Threads on record cleaning are always interesting. The topic is almost a religion and can draw heated debate. I think as much as any topic in audio, it illustrates how little hard data we have to make decisions with. We each try one or two or maybe even four alternatives. The outcome is so subjective. Maybe that's the way it is with most things.
Myself, I belong to the church of DIY. Gutted a Goodwill t-table, use the platter to spin the disc with a DIY cleaner of expensive water and alcohol and a dash of something or other (surfactant). Dry brush, wet it and scrub it, vaccum it with an old canister vac and crevice tool padded with velvet. I might make it into one box, but haven't yet.
The records usually sound better - more open, but sometimes more poppy - I guess I pull the dirt out of the pits in the groove. I think I am getting the records completely dry. Who knows if much residual liquid is left.
Why? Because I like the ritual. And liking the ritual, I think it makes it sound better, even when it doesn't.
Myself, I belong to the church of DIY. Gutted a Goodwill t-table, use the platter to spin the disc with a DIY cleaner of expensive water and alcohol and a dash of something or other (surfactant). Dry brush, wet it and scrub it, vaccum it with an old canister vac and crevice tool padded with velvet. I might make it into one box, but haven't yet.
The records usually sound better - more open, but sometimes more poppy - I guess I pull the dirt out of the pits in the groove. I think I am getting the records completely dry. Who knows if much residual liquid is left.
Why? Because I like the ritual. And liking the ritual, I think it makes it sound better, even when it doesn't.