2. analog
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What is your record cleaning regimen?

I am just getting into vinyl, and inheriting records, buying some used and most recently a few new. 

I have only a few hundred records so far, but I have invested in cleaning supplies.

Specifically, I have various pre-set solutions (groovewasher, Tergikleen, distilled water, simple green), a goat hair brush, micro fiber cloths, a baby scalp scrubber and a DeGritter machine (extravagant at this stage, but a huge time saver).

Here is my regime at this point. For any new record, whether inherited or bought, used or new, I wipe it with a dry cloth or the goat hair brush to remove any initial dust. Then I cover the label and spray some solution on it and use the baby scrubber to distribute the liquid around to cover the surface. Then I use a padded microfiber to wipe it off. Then I Degrit.

Btw, I tried WD-40 once, which does work to remove crackles, but subsequent cleanings cause those crackles to come right back, which to me indicates that WD-40 is leaving a residue on the record which I suspect is not helpful in the long run.

Likewise, the goat hair brush is so far disappointing as it seems to shed hair on the record which somewhat defeats its purpose.

Interested in other people's processes and I have a question. I have some older records that have persistent crackles. Will cleaning ultimately make those go away or do I just need to get over it?

I have ordered a record label protector that will allow me to wash in the sink with soap and water in the hopes of getting the ultimate clean.

Any thoughts from the analog folks here would be great.

saulh
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,249 posts
 

@cleeds , The KL was my second choice. I went with the Clearaudio Double Matrix Pro Sonic. I prefer vacuum drying and in spite of the KL's filter recirculation system I prefer the cleaner use fresh fluid for each pass and discard the old. The KL with it's hoses and fluid tank is also a much more complicated set up. Most people do not know this because, for some reason, Clearaudio does not mention this in it's markerting. It takes three passes, each with fresh fluid during a cleaning cycle vacuuming the fluid off with each pass. It is not ultrasonic. It vibrates it's microfiber brushes at something like 1000 Hz scrubbing the groove.

I've adjusted the proprietary formula for my cleaning fluid to leave as little on the record as I can. I'm going to take pictures of the stylus at intervals to see if anything accumulates. After 4 weeks none of the treated records will collect static and the stylus looks clean to the naked eye after 20 or so sides. When I get The Seta L Plus I will record before and after drops of the same record to see if there is any difference in background noise. 

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cleeds
5,715 posts
 

mijostyn

The KL was my second choice. I went with the Clearaudio Double Matrix Pro Sonic ... The KL with it's hoses and fluid tank is also a much more complicated set up

Hoses and tank? Nothing could be simpler than the CDN-LP200, @mijostyn 

vonhelmholtz
911 posts
 

Gen. One Record Doctor, Degritter and Carbon Fiber brush before playing.

Hepa air filter, Hepa vacuum and room humidifier.

Air filter and humidifier are off during listening session.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,248 posts
 

Does anyone know what happened to Soundguard, for record preservation? I put it on almost all my albums back in the 70’s-80’s.  It really kept cleaning to a minimum.

lubachl
87 posts
 

For those who are just getting into vinyl and may not have the megabucks to buy an ultrasonic cleaner, go with the Spin Clean.  It works great and is inexpensive.  Michael Fremer reviewed it positively many years ago.

If you are going all out, get an ultrasonic record cleaner.  There are about a dozen on the market.

I bought the Kirmuss because it is cheap (relatively speaking) and well designed.  Prior posters have said there are too many steps.  This is nonsense.  You put (up to 3) records in the device, push the button and the records are clean in 5 minutes.  That's it.

Of course, with all of the "wet" cleaning systems you must dry the record.  Some recommend using a microfiber cloth and that works and is cheap.  You can also give them a spin through a vacuum type device like the Nitty Gritty.  That is quick and effective and is what I have found works best.

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