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What is your record cleaning regimen?

I am just getting into vinyl, and inheriting records, buying some used and most recently a few new. 

I have only a few hundred records so far, but I have invested in cleaning supplies.

Specifically, I have various pre-set solutions (groovewasher, Tergikleen, distilled water, simple green), a goat hair brush, micro fiber cloths, a baby scalp scrubber and a DeGritter machine (extravagant at this stage, but a huge time saver).

Here is my regime at this point. For any new record, whether inherited or bought, used or new, I wipe it with a dry cloth or the goat hair brush to remove any initial dust. Then I cover the label and spray some solution on it and use the baby scrubber to distribute the liquid around to cover the surface. Then I use a padded microfiber to wipe it off. Then I Degrit.

Btw, I tried WD-40 once, which does work to remove crackles, but subsequent cleanings cause those crackles to come right back, which to me indicates that WD-40 is leaving a residue on the record which I suspect is not helpful in the long run.

Likewise, the goat hair brush is so far disappointing as it seems to shed hair on the record which somewhat defeats its purpose.

Interested in other people's processes and I have a question. I have some older records that have persistent crackles. Will cleaning ultimately make those go away or do I just need to get over it?

I have ordered a record label protector that will allow me to wash in the sink with soap and water in the hopes of getting the ultimate clean.

Any thoughts from the analog folks here would be great.

saulh
big_greg
6,623 posts
 

@cleeds , You must have the older one. They released a new one. Only Acoustic Sounds is selling them in the states. They have a new reservoir system. Check it out.  

I have the older one. It's super convenient and couldn't be easier to use. Having said that, I like the idea of an external reservoir. The only annoying thing about the LP200 is having it stop in the middle of cleaning a record because it's low on water. 

whart's avatar
whart
3,035 posts
 

KL actually introduced the model w/ the separate reservoir, a filter and a water system hook-up before it withdrew from the business. Dave @Record Genie have no idea if he still posts here, bought one.

I don’t know what differences there are between this "new" model being sold by Chad in the U.S. and the old one. There’s information out there, readily available, about filtering, bath flow, what you need to remove surfactants if you ultrasonically wash with them. A lot of this was, and still is, part of the DIY community.

I in no way mean to disparage KL-  I’ve had their earlier big unit for some years and it is still performing well. (No surfactant in bath but pre-clean).

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,466 posts
 

Im with Edcyn.....I use an Audioquest record brush....done.

jtimothya
612 posts
 

state of the art ?

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/timas-diy-rcm.26013/page-12#post-730039

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/timas-diy-rcm.26013/page-18#post-733751

kingharold
304 posts
 

I suppose I might be a bit lazy, but I find that cleaning my LPs in the Degritter on the heavy setting then using an antistatic brush just before playing is an entirely adequate regime.  I like simple.  I have hundreds of old LPs I got for free back when people were abandoning their LPs in favor of CDs.  Some of those are quite smudged and obviously dirty, but the DeGritter cleans them right up.

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