What is the best way to clean records?


This was a quest I feel I accomplished. The ultrasonic cleaners seemed to be the best way. I bought a VPI Cyclone and returned it without opening the box. I knew that it was very important to well clean records but felt that just vacuuming the wet records was not very effective. That there would be dirt or stamping process solution would remain on the LP. The Kirmiss process seemed very effective but way too complicated, difficult and time consuming. And it still seems like a lot of junk would remain deep in the groves. Then I heard about the rather famous Keith Monks Record Cleaning Machines. Their RCM was developed and used by the BBC. And the machine is used by the Library of Congress and many pros, etc. And I wrote to Better-Records and they told me they use the Keith Monks RCM and most of their better LPs are used and sell for $199++!
I was most attracted by their process of using a medical grade vacuum pump and tone arm like arm with an end piece that runs barely over the record groves slowly removing all the cleaning solution, dirt and the oil-like stuff the use to be able to stamp the records. And it is very gratifying to watch the junk completely removed as the arm  takes about a minute running across to the edge. Every record comes out looking better than a brad new with a surface that shines. And, most of all, the fidelity of the sound has jumped up as much as a major component upgrade. I just emptied my first full jar of dirty solution. Man was it dirty. All that junk was on my records!
mglik
HI Charles,
The RCM vacuums off solutions with a nozzle at the end of its arm that is suspended slightly off the record bu a thread in between
that is automatically replaced. And the vacuum pump is a large and powerful medical grade one. If the nozzle touches the vinyl on a slightly warped record, it will stop the rotation and lift the record. To prevent this, I use a Stillpoints 1.6 lb record weight.
It is the only divise that suctions off its solution a grove at a time reaching deep down to the bottoms.
And I asked about new records. Keith said that new records need the cleaning most of all. There is an oil-like substance applied to the vinyl before it is stamped to allow it to be released. I notice a huge difference in new records as well as old.
Charles, I actually thought that you had recommended the KM RCM in a post. I did confirm that Better-Records uses one as well as many dealers who offer their clients a free cleaning service. It is super fun to watch it in action! Very gratifying. Once a record undergoes this deep cleaning it is good for years if stored properly.



I agree with what mijostyn posted except, I am not sure about the use of benzalkonium chloride. It is a cationic surfactant that I have not studied. I would add my findings regarding an ultrasonic cleaner. I built my ultrasonic cleaner in 1975 and did extensive studies using different solutions, detergents and surfactants. I found that distilled water with a little Dawn detergent provided the best combination of cleaning without leaving significant residue. Adding isopropyl alcohol was useful in removing certain contaminants. Once clean, if handled properly, your LPs should require no further cleaning. I found that even when handling LPs on the edges, oils from fingers can migrate to the outer groves of the LPs and be picked up by the stylus. So I always used clean room gloves when handling my LPs.
Ijgerens, Benzalkonium chloride is not a surfactant. It is a very strong anti fungal agent. PVC unfortunately likes to grow fungus. The BAK is insurance in this regard particularly with records that you have no idea where they came from of how they were stored. When I lived in Miami I came across several collections that were destroyed by this. If you live in Arizona this may not be an issue.
Benzalkonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt which is a cationic surfactant. It is typically used as an antiseptic. It also can be used as an anti fungal agent as you state. It may be fine to use for its anti fungal properties on LPs. My only concern with it is whether it leaves a residue behind after use. Also, BAK would not remove the same contaminants as isopropyl alcohol, so they are not interchangeable.