cleaning vinyl. which cleaning fluid to use.

Record Research Deep Cleaner and Super Vinyl Wash. All you need to properly clean LP and get really great results.

I used to use homebrew but my audio dealer talked me into switching to the Nitty Gritty and he was right - it's actually much better.
(the homebrew used alcohol, distilled water, a tiny bit of aromatic solvent and a surface tension releaser)

Ditto Dan_ed...I have tried all the major commercial cleaners and Record reseacrh is by far the best of the lot.

Deep Cleaner followed by Super Vinyl wash is all you need to make them very clean and quiet, with a much expanded soundstage with all the detail contained in the groove.

Only the best for my Koetsu Urushi

IMHO, and after many comparisons, Record Research Deep Cleaner and Super Vinyl Wash are the best, and not by a short margin. I recall Albert Porter, some time ago, offering to send RR fluids to those who would like to try it out for themselves. I was so impressed by that extension of generosity, that I feel I must return the favor. And I will. If a few folks want to e-mail to me their address, ';ll ship ya a couple-o-ounces of each. Then compare towhat your using and report - yea or nay! No strings - I am not a dealer nor do a represent RRL or any other product.

RRL is great, but I still prefer Nitty Gritty. The recommended cleaning method for RRL (per the label) is Deep Cleaner followed by 2 Vinyl Washes. That's the 3 trips on the vacuum cleaner each side. I don't have the patience for that but it does yield great results.

Nitty Gritty fluid also does a great job and it contains an anti-static ingredient. Clean a record 3 times using Nitty Gritty fluid - I've tried it - it's every bit as good, maybe better than RRL. Can't go wrong with either.