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To clean or not to clean...

Brand new spanking vinyl. When one receives a  brand  new never played album. What is the consensus?
To clean or not to clean?

I  have leaned toward not cleaning until after numerous spins. This may be more out of  hope that conditions at the pressing faculty are on par with a semiconductor factory. Overall  I have not had issues, but once in a  blue moon you do  get that annoying pop that make you cringe and think" I should've cleaned this one".

Or am I simply guilty of the lessening of a mundane task.
idigmusic64
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,048 posts
 
At a minimum, a few spins in a SpinClean before first play.
larsman's avatar
larsman
2,163 posts
 
+1 @millercarbon - I know you're SUPPOSED to clean them, because bits of stuff from the record pressing can get in the sleeve,  but sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. 
achipo
58 posts
 
Clean it.  I run all "new to me" records (new or used) through a SpinClean (which is good at removing vinyl bits and I think the velvet brushes provide a good complement to the next step) followed by a medium Degritter clean with just 1 ml of Degritter solution.
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millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The problem with cleaning, we're talking about records here. Record cleaning is the classic Murphy's Law work expands to fill the time available for completion. So first we scour the interwebs for cleaners. Then we scour the interwebs for advice on how to use the cleaners. Then we learn all the cleaners we bought are garbage, throw em all out, start all over again. Then we get set up and, oh darn what was the order again? So back to the interwebs by which time new authorities have arisen with new advice and so clear the counter fill the recycle bin start all over again. Eventually at some point after having spent 5X what you have in records on cleaners you never got to use it dawns on you the time available to complete this work is the heat death of the universe. Fortunately they never really need to be cleaned at all. But this usually dawns on you some time around a week after you already signed the DNR.
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