Cleaning old record collection.. advise please

Tod,

I concur with the recommendations above, except that the otherwise superb RRL fluids will not remove mildew and mold spores. For that an enzyme-based solution needs to be added to the cleaning regimen.

My preference is Buggtussel's Vinyl-Zyme. Using it is SOP for every used record I clean.

Good luck,
Doug

Any of the enzyme record cleaning solutions (Buggtussel, AVIS, etc.) will take care of the mold. The LPs should be okay afer the good cleaning.

The AVIS fluids are a three step process: enzyme, cleaner, and distilled water rinse. Because you have a mold problem I would recommend it over the RLL fluids, which also do an excellent job, but do not contain enzymes.

I had good luck with my collection that was stored in a concrete floor basement. Moisture wicked up into many of them, and mildew grew on the covers and some of the vinyl.

Patiently cleaning them with Record Research Deep Cleaner and then RR Vinyl wash, several times depending how bad they were, restored them to almost new. I think with some TLC, you should be fine.

Goog luck.

If you could use a vacuum record cleaning machine and one or more of the better liquid record cleaners such as The Disc Doctor's Miracle record cleaner (my personal favorite). If you don't have access to a machine, manual cleaning would be next best. Do some searching thru AudiogoN and you will find many, many past threads on record cleaning, enough to fill a book I would dare say. I have contributed to several.
Cheers!

With mildew I'd be inclined to use a two stage process. I'd start off with a manual wash using the Knosti Disco Antistat washer (available www.audiophilecandy.com and other places £45). I'd use a solution of 35-40% isopropyl alcohol (not for shellac records though), with rest purified water and a few drops of wetting agent (Ilford for instance) per liter. The Disco antistat has a good scrubbing action, which is what you want. Pass the mildewed record through the brushes several times. Then vacuum on a convential vacuum machine, and repeat the process but don't use the Disco Antistat - instead use your favourite cleaner -- Disc Doctor, Art du Son, whatever. Change solution in Antistat every few mildewed records. If you don't have a vacuum washer, then use the Antistat twice, but change liquids between washes. The result will not be as good, but may be acceptable.