According to my review of record cleaning articles in print and the internet , the dousing of LPs with water has been recommended in one form or another ; as has the use of a cleaning solution(s) , lite scrubbing , a second imersion of the LPs groves ( not label) and then a drying , by air or cloth. This record cleaning method has been practiced by lots of institutions and folks like us.
What I observed was that even the addition of a Record Cleaning Machine (RCM) did not drastically improve the playback experience. Of course, certian fluids and certian RCM's made some difference , but on high resolution systems backround noises persisted. I became so curious that I began to use high-powered magnification to observe the before and after of record cleaning. Frankly, I was amazed to see first-hand the amount of stuff (mold & grime) that resisted all cleaning.I also came of the opinion that no cleaning method did much to remove grunge locked in the deepest portions of the groves.
In the 1990's I stumbled upon hand held steam cleaners that became the rage on late night info-adds in the US.
The steam cleaner's appeal to me was as a potental record cleaning device. I presumed , if it can clean the grime off the family john , auto or grill why not LPs ? So began a decade and 1/2 long experimentation with hand held steamers .
The Steam Advantage is specifically the "blast" of steam from these hand held units aids in dislodging all sorts of alien crap that interfears with the playback of LPs. Presuming the LP is free of manufacturing defects and signs of owner abuse , the finished product will be relatively cleaner , therefore; more of what has been transfered to the LPs groves shall be available to the listener's ear. I recommend that LPs be pre-cleaned with steam , scrubbed on a RCM of choice w/ cleaners of choice , lightly steamed and run on a RCM then dryed. Why the post steaming ? My experience is that ALL cleaning fluids and tap water leave a "sonic fingerprint" . The second steam aids in reducing or eliminating that print, so it is no longer a problem . Using garmet steamers subjects the LP to a "hoter" steam and the possibility of damage. To date, none of my Lps has been the steaming process I use but be forewarned , practice safety and take your chances.
So there you have it . This process is time-consuming but for the bomb of kilo-bucks spent on analog, cheapo steaming can improve playback lots more than Mo' Money.
