Best LP cleaner fluid for fingerprints

"IPA is a lousy solvent for grease and oils."

Audiofeil - you're kidding right? I have to beg to differ. The topic was cleaning fingerprints off a hard surface, not laundering clothes. IPA is widely used in industry as a solvent for a range of organics and as a degreaser and cleaner (e.g., for optics). One of the concerns using it on LPs (as I'm sure you're aware)is leaching out plasticizers and other additives (hence the 7:1 dilution and comment about limited time on the vinyl surface).

To Rushton, Dougdeacon and others - wasn't claiming dilute IPA is the best but it is certainly cost-effective and as such is an economical first step for removing heavy soiling and conserving more expensive proprietary products. BTW - once I get through the KAB solution I'm using as a 2nd step, I'll begin using the AI products I purchased.

I have found that the Vinyl Zyme Gold cleaner (formerly sold by Bugtussel,now by TTVJ) removes fingerprints the best.

IPA is seldom used for degreasing in industry. It has a very low kauri butanol (KB) value in comparison to aliphatic, aromatic, ketone, ester, chlorinated, and flourinated solvents. I can email a chart of KB values if you wish.

It is used in many record cleaning solutions as a drying agent not a detergent. The surfactant (Surface Active Agent) serves that purpose.

Good luck to you however.

Audiofeil - Let's stay focused on the original statements. My initial response had to do with removing skin oils (fingerprints) from hard surfaces. I work in the chemical industry and have for over 25 years. I'm aware of the difference between an organic solvent and a surface active agent. Google IPA uses. Degreasing is listed along with the other purposes I mentioned. Are there better hydrocarbon solvents? Yup - but IPA has a relatively benign profile compared to things like hexane or dimethylformamide. It gets grease splatter off our glass top cook range, fingerprints off my eyeglasses etc. As a microscopist, alcohol was regularly used to clean immersion oil off lenses. In any case, we can agree to disagree. Use what works for you. [by the way, - what do you like?]and enjoy the music! Peace.

Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I will research everyone's suggestions before making a final decision.

A_L