Records noisier after a clean?!

[JohnM]

Hi folks!

After hearing a lot of excellent reports about L'Art Du Son I decided to purchase a bottle and give it a go (when you consider how much the concentrated solution can actually make it doesn't seem quite so bad value at £29 per bottle!).

Followed the instructions to the letter in terms of mixing ratios/storage etc.

The distilled water I use is: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Distilled-Water-500ml-/330570646311?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4cf78bc327

Whilst inspecting a clean record close up - and marveling at how new it looked after a spin on my recently purchased KAB EV-1 - my breath showed up on the run-out groove area. I could clearly see light brush lines going around the periphery, where it had been 'cleaned'. Breathing lightly on the uncleaned side of the LP revealed no such lines. Rubbing the cleaned side lightly with a cloth showed no brush lines after breathing on it again (note: I don't usually breath all over my records folks, lest some think I have some strange kind of vinyl fetish... :eek: ).

The cleaned records don't sound quite as clean as I was expecting. In fact I think some have a little more crackle - even those I double cleaned!

I guess one of three things is happening here:

1) L'Art Du Son is leaving a very slight residue...

2) The distilled water I am using isn't as pure as the Ebay advert suggests...

3) The Vacuum cleaner I am using isn't doing a great job with - er- sucking!

I've used the fluid which was originally provided with the EV-1 and have had no problems at all. Quite disappointed as I was thinking L'Art Du Son was meant to be the bees knees of RCM fluids.

Anyone else had this problem? I'm sure it must be something I'm doing wrong rather than anything wrong with the cleaning fluid.

Cheers,

- John

[The Grand Wazoo]

It seems a bit odd this.
I'd have thought the vacuum should suck everything you put onto the record. Is there any chance that what you're doing is causing some mechanical damage to the playing surface?

[Audioman]

Get down to your local chemist and purchase 5 litres of purified (medical grade) water. Reclean with just purified water only. If this doesn't work reclean with an alcahol based cleaner. Home made, KAB or buy the Moth or Okki Nokki. These should remove the residue. It may be wise to try the L'art du Son mixed with the purified water first to see if this makes a difference. BTW make sure you clean out all brushes after using the L'Art du Son.

[JohnM]

It seems a bit odd this.
I'd have thought the vacuum should suck everything you put onto the record. Is there any chance that what you're doing is causing some mechanical damage to the playing surface?

I don't think so - the slight residue (which to be honest I only noticed on the non-grooved area next to the label, and then only when I happened to breath on it!) is wiped off easily with a lint free cloth. Perhaps I just jumped the gun here - I guess the vacuum action isn't really optimised to clean the run-outs too. Just checked the velvet pads and all is fine and nothing abrasive there at all. I still think L'Art is leaving a very slight residue however...

[MartinT]

John - one thing I noticed when I first bought my Clearaudio Smart Matrix is that I wasn't using enough liquid and was getting variable results like yourself. It's important that, after the application & wipe phase, the surface is still saturated before the vacuum is applied.

This is the fluid I use, in larger quantities, it's excellent and better than Clearaudio and Mint fluids:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINYL-RECORD-CLEANING-LIQUID-RECORD-CLEANER-100ml-/260779432389?pt=Turntable_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cb7aa59c5

[Reid Malenfant]

Just asking but did you use any wetting agent? :scratch:

[JohnM]

Get down to your local chemist and purchase 5 litres of purified (medical grade) water. Reclean with just purified water only. If this doesn't work reclean with an alcahol based cleaner. Home made, KAB or buy the Moth or Okki Nokki. These should remove the residue. It may be wise to try the L'art du Son mixed with the purified water first to see if this makes a difference. BTW make sure you clean out all brushes after using the L'Art du Son.

Thanks for the reply - According to that Ebay ad I got the water from it's about as clean as you can get @ 1ppm. Judging by the feedback I'm sure someone would have left negative feedback by now if the water wasn't actually that pure. I guess I could JUST try cleaning an LP with the water only, then vacuum, then see if that residue is apparent on the run out vinyl. That would rule out the water.

I did actually try doing a rinse cycle on an LP afterwards but it didn't make much - if any - difference. However, I only had a lightweight carbon fibre brush to hand to disperse that around the LP and perhaps it wasn't rubbing enough to dislodge the residue. I think I need to get a proper brush for the rinse cycle too then, not just the cleaning cycle. Another £17 for a Nitty Gritty brush. Jesus I can see why I abandoned vinyl a while back... it gets so bloody pricey for all the extras unless one is lucky to have pristine records.

Off to listen to a CD :wah:

[JohnM]

Just asking but did you use any wetting agent? :scratch:

Using L'Art Du Son, so it's an all in one solution. Don't think it contains a wetting agent?

[Reid Malenfant]

I'm not 100% sure but something tells me it'd work a good bit better if it did ;)

[JohnM]

John - one thing I noticed when I first bought my Clearaudio Smart Matrix is that I wasn't using enough liquid and was getting variable results like yourself. It's important that, after the application & wipe phase, the surface is still saturated before the vacuum is applied.

This is the fluid I use, in larger quantities, it's excellent and better than Clearaudio and Mint fluids:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINYL-RECORD-CLEANING-LIQUID-RECORD-CLEANER-100ml-/260779432389?pt=Turntable_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cb7aa59c5

I'm definitely using enough fluid (one has to leave L'Art Du Son for 4mins to do it's thang, so one needs enough so nothing evaporates).

Thanks for that link - might try that if I find out it is L'Art that's leaving a residue, and not the purified water I'm using.

I'd imagine if it was the L'Art the internet would be full of similar complaints by now.

[The Grand Wazoo]

A few drops of detergent will act as a wetter. This is vital on discs with a lot of mould release agent on them as it tends to drive liquid away to distinct areas, leaving dry patches.

[JohnM]

A few drops of detergent will act as a wetter. This is vital on discs with a lot of mould release agent on them as it tends to drive liquid away to distinct areas, leaving dry patches.

Well it's worth a try I guess. I've just never read of anyone having to add anything to the l'art du son solution (other than the purified water!),

I'll try just using the water to clean a test LP first - if it leaves a slight residue than I know I need a better source of water.

Wondering if I'm being nit picky though - that slight residue is literally only visible if one breaths lightly on the LP, and then slight streaks are visible around the lead-out sections of the vinyl.

[Reid Malenfant]

Something tells me it's more about what you can hear than what you can see :)

As Chris says, try a few drops of washing up liquid & see if that makes a difference, it's perfectly acceptable as a wetting agent.

[Slippershod]

bit of a cat amongst the pigeons, but if you google 'george merrill' and see what he says about vacuum cleaning - and his alternative... (hold on: here's the link: http://www.gmanalog.com). I'm not sure I agree with him - and have tried his stuff ... but there you go.

I've been through the mill with record cleaning - and went to the expense of a loricraft machine at one point... I still don't know where I am with the issue, I have to admit :doh:.

I would check the KAB device, and ensure that the felt or whatever around the vacuum slit is adequate cushioning, and clean - although from your description I don't think you're damaging the record through this cause ( I've done that with a Moth machine in the post, and it creates clearly audible distortion).

I use l'art du son atm - I think it clearly has a wetting agent / detergent in it: doesn't bead up on the record, and actually 'bubbles/froths' up if you work it hard enough.

[JohnM]

Thanks for the advice folks - I'll have a look at those links after this.

Well I think I'm narrowing it down - tried JUST the water on an immaculate LP and it left the streaks again (if breathed on to make them visible momentarily ;)).

So this absolves the L'art Du Son (whew - after what it cost!).

So it's either the water, or the RCM. I've left a couple spots on the same LPs reverse side. Will let that evaporate naturally, and see if it leaves any spots.

I did remember thinking when I got my RCM that the Nitty Gritty velvet pad looked like it MIGHT have already been used (when comparing it to the spare felt pads I also ordered), but didn't think too much about it at the time. At any rate have changed the felt suction pads for the first time so there'll be no contaminants from that now (if there were any).

Feel like bloomin' Sherlock Holmes!!! :lolsign:

Marc: that all sounds a bit disconcerting - do you think RCM effectiveness has been a little over-hyped then?

[Slippershod]

on the face of it, based on my experience, John, er..., yes.

but you read so many testimonies of where it's working apparent miracles, that ..., well, :scratch: I have to wonder if it's me.

you may well find that the fresh pad will sort the smears out (I'm talking about records here ...;))

[MartinT]

There is no doubt that RCMs can work wonders with dirty records. I have done some amazing rescues - including a valued 12" single that I cleaned four times after it had been left in the garage for a number of years, with dire consequences. It's now very playable.

I find now that I can clean a record very effectively in one pass by using the previously mentioned fluid from eBay, using a generous amount, vacuuming for just two revolutions, allowing to dry and finally placing in a Nagaoka anti-static inner sleeve.

[JohnM]

There is no doubt that RCMs can work wonders with dirty records. I have done some amazing rescues - including a valued 12" single that I cleaned four times after it had been left in the garage for a number of years, with dire consequences. It's now very playable.

I think that's the main value of these things, from what I've seen so far anyway. I had some records my Uncle passed onto me - a few nice Brubeck LPs. They were going mouldy from being left somewhere damp. A couple of cleans using the EV-1 and the original pre-mixed cleaning fluid really worked miracles with it. Came up looking like new, and sounded pretty damn good too.

I've just ordered some distilled water direct from a manufacturer and will give that a go with the L'art Du Son (thankfully I only mix a small amount each time so plenty left):

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140333772029&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

This was the original stuff I got and which I'm not too sure about:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Distilled-Water-500ml-/330570646311?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4cf78bc327

[keiths]

I use distilled water and isopropanol (both from Biostain off ebay) plus a few drops of Kodak photoflo wetting agent with my Moth RCM and haven't had any of the problems you describe. I use a 3ml pipette which is just the right amount to clean one side and a KAB brush.

[Audioman]

I think that's the main value of these things, from what I've seen so far anyway. I had some records my Uncle passed onto me - a few nice Brubeck LPs. They were going mouldy from being left somewhere damp. A couple of cleans using the EV-1 and the original pre-mixed cleaning fluid really worked miracles with it. Came up looking like new, and sounded pretty damn good too.

I've just ordered some distilled water direct from a manufacturer and will give that a go with the L'art Du Son (thankfully I only mix a small amount each time so plenty left):

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140333772029&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

This was the original stuff I got and which I'm not too sure about:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Distilled-Water-500ml-/330570646311?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4cf78bc327

OK this 'distilled water' may be good enough but I would still advise 'purified'. Any decent chemist will stock it or order it for next day. I must admit I don't breath on my records but only once have I noticed any smearing using Okki Nokki fluid concentrate with purified water. A second wetter application solved the problem. Using the new pads should improve things.

Of course if the records are actualy noisier this would indicate that something has been left deposited in the grooves. Just repeat clean with plenty fluid should solve this. Sometimes cleaning reveals surface scuffing on the vinyl surface that was previously unoticeable.

[JohnM]

I guess the local chemist would be worth a shot, though the nearest is in town and there's always huge queues of people waiting for their prescriptions. It's one of those more modern 'chains' of Chemist so I'm not sure they'd be willing to sell me any purified water anyways. Surely there must be a site somewhere one can purchase thus stuff direct from the manufacturer... I'll get Googling!

Well I checked out that record today that I left the droplets of distilled water on, and there's obvious marks left behind now they've evaporated. So much for the ultra pure 1ppm stuff from Ebay then! At least I know the cause of those marks. Pity I left positive feedback before noticing those streaks!

I'll see if I have better luck with the stuff I posted in the 2nd link (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140333772029&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&clk_rvr_id=237069956629&afsrc=1) once it arrives.

I'm glad I didn't make up an enture batch of fluid using that water from the first link... !

[JohnM]

Just found these links - might be worth a try:

http://www.reagent.co.uk/purified-water.html

http://pureklenz.co.uk/

[Audioman]

Just found these links - might be worth a try:

http://www.reagent.co.uk/purified-water.html

http://pureklenz.co.uk/


Looks like the right stuff though I pay a little less. Should do the job and leave a clean record. That distilled water is probably intended for car batteries.

[Jac Hawk]

well guys i'm still waiting for my step dad to make my RCM so in the meantime and because i hate the snap crackle and pop of dirty records i went and got a Knosti Disco Antistat, it doesn't suck the records dry:eyebrows: but you have a bath of cleaning fluid and you slip the record between a pair of brushes which are immersed in the fluid, before i got it i read a load of reports about the kit it's self and the cleaning fluid supplied which may leave residue.

Well i've cleaned about 10 LP's to date some with the fluid and some with distilled water with 2 or 3 drops of fairy liquid in it, now like all record cleaners it won't repair damage, scratches etc but if the vinyl is only dirty it does a brilliant job, one LP in particular which had a load of grunge on the first 2 tracks of side one, now it's perfect no noise at all on the run in groove.

As for as the Knosti fluid stacks up against the Distilled water with fairy, well it's about the same although i do rinse the records after cleaning with plain distilled water just in case of residue, you can reuse the knosti fluid as the kit comes with a funnel and some filter papers but to be honest distilled water and Fairy is so cheap it's not worth using anything else, i get my distilled water from Morrisons and it's great no problems at all with it's purity and dead cheap.

As a side note i also use a magic eraser to keep my stylus clean, the 1st time i used it i was amazed at how much crap it took off the stylus, to be honest i thought i'd ripped the tip of but no it was all dirt.

[Stratmangler]

well guys i'm still waiting for my step dad to make my RCM so in the meantime and because i hate the snap crackle and pop of dirty records i went and got a Knosti

I have one of these, and the single bath method causes as many problems as it solves.
All it really seems to do is make a nice soup of the crud in the groove, and deposits it at the bottom of the groove.
This then coats your stylus when you play the record.

TNT audio looked at the issue too, and came up with a two bath system http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/disco_antistat_e.html

[Macca]

My experience with the Moth RCM has all been positive and I've not had any of the problems others have mentioned - a proper RCM is the only way to go IMHO not these half-way house solutions.

But they are expensive...:(

Everything I have cleaned has come up fanatastic - As mentioned before I have found for best results use a lot of the fluid - then into the anti-static sleeve - after 24 hours in the sleeve the record will be almost CD silent.

Even new reords are improved and really noticeable difference to the higher frequncies, bells, triangles, cymbal shimmer etc. A massive upgrade and makes vinyl sound unrealistically good

IMHO If you are serious about vinyl get a proper RCM (even if you have to sell a kid or a kidney:)) or just sell your records and forget about it.

[Jac Hawk]

I have one of these, and the single bath method causes as many problems as it solves.
All it really seems to do is make a nice soup of the crud in the groove, and deposits it at the bottom of the groove.
This then coats your stylus when you play the record.

TNT audio looked at the issue too, and came up with a two bath system http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/disco_antistat_e.html

the trick is to only use the liquid to clean a maximum of about 8 LP's and then empty the bath, refill with distilled water and do a rinse, honest it works a treat.

[Stratmangler]

the trick is to only use the liquid to clean a maximum of about 8 LP's and then empty the bath, refill with distilled water and do a rinse, honest it works a treat.

Sounds like the two bath method with only one bath then ;)

[Jac Hawk]

My experience with the Moth RCM has all been positive and I've not had any of the problems others have mentioned - a proper RCM is the only way to go IMHO not these half-way house solutions.

But they are expensive...:(


Mate expensive doesn't even come close, £500 for what it essentially a hoover and a turntable in a box, you still have to apply the cleaning fluid with a brush, if all you did was fill the machine with fluid and it was like a dishwasher i.e. you load the dirty vinyl in and take it out when its clean i could understand the astronomic price as it stands i'll wait for my step dad :ner:

[Jac Hawk]

Sounds like the two bath method with only one bath then ;)

it works though, so i'm happy;)

[Macca]

Mate expensive doesn't even come close, £500 for what it essentially a hoover and a turntable in a box, you still have to apply the cleaning fluid with a brush, if all you did was fill the machine with fluid and it was like a dishwasher i.e. you load the dirty vinyl in and take it out when its clean i could understand the astronomic price as it stands i'll wait for my step dad :ner:

Fair point Mike - It took me a couple of months to psyche up to buying one - I think what you are really paying for is the high torque motor and gear box so you can scrub the vinyl as it rotates without stopping the motion. You will need that in your home made one or it will not be as good.

[Jac Hawk]

i wouldn't have thought it was massive market either Martin, this will all add to the price unfortunately:( good advice about the motor though, i guess the LP is clamped down while cleaning as well?

[Macca]

i wouldn't have thought it was massive market either Martin, this will all add to the price unfortunately:( good advice about the motor though, i guess the LP is clamped down while cleaning as well?

Yes you have to clamp it down tight. You could look at the Moth kit which is a lot cheaper - you just have to build your own box - Keith S did this don't know if you saw that thread? I'm too cack handed to do it myself so I had to pony up the extra.

[Jac Hawk]

With a large chunk of my wage going to the ex and kids it doesn't leave much for poor old me :(

[lovejoy]

I had similar problems to the OP using my Moth RCM. I tried different fluids, different brushes, different methods of cleaning, but always seemed to end up with some records more noisy than they were before a clean.

After a while I came to the conclusion that it was newer records that were suffering from this problem the most, so I had a chat with the guys from Keith Monks. Their conclusion was that newer records use increasing amounts of Mould Release Agent just to get the discs out of the press that little bit quicker and MRA, being a grease is getting smeared around the grooves rather than shifted out. The vacuum isn't doing enough to get it unstuck either.

So what I started doing for newer records was a pre-wash using nothing more than washing up liquid and water - I also find that the cheap microfibre cloths you can pick up from any supermarket for 99p a pack work wonders on this part of the cleaning process too. After a couple of spins on each side, a light rinse, then the proper cleaning cycle using your record cleaning fluid. I'm using paint pads for the application of the fluid which is easily as good (if not better) than the Discwasher brush I had been using.

I now have very quiet, very clean records.

[colinB]

My findings too. I will try the washing up liquid tonight.

[Audioman]

The mould release agent audiofool myth raises its ugly head once again. This is always put forward by makers of record cleaning products. Do you actualy think it is practical or possible to spray some substance on the stampers each time they open and close to press another disc from a vinyl blob ?

There are apparantly additives in the vinyl to aid flow but these are claimed to leave no residue. I have read information from vinyl manufacturers denying the use of MRA. There are also internet discussions elsewhere such as Vinyl Asylum dealing with this subject. I have found apparant marks and patina on new vinyl are not deposits and remain after cleaning being part of the vinyl surface.

You should not get noisier records if you use cleaning fluids with an RCM as directed. If new vinyl remains noisy it is due to poor pressing quality. I clean new vinyl to remove static and particles deposited after the pressing operation.

:sofa:

[Macca]

I've always suspected the Mould Release Agent thing was total bollocks -

Why would you need it? What mould is there to be released? They just spray your new record with some crap after it's pressed that makes it sound rubbish then you buy it and immediately clean the stuff off.

If it does have a purpose then why is it okay to clean it off?

Never made sense to me.

[MartinT]

What mould is there to be released?

Not that kind of mould! It's supposed to help release the hot pressed vinyl from the stamper (or mould) without sticking.

[Slippershod]

I have found apparant marks and patina on new vinyl are not deposits and remain after cleaning being part of the vinyl surface.

:sofa:

yes, I've had a number of new pressings like that - looks like someone's had a miniature,'Potty Time'-like, dirt-track meeting on the record surface...:scratch:

[lovejoy]

Audiophool twaddle or not. A fair chunk of new records I've bought over the past 5 years or so have a visibly greasy look to them after a clean which a pre-wash with washing up liquid and water shifts. Keith Monks has made no extra money from me by pointing me in the right direction.

A good case in point: My copy of Grandaddy's 'The sophtware slump' was rendered completely unplayable after a cleaning cycle. It sounded like someone had left the record on a building site for a few months. I cleaned it a further 5 times via the normal methods and it wasn't really getting any better.

Once I'd found out what was possibly going on I gave it a wash with the old Fairy Liquid, a bowl of tepid water and a microfibre cloth for a couple of minutes, then put it back on the RCM. It took 2 washes but it's now perfectly clean, playable and noise free again.

[Macca]

Not that kind of mould! It's supposed to help release the hot pressed vinyl from the stamper (or mould) without sticking.

:doh:

Well that explains that then - :lol:

[MartinT]

:lolsign:

[Frog]

For what its worth, I've got an old Moth machine and use Art du Son fluid, after years of messing around with all sorts of Isoprop / distilled water / washing up liquid / fairy dust combinations. Conclusion is the Art du Son sounds the best although there are some issues.

Trial and error has me using loads of liquid and letting it stand, then loads of fluid on the 'table. I usually clean half a dozen at a time and leave them standing wet to let the fluid "loosen" whatever is in the grooves. Even then sometimes the first clean leaves the records noisier than they started out, which I put down to the initial wash loosening crap from the bottom of the grooves - although I could be wrong ! (I seem to remember Art du Son saying something in the leaflet about having to clean a couple of times for best effect). After a second wash they are practically always better than when they started out.
Most of my records are bought second hand, and some of them look awful before cleaning. What I do buy new (eg RadioHead, Nick Cave) always sounds better after a clean, so there must be something on there which cleaning is removing. I think...

Alcohol based (isoprop) cleaning seems to leave the records sounding harder somehow, and the top end is, IMO, sweeter and more natural using the Art du Son.

So yes this is a bit of a performance but I think using a RCM is a vital part of getting believable music in the home... & I think they end up representing value for money given the noise free end results achieved with cheap charity shop records !

[colinB]

Just tried the washing up method on a new pressing followed by russ andrews reveel and a thorough rinse. Turned out really well and sounding much cleaner with no crackles. :)

[Jac Hawk]

well i've just got a second hand copy of Night Owl by Gerry Rafferty, it had a few finger marks on it so decided to give it a wash before i played it, put it on the TT only to find out it's got a real bad edge warp :doh: bloody typical, anyway it's unplayable so in the bin it goes. :(

[MartinT]

put it on the TT only to find out it's got a real bad edge warp :doh: bloody typical, anyway it's unplayable so in the bin it goes. :(

Bet my Dyna could track it, it's superb on difficult warps.

[keiths]

I'm surprised your Nagaoka can't track it - it must be a bad warp.

[Jac Hawk]

it is and it's over a very small area, so it's like a rally car going over a small hump back bridge, it literally takes off, plus you can easily hear the warp, so i'll buy another copy i think.

[MartinT]

I'm surprised your Nagaoka can't track it - it must be a bad warp.

It's not just the cartridge, the arm has a big influence on tracking too.

[daveskis]

Bet my Dyna could track it, it's superb on difficult warps.
Yep agreed mine could

[MartinT]

Which one do you have, David? Do you have any photos?

[Jac Hawk]

i'm sorry lads but maybe it could, maybe it couldn't the thing is would you want to put your cartridge through that amount of punishment, or just buy another copy, the warp was very audible so detracted from the music as well.

[MartinT]

Understood, Mike. I have a copy of Tangerine Dream's Ricochet that was largely unplayable by all my previous decks. The Dynavector plays it well, although the warp's effect on the sound remains detectable.

[Chivas]

I still think L'Art is leaving a very slight residue however...

Quoted from the label on the L'Art du Son Bottle: "Visible traces are normal, as we add no emulsifiers. We refuse to reduce the quality of this cleaner and harm skin sensitive users by adding biozide, ant-fungus chemicals. We also found that such additives compromise the sonic quality."

[Lord Soth]

I'm using the Audio Technica AT 6017 Vinyl cleaner.

http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/products/cleanica/at6017.html

This provides a wet cleaning solution without having to soak the entire vinyl record in a container like other wet clean solutions.

There are also less pops and clicks after cleaning.

[colinB]

I'm using the Audio Technica AT 6017 Vinyl cleaner.

http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/products/cleanica/at6017.html

This provides a wet cleaning solution without having to soak the entire vinyl record in a container like other wet clean solutions.

There are also less pops and clicks after cleaning.

That looks like the one i bought from woollies 25 yrs back. Did the job but i think its important to rinse records after cleaning.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Absolutely - you never get your hands or anything else properly clean until you fully remove all the liquid and the all gunk.
There's no getting away from it - you can't beat a good suck! (oo-er missus)

[Chivas]

I bought the L'art du son cleaner a few months ago and naively bought "distilled water" for car batteries from Halfords. Before I started I stumbled across this thread. I started reading it and got so confused and demotivated that I basically gave up and lived with the dirty records.

Last weekend I was listening to some old records and got so irritated with the crackle and pops (and static!!) and my confidence was boosted by guys claiming good results by using tap water and fairy liquid, so I started the Moth up, pulled the Halfords water from the cupboard and the unopened L'art du Son and gave it a good wash - no issues! I then started cleaning some of my better records and once again had no issues - yes, I can see the residue when I breath on my records, but my Techie doesn't have any lungs, so I thought what the hell, they sound clean and that's all that matters.

So I guess car battery water from Halfords can also do the trick...?

[Audioman]

I bought the L'art du son cleaner a few months ago and naively bought "distilled water" for car batteries from Halfords. Before I started I stumbled across this thread. I started reading it and got so confused and demotivated that I basically gave up and lived with the dirty records.

Last weekend I was listening to some old records and got so irritated with the crackle and pops (and static!!) and my confidence was boosted by guys claiming good results by using tap water and fairy liquid, so I started the Moth up, pulled the Halfords water from the cupboard and the unopened L'art du Son and gave it a good wash - no issues! I then started cleaning some of my better records and once again had no issues - yes, I can see the residue when I breath on my records, but my Techie doesn't have any lungs, so I thought what the hell, they sound clean and that's all that matters.

So I guess car battery water from Halfords can also do the trick...?

You should use purefied water bought from a Chemist to mix wth L'art du Son. They usually keep 5 litre containers round the back. Also use this to rinse and do second vac.

[Reid Malenfant]

I thought distilled water (as used in car batteries & steam irons) would be as pure as you'd get? :scratch: After all it's pure water that has been boiled & condensed from steam, it leaves all the cack behind it :)

Someone educate me ;)

[Dingdong]

There are a whole bunch of different grades of purified or distilled water. You'd have to read the label so see exactly what the quality and the impurities are.

[Barry]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purified_water

[Reid Malenfant]

I should have thought of that :doh: Nice one Barry ;)

[Audioman]

'Purified Water' as opposed to distilled is the medical grade stuff. No impurities. Stuff you put in a car battery does not have to be processed to such a high standard.

[MartinT]

When was the last time you saw a car battery that needed topping up? ;)

[Reid Malenfant]

Wrong question Martin ;) You should have asked when was the last time i saw a car battery (or motorcycle battery come to that) :eyebrows:

[sq225917]

Don't you all wash again with distilled water after the L'art Du Son to remove any residue ?

Using a clean brush and having wiped the felt on the hoover bit first...

[MartinT]

You should have asked when was the last time i saw a car battery (or motorcycle battery come to that) :eyebrows:

Ah, sorry Mark. I forgot you were without personal transport these days.