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Vinyl cleaning and alcohol

Hej

What is the latest truth about alcohol being harmful or not harmful to vinyles?
I'v read that yiu should never use alcohol in the cleaning solution because of "this and that". I've never read anyone saying; "I've destroyed all my vinyls due to alcohol in the cleaning solution". On the other hand I have read several posts saying that they have been using alcohol for 5, 10 even 20 years without hearing any degeneration of the vinyles.

I got worried after have been cleaning all my best old vinyles with Okki Nokki cleaning fluid, so I searched the net for facts. I found hypotheses why alcohol is harmful and statements that it's not.

So what is the truth? 
simna
jtimothya
612 posts
 
Regarding Versa-Clean’s high TDH ...... It is recommend to do, as terry9 says, " heroic rinsing".

No doubt. Using the solution formula I outlined gets records clean without need for a packaged product.

If the solution used is clean after records are washed then rinsing is not needed. Filtering that solution during the cleaning cycle will keep it clean and rinsing becomes an unecessary step. Take a look at the article referenced in the last link in my post for measurements and more info on this approach.
jtimothya
612 posts
 
About L'Art du Son: As long it's not harmfull for the vinyle and the result is good, what's the problem?

It's unnecessary for cleaning imo. But If you want a coating on your records, do as you prefer. 


perkri
907 posts
 
Hi.

I use L'Art du Son, and have had wonderful results with it.

I only mix a single liter at a time so I don't have to worry about it going bad.

Transfer a small amount from that 1 liter to a small  bottle (50ml?)

I use that to "coat" the records with.

I store it dark as light will adversely effect it.

I do a soak with the cleaner for 4 min. Vacuum it off. Soak again for 4 min, scrub with one brush, and vacuum off. Soak again for 4 min, scrub with a new brush, then vacuum off.

Then, I do three rinses using different brushes, vacuum between each rinse and set aside to air dry any residual water before sleeving in fresh anti static sleeves

P
lewm
12,994 posts
 
I also advocate a distilled water rinse after cleaning with my own mixture of isopropanol, non-ionic detergent, and water.  Otherwise, I do believe the detergent can leave a residue.  I heard an improvement when I added the pure water rinse step.  Moreover, you get a bit more crap out of the grooves along with the residual detergent.  I can see the results in the effluent from my VPI HW17.
zavato's avatar
zavato
1,397 posts
 
Alcohol is definitely a good thing with vinyl, in moderation. These days I prefer bourbon 
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