In my opinion, people make wayyyyy too much of record cleaning.
As long as you have a Dustcover and put your albums in their sleeves, a clamp cleaner (especially effective on those from the used bins), careful handling, and a Big Brush are all you really need. Believe me, I’m one of the most neurotic and fastidious people I know…allthat cleaning simply isn’t necessary ( in fact those frequent cleanings with wet (and gritty) roller brushes are ruining your albums!)
Disclosure: I had the deluxe Discwasher set back in the day too 😆 No shame, we learn we grow ; ) |
I would not use Amazon as my first filter. Look at VPI record cleaners. That was my first one, for over twenty years. Really loud and large. But did a good job.
My second was a German Nessie. I got mine around $3,500. Well worth it… very quiet, small, beautifully constructed, and more fully automated. In retrospect, it is something you are likely to, have a long time and spend hours over… a good one is a good investment. Some of the folks with cheap ones put ear plugs in to get away from the noice. Wish I had thought of that with my VPI. |
I use a VPI 16.5 cleaner and Audio Intelligent Premium Record Cleaner — Formula #15. For the sake of thoroughness, discussions of record cleaning should probably include: https://thevinylpress.com/app/uploads/2022/01/PACVR_3rd-Ed_2022-01-17_Master.pdf |
I used a VPI 16.5. Then I tried 80KHz ultrasound. The latter made as much difference as the upgrade of a major component, so I cleaned all my records with US. Later, I found that my stylus hadn't worn much - minimal wear at 1000 hours, verified by photomicrograph. I think a quality US machine is a no brainer, but YMMV. |
I second Spin Clean, It is a great place to start. I've recently upped my game with an ultrasonic cleaner. I modded it so it cleans 8 records at a time. I buy used vinyl from antique stores so cleaning upon arrival home is critical. I also agree that cleaning this intensely can cause damage. Don't clean for the sake of cleaning. My process is:
Amazon.com: VEVOR Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner 6L 40kHz Also, as a note, when you launder the cloths you use NEVER use fabric softener!
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This was my first cleaner, and I still use it as a first line of defense for particularly dirty acquisitions. A bit labor intensive, but it does a great job. https://sleevecityusa.com/products/gem-dandy-hydraulic-record-cleaning-apparatus-mk-ii |
Vinyl Vac is the best ($30) wet clean with a solution of your choice ( I use Audio Intelligent One-Step) and vacuum to dry. buy a lazy Susan too to make it even easier
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Bought a VPI 16 in the 80's, for cleaning every new/unwashed vinyl. Worked well until 2008. Been using a 16.5, since. Of course: every record also got/gets Discwasher spins, before each play. Using LAST RCM with the VPI and Record Doctor Quick Wash, on my Discwasher brush. OH: and a LAST treatment after that first wash. |
I've been using a De Stat Gun and Discwasher for over 45 years. I borrowed a friends UC and cleaned my 1600 pieces of vinyl. About 500 are from other peoples collections and most were filthy even after the Discwasher. The UC cleaned most of those up completely. The rest of my collection is new vinyl I have purchase for the last 50 years or so. They have all been de stated and then Discwasher before each play. They showed little to no gain from UC. My cleaning solution is now 1 qt. distilled water and 25 ml pure Isopropyl Alcohol. |
I recently bough an Audio Desk used. I have very few used records, and quite a few higher-end pressings. I just completed cleaning all 350 or so. I’m really surprised at how much better they sound. Once cleaned with US, there is no need to use anything other than a brush - I use the Audioquest carbon. Prior to this I used the SpinClean - it does an OK job but there is no comparison to US and the manual process is a pain. Lastly, I don’t understand what a dust cover has to do with this question.
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@brownred6 so do you have a vacuum cleaner too? Is that how it should be used? is this it: https://www.ttvjaudio.com/TTVJAudio-Vinyl-Zyme-Record-Cleaner-2-oz-Concentra-p/aat0001000.htm ? |
I started with Spin Clean but found the results marginal at best. Next step up was the https://squeakycleanvinyl.com/ system which is a vacuum system using the shop vac of your choice. At $175 CAD it’s a serious bang for the buck cleaner. I still use the Squeaky Clean but in conjunction with a Vinyl Stack ULTRA and a 6L ultrasonic tank. The ultrasonic system was about $600 CAD but still a contender for bang for the buck in the US space. Sadly the Vinyl Stack folks have retired and no longer supply the system. |
You're gonna laugh but after using everything from spin clean to an ultrasonic cleaner fitted with a spinning motor, my favorite, most effect cleaner is without a double the Vinyl Vac. I wet clean the record with a Mofi brunsh, then, while still wet, Vac up all the gunk. I let it try, hit it with a carbon fiber anti stain brush, and it's done. Now I only break out the ultrasonic for old, used and abused vinyl. It's only $30 on Amazon. Sounds overpriced for what it is, but it works incredibly well, and it's the best bang-for-buck cleaner out there, imho. |
+1 for squeaky clean It's not fancy and a bit awkward to leave out due to having a small shop vac involved but if you are going to make cleaning a once in a while event where you get everything out and clean one evening and then put it up it would work great. I would recommend buying a couple extra of the cleaning brushes. I didn't ask for extra and he says he doesn't sell separately so not sure if he would allow additional ones to be added to an order. |
Bought my VPI 16.5 over 20 years ago. Sure it's loud but it does a great job and makes a difference, especially if you bin-dive. For new albums I play them once first tyo help loosen debris left by the molding process. I also clean my stylus by dropping it on BluTak (as per Soundsmith) and use a carbon-fiber brush and Zero-Stat if needed. The 16.5 is built like a tank. I've cleaned thousands of records with it. A few years ago a mover dropped it from 6 feet on a hardwood floor and all that happened was a mark on the wood base and a broken plexiglass top (Audio Advisor $50 and wrenching 4 small bolts). |
@ml8764ag Myself as well. Don't even need the Groovemaster as the label is never wet long enough to cause it to lift. I can look at the record in the sunlight and see how much dirt is removed. Cost me next to nothing. The Dawn is a great gunk remover.
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I don't have a turntable, well that's not totally true as I do own a working in mint condition 1914 Victor-Victrola console But I did see a hack about the different uses of WD 40 and one of them was to use it on vinyl records to stop skipping and crackling Has anyone been brave enough to try it, and if so did it work?? |
Not sure how everyone’s records are getting so dirty. I live in the desert and (as I said before) as long as I use a Big Brush, the dustcover and put records back in their sleeves when not in use that’s all that’s really needed. My records continue to look and sound like the day I acquired them. (And yes, my system is resolving enough to notice; ) As mentioned before, I use the Groovemaster Clamp when I first get the records (sometimes soaking them for extended periods if warranted). FWIW: Before I got one, the idea of submerging a record in the sink would have seemed insane to me. However, now all other ways seem like a huge compromise. The OP asked what record cleaner best bang for buck and I think the Groovemaster is just that. Just use the Big Brush (no fluids needed) before each play and the Gmaster as needed. Bonus: I usually make a listening session out of sink cleanings as I don’t have to contend with cleaning machine noise.
@sejodiren … it’s surprising how resistant the labels are to water, isn’t it! However, as mentioned above, I sometimes soak them for long periods if conditions warrant ..so the Groovemaster is a must for me.
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Having owned many types of cleaners including the Audio Desk System for many years (it broke, unrepairable) I can tell you the Degritter Mk II is top dog by a quite a few lengths, expensive yes, but you will not regret it. I’ve had it for 5 months now and have cleaned 800 records. The user interface is fantastic and its great at removing pops and crackles especially those from new pressings and will not mark your records with roller marks. If you have a large collection its invaluable.
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I purchased my first quality cleaner, the VPI 16 (now upgraded) in 1982. I played with various solutions over the years. I chose a Kirmuss ultrasonic using just distilled water. No filters, easy drainage, reliable. It works but for the need to dry the LP on my VPI 16, so a great combo for about $1800 new. Unfortunately, the ultrasonic is so good that it reveals noisy records by removing any gunk in the groove that previously hid damage (mostly old used records). Despite the additional LP noise, every LP has improved sonics. That’s what it is all about. With 28,500 LPs and 7,000 78s, this machine works (in conjunction with the VPI to dry). Since most of my collection is relatively clean, without prior attempts to clean (such as the popular silicone used in the 60’s, etc), just distilled water is adequate and lasts at least 10 to 15 LPs prior to dumping and refilling. It’s simple and it works. No more solutions (last was Disc Doctor with the cleaning, then double rinsing on the VPI-what a hassle). P.S. I just don’t believe there is a significant or any mold release compound. Maybe I need a $50K+ + turntable with a $15K+ cartridge to hear the difference. Using a VPI TNT VI/VPI controller/Townshend Seismic Sink/highly modified SME IV/Dynavector 20X2L/Zesto Allesso SUT. |
@markcasazza 30 minutes? That appears excessive. I limit my deep cleaning to 5 minutes. As to stylus wear, I had a Benz Ruby3 last over 2000 hours. No problem with tracking/highs, etc. but it definitely lost dynamics at the end. So, clean records will greatly extend the life of a stylus but irrelevant to the cartridge mechanics. With the lesser cost Dynavector 20X2L, replacement every 1000-1200 hours is inexpensive and permits the greatest number of LPs to sound great. So many high end cartridges sound best with a more limited number of LPs. Mono LPs also sound better with Mono cartridges rather than the high end cartridges-lesser cartridges such as mine in a higher end analog system play mono LPs excellently. |
