Record-playing Rituals?

When one takes the time to master steam cleaning , nothing does more to improve playability. Steam, any record cleaning fluid from home-brew to $$$, combo'ed with a vaccum cleaning machine, makes for a hard to beat combination.

1. Carbon fiber brush 3-4 rotations with a slightly moist finger to compensate for drag on every listen, every side. I like to think I've mastered this technique so as not to put unnecessary strain on the belt.

2. Zerodust after a session when digging out my old vinyl; with new vinyl only once a week...

3. I'll blast it with compressed air at times before putting it back into my Diskeeper "Ultimate Audiophile Inner Sleeves." I only do this for my prize LPs (or when dust appears on the transfer back into the sleeve).

Four years ago I used the old Disc Washer D4 solution from back in my youth, thinking this was the proper way to "Care" for the vinyl. Only to realize I did more harm than good. I never use a brush on my needle. Ever.

When I'm hammered, all bets are off (I try NOT to listen to my records when really intoxicated).

This is why I don't have vinyl anymore!!!!!!!!!!!

I usually end up cleaning my records (typically just by dusting them off) before I play them. I do a more thorough clean as I see fit. I still love listening to records.

I dry-brush clean my record each time I play it. I also dry-brush the stylus with each side. When I worked in high-end audio, my record guru steered me away from any liquid on the stylus.

Ritual: Clamp record to platter; tap with fingernail to check for bubbles, if bubbles, loosen clamp and turn record; spin record and dry clean; dry clean stylus; place stylus on record and enjoy!

Do not use your fingertips to tap the record! Your fingertips naturally have oil on them. The backs of your fingernails do not.

I clean my records on a VPI 16.5 periodically. I haven't decided what is the best fluid yet -- I am researching it...
Cheers!