What is the best way to clean records?


This was a quest I feel I accomplished. The ultrasonic cleaners seemed to be the best way. I bought a VPI Cyclone and returned it without opening the box. I knew that it was very important to well clean records but felt that just vacuuming the wet records was not very effective. That there would be dirt or stamping process solution would remain on the LP. The Kirmiss process seemed very effective but way too complicated, difficult and time consuming. And it still seems like a lot of junk would remain deep in the groves. Then I heard about the rather famous Keith Monks Record Cleaning Machines. Their RCM was developed and used by the BBC. And the machine is used by the Library of Congress and many pros, etc. And I wrote to Better-Records and they told me they use the Keith Monks RCM and most of their better LPs are used and sell for $199++!
I was most attracted by their process of using a medical grade vacuum pump and tone arm like arm with an end piece that runs barely over the record groves slowly removing all the cleaning solution, dirt and the oil-like stuff the use to be able to stamp the records. And it is very gratifying to watch the junk completely removed as the arm  takes about a minute running across to the edge. Every record comes out looking better than a brad new with a surface that shines. And, most of all, the fidelity of the sound has jumped up as much as a major component upgrade. I just emptied my first full jar of dirty solution. Man was it dirty. All that junk was on my records!
mglik

Showing 3 responses by mijostyn

Ijgerens, Benzalkonium chloride is not a surfactant. It is a very strong anti fungal agent. PVC unfortunately likes to grow fungus. The BAK is insurance in this regard particularly with records that you have no idea where they came from of how they were stored. When I lived in Miami I came across several collections that were destroyed by this. If you live in Arizona this may not be an issue.
Don't let them get dirty and you do not have to clean them. If you are buying used records an ultrasonic cleaner using distilled water with a little Triton X-100 and BAK 1:750 will do the trick beautifully. 
How do you not let records get dirty after you have cleaned them or from new? Never let them stay out. Make sure static is always discharged. Cover the during play. Right back in a rice paper (non static forming) sleeve after. Do not let anybody smoke anything in your house. Have a good exhaust fan for cooking. I use a conductive sweep arm connected
to ground and I always use a dust cover during play. I never have to clean my records and I hardly ever have to clean my stylus. A good dust cover that is not directly attached to the chassis holding the plater and tonearm will actually improve the sound by attenuating any sound in the room, like putting ear muffs on. A proper duct cover can be constructed for any turntable. Some, like the Sota Tables come with a fine dust cover.
Others you will have to have one made.