2. analog
  3. 1348524785

is it safe to clean records with isopropanol ?

I've been thinking of making some home-brew record cleaner. Most of the online recipes use 20-25 % (or more) isopropanol.But some think this is not good for modern vinyl because it leaches out plastic stabilizers in the vinyl.Others think the ill-effects are due to contaminants in the isopropanol.I can get access to lab grade ISP so was wondering if you had any advice before I make the plunge. I have about 300 lps that I want to clean.
rrm
maclogan
49 posts
 
There are no "plastic stabilizers" (I presume you mean plasticizers) added to the "vinyl" used for LPs. There are no "bonding agents" whatever they may be. The idea that an aqueous solution containing no more than 25% isopropanol in contact with a record for a few minutes at ambient temperature would damage the record is chemically preposterous.
opus88
530 posts
 
TechSpray is 99% pure isopropyl. It indicates it is safe on
plastics(whether they're in lp records or not), non
corrosive and rapidly evaporating. I've never noticed any
ill effects on the sound of lp records using a mix
containing 25% TechSpray and 75% distilled, triple deionized
lab water. After applying the mixture, I use the VPI 16.5
to clean and vacuum.
wolf_garcia
6,723 posts
 
I'm not sure what chemicals are in my Spin Clean fluid, but I can say it makes a terrible margarita.
lewm
13,219 posts
 
I use what Opus uses, except I add a few drops of a non-ionized detergent per liter, Triton X100 is one example. I can say I have had no issues, but how would one know, unless the damage was rapid and gross? One is hardly doing a controlled study of record cleaners. Safe to say that the LP does not dissolve before my eyes.

I did once compare the above solution to the enzyme-based cleaners sold by Walker, which of course involve no alcohol. I cleaned side A of one of my favorite LPs with the Walker Audio stuff and side B with my standard solution (using a VPI HW17 machine). The results were very very slightly in favor of the Walker enzymes, but I concluded that my standard solution was faster and simpler. So I stuck with the latter, but the results suggest that there was no gross damage done by either method. That's the limited evidence I have to go on.
opus88
530 posts
 
"I can say I have had no issues, but how would one know, unless the damage was rapid and gross?" True...and I agree with you, Lew. The way I see it, as an approximately 70 year old fart, my hearing is a fair cry from what it used to be, though I'm still enjoying what I AM hearing, and as long as that's so, I'm good. Best wishes with the hope you're enjoying the music too!
More to discover