Microfibre cloths and washing up liquid are the business!

[symon]

Thanks for the confession!
I was feeling a little guilty at never having thought of doing it. To be honest, I'm fairly lazy and untidy, so cleaning records sounds like a lot of effort. Wiping with a microfibre cloth will probably be as far as I get for now. Besides, I doubt I have a stylus at the moment which is clever enough to notice cleaner vinyl.
But, you know, for someone learning the ropes, the diy approach is good to know. Record cleaning machines are fairly expensive. I could buy better bits of actual music playing stuff for the same price. Maybe one day in the future I'll get one.

For now, though, I shall rest easier thanks to your confession Neil!

Peter

[Marco]

Until now I would never even thought about cleaning a record...

LOL! Symon, what did you do before then - just play manky records?

The beauty of cleaning records on a professional machine is that, once done, one simply slips the records into anti-static bags and never has to worry about 'messing' with them again, providing care is used when handling the records. There's no faffing about with brushes, 'Zerostat' pistols, etc, to remove static, dust and crap before playing, as all the shit has been sucked from the record playing surface.

However, I fully realise that quality professional record cleaners require a significant financial investment.

Marco.

[symon]

Ha, yeah, I guess so. I have a Metrosound dust cleaner thingy which I run over a record before I play. Takes off some dust, I suppose.
But, then, as I said, I haven't had a reasonable player to notice the cleanliness of the vinyl. I have now (well, I have a project now :lol ) so I suppose I shall have to mend my sloppy ways.

[Marco]

Confession time....I don't, and never have cleaned any of my records. I do use a Decca Brush and I also have a Hunt EDA brush...and thats it. And I don't feel the need to go out and get a record cleaner. My records are for the most part fairly silent, bar clicks from visible scratches. Now maybe they could be better cleaned either via a wet manual method or a machine. I dare say there would be benefits but I just don't feel the need to subject my valuable vinyl to any of these methods. I think it may in part have to do with one of my duties 20 years ago as a Saturday boy in an audio shop I worked in. I was the record cleaner and I hated doing it. The noise the possibility of destroying a valuable record, which did happen once....I just don't like record cleaning machines.

Not everyone can afford to buy a machine to clean records, so Shahsy's method would possibly help those in that camp. However Marco is right removing residue from the grooves is where a machine does win over manual methods.

You pays your money and makes your choice. Or not like me....

Neil, all that you're written there is valid. However, when you hear the sonic difference a professional record cleaner makes there's no going back

I would go as far to say is that I would rather own a cheaper turntable and have a professional record cleaner to use with it, than a more expensive deck and no record cleaner... Trust me, the difference is *THAT* significant.

Of course, the most important thing is to have plenty of records to play in the first place!

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

I should point out symon and Marco, that all my records are in the same condition I bought them in....mint. I handle records with great care and I don't lend them to anyone...my wife says I am a bit miserable about this. However record cleaned or not dust from the air will fall on these albums so brush cleaning is vital. You must have a very clean room Marco ? I always handle by the edges and all my album sleeves are lined with anti static inners.

So while I don't wet or machine clean I do treat my vinyl with great care and attention, and I don't contribute to them needing any cleaning. I know about mold release agents but I have heard it said that these can protect the vinyl from groove damage and wear...discuss, true or not ?

Marco....Well over a thousand....I don't know how the floor upstairs does not collapse under the weight. I store them in a room where the temp is fairly constant, and the moisture content is fairly stable too.


Regards D S D L---Neil

[Marco]

Ha, yeah, I guess so. I have a Metrosound dust cleaner thingy which I run over a record before I play. Takes off some dust, I suppose.
But, then, as I said, I haven't had a reasonable player to notice the cleanliness of the vinyl. I have now (well, I have a project now :lol ) so I suppose I shall have to mend my sloppy ways.

LOL. No worries - one step at a time. I know how it is; it took me 24 years before I realised that I needed one

Btw, is it Symon or Peter?

Marco.

[symon]

It's Peter. I've been a bit slow in updating my sig to show my name and system. Symon is my internet name wherever possible. In fact, it is odd not to be called Symon on the internet!

[Marco]

No worries - would you like me to change your username to Peter?

Neil,

I know about mold release agents but I have heard it said that these can protect the vinyl from groove damage and wear...discuss, true or not ?

Unsure. What I do know is that MRA degrades sound quality, big time. It never ceases to amaze me how much better brand new records sound once cleaned on the VPI!

Marco.

[symon]

No worries - would you like me to change your username to Peter?

No, it's fine as it is.

It never ceases to amaze me how much better brand new records sound once cleaned on the VPI!

Marco.

And it still surprises me that new vinyl is not necessarily in the best condition that it will ever be in, that a clean will make it better!

[Marco]

It's to do with the removal of the mould release agent that's applied during the manufacturing process

Marco.