"Cleaning" Vinyl Makes It Worse Not Better!


I"m using a spray 'advanced vinyl record cleaning solution' with a cleaning cloth.

It creates GUNK in the grooves which can be fixed by cleaning the needle 5-7 times during playing one side..  It gets into the grooves and fixes the problem.  I'd rather find a better way to clean the discs. Sounds dumb, I know. 

What am I doing wrong?

Please Help!!

klimt

On a budget purchase a "label protector" such as the one I will link below (or purchase a less expensive Amazon version/offering for 50% less) and use your sink (soft/plastic tub inserted) to clean your records.

The first step (prior to rubbing/brushing the LP with anything) is to protect the label and then flush out the grooves with warm water.

You can do this with just the water tap or you can get more involved by using a repurposed WaterPik (dental cleaner) or something similar that increases the water flow/pressure.

If you use a brush prior to the flush you will be brushing possibly hard contaminants against the vinyl surface (and if they are harder they will scratch/damage it).

The above paragraph describes the main error in many established vinyl cleaning methods (flush, flush, flush before applying any brush).

As far as inexpensive DIY cleaning solutions go Google it (mine is a simple Google find).

I also use filtered tap water for final rinsing and as far as comparing the PUR filtered water from my tap to distilled water from the grocery stores (by evaporation) the filtered water has less/no visible contaminates VS the the distilled water -w- visible contaminates.

https://groovmaster.com

 

DeKay

@elliottbnewcombjr 

Your small magnifying mirror with LED lighting is exactly what I want but so far have not managed to find in Australia.

Can I ask where you got yours, please!

A cleaning machine is the answer. One with a vacuum to suck up the fluid and residue or ultrasonic. I had a VPI for over twenty years and have now upgraded to the much quieter, semi-automatic Nessie. These are very high quality. 

temu.com

I have successfully ordered several items at low prices from temu,

watch the minimum quantity and shipping cost

do a search '30x mirror'