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Best Temporary Record Cleaning Options

I have a new TT on order and need to line up some record cleaning options. This is my first TT since 20+ years ago when I used a discwasher on an old technics table. I will be slowly buildiing a vinyl collection from both new and used sources. I am not going to be able to throw down for an automatic for a while so I need a fiarly good temporary product that will help me get and keep records in great shape. In my search of the archives there is some amazingly in-depth content about record cleaning solutions and automatic machines but I can't seem to locate info on what the best options are for brushes, kits, etc.
maineiac
dazzdax
599 posts
 
Why not using mixture of tap water, a bit of dishwasher soap and a decalcifier detergent to wash the vinyl? After cleaning and rinsing with tap water you can use a sponge to wipe it dry.

Chris
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Dazzdax,

I have ruined records with tap water. Unless you run a chemical and particulates analysis on your water, get results many standard deviations purer than normal, and have confidence that those results will remain consistent going forward, you're merely guessing about what's going on your vinyl.

That might be an acceptable risk with a grungy $.25 thrift store find, but reissues and increasingly rare originals at $30+ a copy deserve more careful treatment.

And no sponge, cloth or brush can remove scummy liquid from inside the grooves. The grooves are too small. Only vacuum at fairly high velocities can do this.

A phono cartridge is a motion detection and amplification device. The better ones reliably generate electrical signals from even sub-micron deflections of the stylus. Put another way, top quality systems amplify stylus deflections by factors of 8,000 or even more. Therefore, any impurity above molecular sizes will be detected and amplified by a good system. Even those who don't have such systems today would be prudent to care for their records on the assumption that they might, someday.

Doug

jwin's avatar
jwin
101 posts
 
I use a VPI setup that does a nice job. I use a home made formula of photo flow, distilled water, alcohol and joy, but it doesn't do much to clean any fungus growing on the record surface. How do you get rid of that stuff?
Jeff
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Either Vinyl-zyme (Buggtussle) or AIVS should do it. It may require a few applications in some cases.
paul_frumkin
130 posts
 
Jwin ... both the Photo-Flo and the Joy are bad ideas. Soaps leave nasty residues that are very difficult to remove and which will attract dust and form a gum-like substance over time. The Photo-Flo will also leave a residue and a treble-eclipsing sonic signature.

Alcohol can be a good or bad idea--it depends on the alcohol. Either grain or isopropyl can be safe, but it's nearly impossible for regular folk to get grain alcohol which isn't charcoal filtered ... which loads the alcohol with hydrocarbons. This is great for taste, but not so for your vinyl.

Isopropyl is effective and safe, but only if it's prefume and moisturizer-free; you have to avoid isopropyl sold as "rubbing alcohol." Also, isopropyl less than 99+% may not have been diluted with ultrapure or even distilled water, and as Doug mentioned, tap water can permanently ruin LPs, depending on the mineral and calcium content.

Hope this helps.

Paul
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