cartridge cleaning? Not the stylus........

Yes i use the magic eraser and the zerodust. Do people rub the stylus in the magic eraser? I just let it settle on it with the damped cue. I will try the putty. I was afraid it would be too sticky and take the diamond off. I periodically use a brush on the whole underside. I guess the dirt inside the body is best left alone then. It is a wooden body cardas and I think the air holes and the open space around the workings invites it.

sm2727,

I use a sliver of ME on a toothpick and brush VERY DELICATELY down the cantilever and all sides of the stylus. That said, I'm myopic and have small, steady fingers. If you have trouble seeing tiny objects or are inclined to be a klutz, think twice before using this method.

Agree with using a soft brush on the whole underside. I do that after every ME cleaning to assure that any small particles are removed. ME fibers are very abrasive, you don't want them in your record grooves. A stylus dip in a Zerodust or piece of silly putty (or similar) is a good idea for the same reason.

All cartridges get dirty inside, some more than others of course depending on how open they are. Cleaning inside is for experts only, as the coil winding wires are extremely delicate. They might break if you look at them too hard. ;)

+1 to Chakster's mention of the Cardas frequency sweeps. Makes a nice sonic improvement to any cartridge with no risk.

Is a frequency sweep the same as a de-magnetizer? I have one on my power plant.

adn my zerodust is old. I wash it regularly. I guess it is just permeable moist plastic so I assumed it didn't wear out. but, dust to dust I guess...