What is the best way to clean Vinyl?

Right @lewm, LP's are made of PVC. But it is my understanding that the terms PVC and vinyl are not synonymous. Am I mistaken? I've seen sheets of vinyl the same thickness as LP's, and the two don't at all look the same. LP's are much stiffer than vinyl.

In any case, LP's (the plural of LP) should not be referred to as vinyls ;-) . IMO, of course.

Still Snap Crackle Pops

:mad:

Which would be a decent drying machine (vacuum?) at a reasonable price to supplement?

👎

FWIW, the record is a blend of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyvinyl acetate (PVA), and together under heat they form a copolymer (once formed does not separate) and is sometimes called polyvinyl chloride-acetate (PVCa); and there are various types of PVCa depending on the quantity of PVA.  PVA is what mostly provides the flexibility but should not be confused with flexible PVC that has plasticizer added which is actually a solvent and the plasticizers used can be extracted and over time can migrate from the PVC.  If the record actually used any amount of plasticizer, it would never last as long as it can (>100 yrs).

So, while its common to call the record PVC or vinyl, it's not, but these are easy and accepted terms.  

@jjbeason14,

First, air drying does not cause static.

However, if you are using the Spin Clean cleaning agent and not drying with their cloths, you may allow cleaner residue to dry on the surface.  

Simple things to try:

1.  Whatever concentration you are using for the cleaning agent, reduce by 50% and make sure to mix only with distilled or demineralized water (DIW).

2.  After cleaning have a clean spray bottle with DIW and lightly spray the record to rinse aways most of the cleaning agent that is only the record.  

3.  Dry the record - use their cotton cloths to remove most moisture until the record is mostly dry, then allow to air dry - it should only take 5-10 minutes at most.

4.  The common carbon fiber brush is mostly useless to remove static - they are not properly grounded - this brush which is cheaper than most - should work much better - -Grounded- Improved for 2022 Carbon Fiber Record Brush (turntableneedles.com).  When using the brush attach the ground cable to any ground post - people often use phono-preamp ground post.  When using the brush only lightly touch the record - no need to dig it in.