Deep Cleaning Records With Steam?

Larryi : I can understand your view point and from that mind-set its hard to see where this thread has anything to offer you. Steam Cleaning is not for everyone and neither are RCM's. For some the use of a dry, static-free brush is all they prefer to use. And that's the way it should be-- options for all. I wish you well.

Well said Creml, Thanks to you, I now have the cleanest most quiet records possible. My perfection steamer used with my RCM, (VPI) makes them better than new. I will never have to buy record cleaning fluids at $25.00 per quart again. My R/O cleaning fluid costs .49 cents per gallon and cleans better or as good as the expensive stuff. Thanks and regards.

Thommas, Thank you for the kind words. For those that wish to make the investment of time and almost no money, it is sure interesting what steam can do to revive your record collection.

For instance, I have a 1950's Verve 2 LP recording of Ella & The Duke that I bought for .50 cents. The recordings were so dirty they were unplayable. After several minutes of steaming and combo'ing with my VPI, the LPs looked clean but still they were unplayable. After a third and fourth cleaning I set the LPs aside for a few days before a re-play. The differences were like night and day. These mono recordings had life breathed into them. I consider them to be one of my most satisfying finds. Oh, and the Jazz books recount a fair-market value of $100 for a .50 cent investment.

Crem1 and Thommas,

I don't think we have a big difference of opinion. You both use RCMs and steam cleaners. I also use both, though I rarely find a record so dirty I need to avail myself of the steam cleaner. But, for me, the RCM is the essential tool because of its everyday utility. R/O water used in either/both is a very practical approach from the standpoint of cost and minimal damage to plasticizers and other compounds in the record.

Thanks for the anecdote about four intensive cleaning cycles making a difference. I usually make two vigorous efforts and then I assume that what I hear is permanent damage to the record and not just stubborn dirt. I will try more cycles with some precious, but noisy, records I have found.

The quality of water used is primordial it seems: I steam- cleaned a few old LPs (cleaning solution, brushing, steaming, wiping, and again) the result is better sonically BUT with the addition of pops which weren't there before. I also notice the stylus fills with gunk when playing those LPs -- obviously the cleaning is not thorough enough. I don;t have a RCM.
Or am I doing s/thing wrong?