Can I clean my records manually?

Ok, so, since I started this post I decided to go the manual route. My routine has rendered many of my records down to only a few ticks per side with only one cleaning. Here it is:

1. Begin with a good steam bath! I have a clothes steamer which looks like a canister vacuum but actually shoots out steam instead of vaccuuming. The attachment is perfect for covering the surface of the record.

2. Scrub with Record Research Lab cleaner.

3. Another steam to rinse and lift out the crud

3. Vacuum with a shopvac.

Can someone tell me how a RCM could do a better job???? (Serious question not retorical!)

Pawlowski6132, I think it would take some work with a microscope to check whether your method removes as much debris, whether it adds scratches, and whether it damages the wall of the vinyl as compared with the best record cleaners. There is also the concern with the L'art du Son of not removing vinyl molecules. Finally, there is the question of how much extra time your method takes and how much you value your time.

If you like what you hear, I would suggest you just move on.

TBT, right now I have more time than money so...

But, if/when I get some extra pocket money, I'm trying to understand why I would need a RCM.

Sound like you're telling me that I could be doing damage to my records that could accumulate and have a long term detrimental effect?

I'm using RRL cleaner, a dedicated cleaning brush that I rinse after each record with distilled water.

Maybe the only thing that might be risky is the vacuuming. However, I cover the tool in a clean cotton cloth. Could I be damaging my LPs??

Pawlowski6132, I am not telling you that you may be damaging your records. I don't know. I was just suggesting evaluation criteria for making the judgment of whether the best record cleaning machines do better than your method. I know for example that some record cleaning machines are better and that some cleaners are better.

I would suggest, however, the vacuum you use may not equal that on record cleaning machines.

Years ago even after the Keith Monks machine had been invented, I used to clean my records with soap and water and later with Diskwasher fluiid. I rinsed them and dried with a cotton cloth. I know that I did little if any damage to them and that modern cleaning machines can clean them much better than what I was doing then. I also know that the Loricraft is superior to earlier machines I used and that L'art du Son is the best cleaning fluid. At least in my experience.

Your posting suggests that you believe there is nothing better than what you are doing. I was taking exception to that statement.

TBG, I understand. I was looking for education and enlightenment. I'm knew to vinyl (at this level anyway) and want to maximize my listening enjoyment. I sincerely was looking to everyone hear to list the benenefits of a RCM over the method I described so I can evaluate the situation.

Still waiting.