Quick record cleaning?

[stairpost]

Hi,

Has anyone had any good or bad experience of cleaning records with things like wet wipes or bathroom wipe type things? I have a few records of a friend here that are in pretty good condition but have that layer of stored in the loft mildew/mould on them, just wondered if there was a quick clean option available? As the records aren't mine I don't want to do the try it and find out approach as it's a bit late then.

Cheers

Rich.

[walpurgis]

Don't do it.

[stairpost]

Don't do it.

That sounds like pretty definite advice, thank you

[cuddles]

I bought some glass/lens wipes recently and I thought the smell reminded me of something and lo and behold I checked the ingredients on the back - aqua and isopropanol ... pretty much what record cleaning fluid is. Might be good for a quick cleaning but I haven't tried it myself.

[PaulStewart]

Hi,

Has anyone had any good or bad experience of cleaning records with things like wet wipes or bathroom wipe type things? I have a few records of a friend here that are in pretty good condition but have that layer of stored in the loft mildew/mould on them, just wondered if there was a quick clean option available? As the records aren't mine I don't want to do the try it and find out approach as it's a bit late then.


Don't do it.

You need a cleaner that is anti fungal and anti bacterial for this and it has to have the strength to get into the grooves to clean properly. We have tested "The Right One" against mildew/mould and other fungi and it works well. Check it out HERE (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Right-One-Vinyl-Record-Cleaning-Fluid-500ml-/191690029044) 5% off if ordered direct and paid for by PayPal gift :)

[Phil Bishop]

Don't do it.

I could not have put it better myself!

[Cotlake]

Of course, if you are a con artist, you can do what the unscrupulous second hand record sellers do and whipe it over with lighter fuel. Makes the LP look pristine regardless of how much crud is still trapped in the grooves. Remember this when you visit a dealer. Not all of them are as honest as they should be!

[Phil Lawton]

A very quick and cheapo clean:

Arm yourself with two micro-fibre cloths and a bottle of distilled water. Fill a (clean) sink or bowl with slighty-warmer-than-tepid water and little washing-up liquid.

Rotate the record in the water (the label will get wet, but it will dry), whilst wiping slowly with one of the micro-fibre cloths. Rinse with tap-water and then with the distilled water. Wipe dry as much as you can with the other micro-fibre cloth and let dry in a plate rack. That should get rid of the mould.

However, everything I've just typed won't really get into the grooves and clear out any crud therein.

Buy a proper cleaner, preferably with a vacuum function, and clean these and the rest of your collection. You can get a stonking one for less than £200 (such as the Record Doctor V) and a weapons-grade machine (like the Moth or Okki Nokki) for less than £500.

Use it with the 'Right One' fluid, as sold by Paul Stewart of this parish, and you'll never look back.

Hope this helps.

[stairpost]

Thanks for all the advice, I do mean to pick up a record cleaner, it is an essential bit of kit. I have a friend that very kindly used to clean my records for me on his, but I am now living in a different bit of the country and haven't bought my own yet.

[StuN]

If you really want to read about which solutions and additives you should be considering or more importantly, rejecting, then here is a very good read from Vince1 who is, I think, a biochemist. It's on Audio Karma:

Record Cleaning - you're doing it all wrong......... http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/record-cleaning-youre-doing-it-wrong.689430/

[karma67]

great read! i love threads like that.