Did I damage my cartridge?

I was under the understanding that only the tracking pressure was to be applied. Or let the tonearm rest on the cleaner. If you put pressure on the cartridge beyond the tracking force, I would say you forced the cantilever out alignment with the coils. If that is so, then whoops is not enough. Good luck!

I have used the Zerodust stylus cleaner for some months, and recently purchased another for convenient use with another turntable setup.
The stylus is merely let to vertically sink into the clear gel disc, by itself, with only the same pre-set downward stylus force that plays a record. The stylus is raised up vertically the same way that it is lifted after a record side is finished playing.
It has been a champion at gathering dirt after each playing, even with Audioquest cleaning brush used on record prior to playing. Even records which have been cleaned in the past with the VPI 16.5 can re-accumulate enough on the vinyl surface that the stylus benefits from the Zerodust.
There is no way that one would expect any damage to the stylus cantilever, because the stylus is more gently treated by the gel pillow than by a spinning vinyl record surface. The stylus goes down into the gel, and is raised up from the gel vertically, just as when one plays a record.
Periodically, a generous Audiogon member, Bibibi, receives a shipment and sells these at a rock bottom price, more as a hobby than a business. I hope he will continue to offer this worthwhile gadget on Audiogon so more members may benefit.

I had the same problem with an Adcom HO MC after repeated use of Stylast. After it was returned to Adcom, they called me to say the Stylast plus gunk was up in the cartridge, and it was causing the fuzziness. They sent me a new cartridge, though it was my fault for using too much.

You might try one of those canned air dusters blowing toward the top entrance to the cartridge. VERY CAREFULLY!
Otherwise, Theo is probably correct.

Jim

Listener57, is it possible to clean the gadget itself, or does it just keep accumulating more gunk until it's totally shot?

Zaikesman

I have read that you can clean them, I forget the specifics, the article was in one of my Audio magazines.