Whats the best record cleaning fluid?

My experience is that a few of us went in together and bought some of the Walker stuff to try. Like the AIVS fluid, actually even worse than the AIVS fluid, the stuff is a bear to rinse off clean and three and four passes still left rolled off highs. It is not worth my time. The guy who ordered it is trying to take advatage of the money back plan. I am not sure how that is going.

To spout off about some imagined resentment of businessmen is inaccurate and condescending. I'm not sure if you are referring to me about pot shots, but the only one I see making pot shots in this thread is you and they are unfounded pot shots at that.

Jejune,

As Cjsmithmd said, you're the first negative comment I've heard that was actually based on experience with the product. Your language implied an attitude to me that I see alot on this forum. If I misread, please forgive me. It seems odd that you and your asssociates had such a markedly different experience than that of a number of reputable people. I wonder what Lloyd has said/will say about it. Please keep us posted if you have any further input. If it is simply a matter of insufficient dedication to doing the process correctly, that in itself is valid input. Obviously the hassle factor in such a product will preclude some people. Perhaps you're among them.

>>Mr. Walker generally gets it right, if pricy.<<

Considering any record cleaning solution is about 98% water, how do you justify pricey?

R&D?
It's not rocket science

Raw Materials?
See above

Packaging?
Peanuts

Marketing and Hype?
Ah, now we're on to something

Your language implied an attitude to me that I see alot on this forum. If I misread, please forgive me. It seems odd that you and your asssociates had such a markedly different experience than that of a number of reputable people.

Talk about language and implications. "different experience than that of a number of reputable people"? And you wonder why some might have resentment toward "businessmen". The old forgive me on the one hand while I stick the fork in deeper with the other is old, still lame, and always smarmy. Godd luck with your sales.

The issue of cleaning fluid is pretty simple and there are a lot of good easy to use products on the market to fit anyones taste or particular situation. I have said it before, the purpose of any cleaning fluid/cleaning system is to get the junk removed from the grooves. As was said with audiofeil note, the majority of the product is water which is a wonderful solvent for ionic compounds such as salts but pretty poor for non polar compounds such as grease/oil/fingerprints.etc. Good cleaning solutions will have a component to help water emulsify the non polar compounds and a component to disperse the solids that will not dissolve. The tiny grooves also means a mechanism to get the cleaning solution into the grooves is required. Wetting agents can be added to help this or mechanical action by a brush will help get the cleaning solution into the grooves. A brush also plays an important function in that the mechanical force helps dislodge the particles stuck in the groove. THe last function of the cleaning fluid is to dry quickly. Again the use of a vacuum or dry part of a record brush can help. Alcohol is used in some formulations to aid in drying. IMHO, the most important factor is clean water that will not leave a residue. My favorite homemade formulation is 1 qt of water(triple distilled or better), 1 teaspoon of Dishwashing detergent and then enough alcohol (about 1 oz)so when a drop of cleaning fluid is put on a record it freely flows into the grooves. I use an old discwasher brush and this formulation has worked for me for almost 30 years. I have found though heavily fouled records will require a machine like the VPI to get the mechanical action from the brush and lots of cleaning fluid.