when cleaning the LP resting on the o-rings?
Headsnappin, here is what is posted on the Elusive Disk site: "Two included rubber rings hold the record above the platter, removing unwanted contact and reducing the risk of additional contaminants coming into contact with the surface."
Now that tells me that the rings go under the lp, next to the cork mat. Or am I reading things incorrectly?
Wand Owners: I would appreciate users comments to understand what improvement the wand & rings make. If your a steamer all the better.
Sonofjim : Is your understanding the same as Heads ?
Readers: Do you think it possible to re-use the VPI wand , put 2 O rings under the tube holder and achieve the same results as the Walker tweak? I guess the rings can be had for about a buck , once its understood what they are composed of .
Sonofjim : I did view the Walker Wand . The "O" rings do concern me .
Some unanswered questions come to mind: What if a record already has a slight warp ? Will the wand scrape against the raised surfaces ? Do the "O" rings cause the LP to be unstable when revolving ? Will steaming w/ the "O" rings cause the LP to heat-up to the extent that warping is possible? The old addage "buyer-be-awaire" seems to apply at least to the "O" rings. As for this tweak , please advise me of your success or challenges , should you purchase.
Perhaps, an email to Mr. Walker might resolve the matter. Perhaps he has already thought this thru as far as steaming is concerned. I know he is awaire of steam cleaning because I personally informed him in a phone call several years ago.
As for the lead business , I prefer to follow the recommendations put out by Researchers @ Johns Hopkins regarding lead exposure, keeping that as matter of choice rather than discussion. See an old dog can learn new tricks. All the best.
Crem' I'm using the VPI 16.5 with my Perfection steamer(no lead poisoning yet that I can tell) Have you heard of the new Walker Vortex wand for the 16.5? It's available at Elusive Disc and comes with two rubber O-rings around the center spindle to "suspend" the disc off the platter. This appears to be more likely to lead to warping of the disc if steam is applied while it's suspended in the middle and not the sides. Any thoughts?
FYI: I know that most viewers and posters do not use the larger home steamers for record steaming. Nevertheless, this is my very first complete equipment failure since I started steaming , in my home or otherwise. I hope the cash outlay to learn the whys of this problem may translate to assist the few of you that do in-fact use the larger models to steam clean records as a few postings suggested. That is an open question & not easily answered. I can say the steam unit did not have many hours of useage.
FYI : A local repair shop has expressed interest in attempting a repair. The unit has tamper-proof screws so the job is better left to someone that can work on a steamer. I am curious to learn what exactly failed and what that part was made of, plastic or metal.
FYI : On Sunday, a "Professional" steam cleaner "exploded"(complete failure)in my Kitchen. No damage done to humans or the surroundings. For reasons currently unkmown, the unit exploded shortly after I left the room to answer a line-line phone call. This is a reminder, sometimes, steam cleaning units can fail.The explosion was contained in-itself & not a danger , just a lot of water on the foor. I shall to take the steamer to a repair house for details. Be assured it scared the S--- out of me.
Nickiguy: Thanks for your support. Later this year or perhaps a little later, I will be posting some helpful hints to clean difficult LPs. So far these methods have been sucessful with a handful of recordings that resisted steam cleaning. Nickiguy, all the best.
It's near the base, it is lit when the thermostat calls for the steamer to heat up. So it goes on and off as the need for steam is called for. It always goes on when first plugged in until the thermostat shuts it down.
Great thread, as was the first one. I noticed the first thread early on and gave it a try soon after. This was because I already had a hand-held steamer at my disposal. My wife several years ago bought a Eureka Hot Shot, and after a couple of days of use, put it away in a cupboard where it sat for several years. It was waiting there for me when I needed it. Steaming records is now part of my record cleaning process, because it works. Not all of my records come out silent, but they all do show improvement with the steaming. I also use the "Quickie" back brush that was recommended in the first thread.
After a while, I bought a Perfection steamer since there was some indication here that it might be superior. After having used both, I'd have to say that's true, but they both work. The Hot Shot does have a tendency to "spit". I have noticed with both that they cycle heat to the boiler which would account for the steam coming out stronger at times than others. My guess is that was designed in for either safety reasons, or to extend the life of the heating element, or both. I find that if I'm getting a weak blast of steam, if I wait a short time, it will be stronger the next time I need it. I haven't run into the problems described by Madfloyd. I can only guess that his local Walgreens maybe got a bad batch of Perfection steamers. Who knows?
Anyway, thanks crem for bringing this method of cleaning record to our attention. I never would have thought of it on my own.
Madfloyd, Wait and wait a tad longer. I let my Steam Cleaner sit for 15-20 minutes , plugged and topped off w/ water before I start to steam. Othertimes less , or more. All the best.
Unfortunately it's no different. I can clean 2 records; after that I can only get 8 seconds of steam at a time - not enough to do a side of an LP.
I wait for the red light to go off (indicating the unit is ready to steam again), but still runs out quickly. Doesn't seem to matter whether I have a full tank or not.
It's as if the heating light goes off prematurely; I'm going to try waiting several minutes and see if it comes back stronger.
Stevieboy , A potential solution. Locate the cleanest/freshest water ,available , gently boil for 2-5 minutes , then cool. Using a funnel pour the cooled water into a clean glass container with a threaded lid. Store in a cool place. With an eye dropper, splash 2 or 3 drops of clear bleach into the water,give a quick shake. The bleach is to retard bacteria growth & will not affect steam cleaning (NMT 3 drops per Imperial Gallon).
This method passed to me by an audiophile mentor for record rinsing. I think it an acceptable subtitute until other water options are sourced. All the best.
distilled or 'super water' as you've mentioned is a search i have to do now where i live. there are a few manufacturers i have found online through business directories. going around might take a while depending on work load. am aiming to get triple distilled or the purest i can source from my city or another one.
Madfloyd : I believe that the exception to using steam only are dirty LPs , I believe your description qualifies.
When I clean dirty LPs , I use steam, add a fluid record cleaner , lightly scrubb w/ brush and steam rinse, then dry (by air or micro cloth). Some steam posters report excellent results with a liquid rinse then drying. If any consensus exists its that : Rinses are OK to V. Good To Excellent!
Perhaps (by technique) or dumb luck but I haven't yet warped any LP thru cleaning. Perhaps, that is also because I inspect every LP using downward light and angeling the over-head light to disclose any surface irregularites before I buy. I've been doing that for so long that in a glance I discount 50-90% of what I suspect are good buys... Naa, just dumb luck.
I just tried my Perfection again. If I fill it up all the way, I get enough for a full application (before running out of steam and having to reheat).
Sometimes on the 2nd applications (about 20-30 seconds later) I can run out though.
I do have the lid on tight - otherwise steam escapes and it's obvious.
Here's what I do: place the nozzle 4 inches from outside edge. Start steaming. After full revolution, move 1" towards spindle & repeat. Four positions covers the record.
Now three other things I'm noticing:
1) I can't help but warp every LP that's less than 180g (noticible jump of needle during playback)
2) There are settings on the steamer where the nozzle attaches, eg. "I", "II" etc. Does this setting matter?
3) I can't seem to clean out blotches on the LP - stuff that looks like, I dunno, mildew or discolorations. Is that to be expected?
Would not an extra steam application (without use of any cleaners) be the equivalent of a rinse?
The best water I have is simply distilled and I'm wondering what my best option (with distilled) is to rinse - pour on distilled or another steam application.
Sonofjim you are so right in your post above it was a little difficult doing the filming. Sorry for the delay in replying we just returned home yesterday and had a lot of cleaning up to do.
In the end your vinyl will not be harmed by the time you steam. On some lps that are in real bad shape with grunge and dirt take the extra time to get that lp clean. On others like new sealed lps you might not need that much time passing the steamer.
Madfloyd : Should that steam cleaner be the "Perfection" , it may well be defective ; Walgreens should accept it as a return , or for exchange.
According your description, that steam making machine isn't fuctioning properly. Please, consider another steaming unit to lessen any potential danger of a dangerious malfuction. Once they start to malfuction who knows where that will end.
Madfloyd, has your steamer got the nozzle with the right angle downturn at the end which allows you to keep the steamer body vertical? If you only have the straight nozzle, you would be tilting the steamer and thus uncovering the bottom element leading to loss of steam?
Sonofjim : I was surprised to find one in a discarded cover to be trashed. I have to locate my 61 & to determine its vintage. Thanks, the hunt is to be continued ...
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