How much fluid do you use

That would be very interesting if true Lugnut, but I doubt it, because all the garden-variety rubbing alcohol I buy lists water as being the only other ingredient besides isopropyl alcohol (C^3-H^8-O), and it seems to evaporate without leaving any kind of trace I can detect (I just tested this using a jet-black reflective glazed-ceramic plate as an evaporative substrate). A little research has taught me that denatured alcohol just means ethyl alcohol (ethanol C^2-H^5-OH, = grain alcohol) to which methyl alcohol (methanol CH^3-OH, = wood alcohol) has been added to make it unfit for consumption, something presumably not needed in the case of isopropyl. I had assumed that denatured alcohol had a petroleum-derived additive, but as this doesn't seem to be the case, I grant you are correct that it could be used for vinyl cleaning, although I note FWIW that tape-head cleaner is always pure isopropyl (sans H^2-O!)in my experience.

Zaikesman,

Like I said, it's probably overkill. I don't have a bottle of isopropyl in the house to read the list of ingredients. My "facts" are based on interviews with 3 pharmacists and one hospital pathology lab tech. The denatured variety is only carried occassionally at one of perhaps a dozen pharmacies in my little town of 50,000. Once again, moonshine and tap water would probably work fine. At least you aren't smoking my post for the percentage of alcohol used.

Well, I can't criticize that Lugnut, seeing as how the drugstore isopropyl I use is 70% alcohol, 30% water. (Actually, this ratio seems about ideal in terms of cleaning power vs. staying power.) My dad always used the photo fluid like you recommend, except just with water, no alcohol. I haven't bothered with this, because the alcohol blend seems to need no help (unlike pure water) in the surface tension relaxation department, but I'm sure it couldn't hurt. I'm with you - I find it ridiculous to contemplate fancy-expensive designer fluids. The most important elements to cleaning are water, elbow grease using a velvet brush, more water, and vacuum drying if available, but lint-free blotting if not (those 'ultra-absorbant' white hand towels made from polyester micro-fiber work very well for this).