Liquid Stylus Cleaners

The finer the stylus tip is, the harder it is to ’see’ with the naked eye, so I start with a magnified mirror below the stylus. Curved makeup mirrows, I have a light coming in from the side and lift/rotate the mirror to get a great view of all surfaces.

$6. MAGNIFYING MIRROR to VIEW STYLUS (two). 3-1/2” DIAMETER, One: 10X; One 20x + 2 tweezers

https://www.amazon.com/Magnifying-Funtopia-Magnifier-Tweezers-Blackhead/dp/B093BPDZZD/ref=sr_1_29?crid=3MVJVIBL6SMFW&keywords=small%2Bmakeup%2Bmirror%2B15%2Bx%2B3.5&qid=1652983011&sprefix=small%2Bmake%2Bup%2Bmirror%2B15x%2B3.5%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-29&th=1

Next: brush? Gel? Fluid? Nothing, all is well.

I apply fluid as a standard precaution every twenty plays or so, cleaning the cantilever as well as the stylus, some fuzz might have clung to the bottom of the cartridge body. Always back to front, never side to side, never front to back.

Inexpensive glued on stylus tips: the fluid might soften/dissolve the glue, then not too often, and use a brush right after the fluid to minimize the fluid on the glue.

Owners of cantileverless cartridges (Decca, Ikeda) or super short cantilevers (Dynavector Karat) should probably avoid using stylus liquids. It is far too likely to get into the body of the cartridge, where it can cause all sorts of corrosion. I've had the coils come unglued from an armature in a Decca this way.

I use bulb syringe to blow the dust off. It's a lot better than just with mouth, because you can actually spit on it. 

I use liquid around once per year or few, but not habitually.

I am definitely no expert. But I always cringed at brushing stuff on my stylist… which I did on my previous cartridge (a Frog). A couple of common brands… one from Last. Nothing bad ever happened. I stick now with a gel pad when it gets dusty. I just find it hard to believe there isn’t some residue.

Perfectly safe imo, if used with care. It’s not necessary to use after every side. And just hit the Diamond stylus with liquid; obviously it’s not good to douse the cantilever or undercarriage. If the glue dissolves from a quality stylus cleaner then it wasn’t going to be an effective bond anyways.