I looked for any signs of residue after using my Onzow using my Wild-Heerbrugg microscope. For those who may not know this is a very high quality microscope, one that McIntosh required their dealers to buy and have available for turntable service many years ago. Audio Technica followed suit. I actually own one of each as the two companies specified different models, M5 and M3 respectively. At any rate, these microscopes allow you to examine a stylus in minute detail. My conclusion was that I could not reach a definitive conclusion. Certainly any residue buildup took a long time and many, many repetitive uses to form. The occasional use of a liquid cleaner, there are many on the market, removed any residue. I was able to form a residue using the Onzow exclusively, by waiting over a long period of time (months of daily use). My feeling is that this is not the way the device is used in practice. So whereas it is possible to develop a buildup, the user really has to be trying to do so, or be extraordinarily negligent. I bought a new Onzow as mine was very old a year or so ago and have no qualms about using it. I do think the new buzzy gadgets work better though.