Deep Cleaning Records With Steam?

Thanks Tvad you are so kind, yes i work hard to get the best sound i can with my vinyl and system like i'm sure you also do. Trying to pass the ease of lp cleaning on to others.

Uh, not to pick nits, but Tiger started this thread. ;-)

My apologies to you Tiger. I was going to start a new thread on steaming by showing the video but thought it would be unfair to this thread. From reading the thread it seems as though Crem states he was the founding father of steaming.

I was really hoping by doing this, that some who saw how easy it is to steam clean LPs wound give it a try by making the video showing steaming in motion. I can hear the difference in my steam cleaned LPs and surly want to share that with others and for no other reason. For me music enjoyment is the bottom line and nothing else. I hope i did not ruffle any feathers as that was not my intention at all.

Here is an easy link to Stltrains' video

Stltrains Steam cleaning

Kudos to Stltrains for putting together an excellent demo of steam cleaning! Anyone following his method will undoubtedly get outstanding results.

I just want to offer a few ideas because I use a DIY, hand spun, RCM. Hopefully, people will understand that they can do whatever works most conveniently for them.

1. I steam LPs dry, right out of their sleeves. But I spin them, by hand, probably at no less than 100 rpm or so. This means I can get the steam closer and in the same grooves longer. I have seen no movement or creep by the vinyl whatsoever.

2. Right after steaming and before a vacuum, I do apply a cleaning solution while the record is still wet from the steam. This is maybe a tablespoon of solution and I do a light scrub to make sure stuff loosened by the steam is still in solution. I then vacuum everything up with one attachment. There is nothing left by my RCM, the LP is completely dry.

3. Now I apply maybe a teaspoon of ultra pure water as a rinse and move this around the surface with a cheapy VPI felt brush. Then vacuum this up with a second attachment. Again, the vinyl is completely dry after a few revolutions.

4. I'm really paranoid, so I completely cover the LP label during the whole process.

Using this approach and my DIY RCM I have found no reason to apply anti-static treatment (probably depends on where you live) or wait for the vinyl to dry, before playing an LP. I go from RCM to platter. I do use a Zerostat after play.

I hope people reading this will take away that the main process is the steam. It seems that whatever happens before or after is just gravy on the pasta. However, vacuuming immediately after steaming is undoubtedly a major advantage.