Perhaps my HW17 has a slightly stronger vacuum sucker than does the 16.5, but I find that my LPs are very nearly bone dry after vacuum. I usually just wave them around in the air for a minute or two before re-packaging them, always using a new envelope. (Lately I've realized how important it is to discard the old envelope, no matter how nicely preserved it may be.)
I clean the velvet pad mostly by flicking the visible residue off using my fingernail, on the premise that if it looks clean, it is clean enough. I do that after each LP.
I clean the velvet pad mostly by flicking the visible residue off using my fingernail, on the premise that if it looks clean, it is clean enough. I do that after each LP.