cleaning your records

[ohmessylife]

what do people use to clean their records (if anything)?

i was thinking of getting a carbon fiber brush to use... any opinions on how well they work? or are there other methods anyone recommends?

[hollisbrown]

You shouldn't need more than a carbon fiber brush if you clean the record before and after each play.

[burntwolf]

i use a nitty gritty (the cheapest one) and a disc doctor/mofi cleaning brush to apply cleaning fluids.

i also use one of these before playing a record

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ZERODUST

works really well. amazing what gunk comes off a new record.

i don't really bother cleaning new lps unless they're obviously got a bunch of crap on them (sometimes they do)

any used record i buy, i run it through the nitty gritty first before playing.

i use a carbon fiber brush on each side (really eliminates the static electricity) before playing.

it is possible to get super carried away cleaning vinyl, but i do think it's important to play clean records (for sound and longetivity of lp and stylus/cartridge).

this thing looks like a decent low cost alternative to a record cleaning machine too:

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SPINWASHER

for insane people:

http://www.musicangle.com/feat.php?id=54&page=0

and inevitably someone will post that picture of a bunch of records in a dish rack...

[Dillhole]

I picked up a KAB-EV1 record cleaning machine off craigslist of all places or 45 bucks when it retails for $160. I deal with tons of used records as well as new so it was a good purchase. It actually hooks up to a vacuum so after you brush on the fluid you flip the record over and power on the vacuum and it sucks the grooves clean and dry while you spin it. The velvet strips are replaceable so no damage gets done to the record.

This is what the actual unit is: http://www.kabusa.com/ev1.htm

With that I use MoFi Super Record Wash fluid: http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MFSL-WASH

This is the brush I use: http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ANITFIRSTA

I clean every record the second it gets in my possession new or used, and new inner sleeves are used. Once its cleaned I use the carbon fiber brush before each play. I only re-wash a record if its still super noisy or for some reason it gets dirty. I have yet to rewash a record for any other reason then being noisy.

For what that machine is, it works wonders. It took my old dirty collection of noisy records and made most of them dead quiet. Makes for a better listening experience, and also prolongs the life of the record and the stylus.

it might sound anal, but it only takes a couple minutes to clean one record and then its all set to go for many years. So its not really that bad, and once I got the whole collection done keeping up with new arrivals is a breeze. At first it was a pain going through 400+ records, but now I do them as I get them. Like today I cleaned 4 albums and I'm all caught up.

If ya only deal with new records all this might not be necessary, but I've personally seem the improvements a good cleaning can do on brand new records. Granted its not as drastic as a used classic rock album, but its still there. All this is a little pricey and overwhelming at first, but once ya take the plunge it pays for itself and is a worth while investment if your serious about the hobby.

[numanoid]

I clean every record before I play it. I use Nitty Gritty FirstRV to remove mold release compounds, then use Nitty Gritty Pure 2 to lift the debris up and out of the grooves, then vacuum it off with a Nitty Gritty 1.0. Dirtier records get an extra step or two in there somewhere.

Keep them in a new lined inner sleeve and brush the dust off with a carbon fiber brush, and you shouldn't have to clean them again.

I'm going to try the Record Research Labs chemicals. The guys on the Steve Hoffman forums say that they are the best.

[philviral]

I use a Nagaoka Rolling 152... it's this rolly thing made of this bizzare super sticky rubbery stuff. It really gets in the grooves and cleans. Grabbed mine for like $40, use it every time I pull a record out. OH and the best part about it is you just need to run it under water to clean it, use a bit of dish detergent if it's really dirty.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/nagaoka_cleaner_e.html

[rtw88]

Dishwasher.

[thrillho]

Dishwasher.

backed.

where's juan on this topic?

[ajxd]

VPI 15.5 record cleaning machine, Mo-Fi record cleaning brush, and a solution of lab grade isopropyl alcohol, autoclaved triple distilled de-ionized water, and Triton-X114.

[ohmessylife]

i use a nitty gritty (the cheapest one) and a disc doctor/mofi cleaning brush to apply cleaning fluids.

i also use one of these before playing a record

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ZERODUST

works really well. amazing what gunk comes off a new record.

i don't really bother cleaning new lps unless they're obviously got a bunch of crap on them (sometimes they do)

any used record i buy, i run it through the nitty gritty first before playing.

i use a carbon fiber brush on each side (really eliminates the static electricity) before playing.

it is possible to get super carried away cleaning vinyl, but i do think it's important to play clean records (for sound and longetivity of lp and stylus/cartridge).

this thing looks like a decent low cost alternative to a record cleaning machine too:

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SPINWASHER

for insane people:

http://www.musicangle.com/feat.php?id=54&page=0

and inevitably someone will post that picture of a bunch of records in a dish rack...

thanks for the info!

[ohmessylife]

I use a Nagaoka Rolling 152... it's this rolly thing made of this bizzare super sticky rubbery stuff. It really gets in the grooves and cleans. Grabbed mine for like $40, use it every time I pull a record out. OH and the best part about it is you just need to run it under water to clean it, use a bit of dish detergent if it's really dirty.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/nagaoka_cleaner_e.html

that looks awesome, thanks!

[jhulud]

Works every time...

[smailtronic]

Works every time...

If you don't count his posts containing this picture, Juan only has 7,392 posts.

[One Hundred Fifty-Two]

I love that picture.

[dynamitekid]

Was waiting for that

[darknesscomesalive]

I really need to invest in something. Generally I keep a can of compressed air near my turntable and I'll just use that to gentle blow dust and what not off my records and turntable (since mine doesn't have a lid)

[andrewc]

Works every time...

If you don't count his posts containing this picture, Juan only has 7,392 posts.

And most of those are Tigger pictures

[tylerrr]

Sandpaper.

[burntwolf]

shouldn't there be a how to clean your records sticky?

it is pretty amazing the crap that comes out of a new record...

i only bother cleaning the new ones if they sound like they need it...

i also forgot to mention that i do replace the inner sleeves w/ the anti-static sleeves (esp. if the original sleeves were the printed paper ones) and esp if there was a noticeable sound quality improvement after cleaning.

[rtw88]

What do you all recommend I clean my hot stampers with?

[devinr]

Why do you all recommend I clean my hot stampers with?

kitten blood.

[rtw88]

I'm just afraid that a brush will dull the grooves in my hot stamper.

[Vinyl Fury]

carbon fiber brush is essential. i use the one from audioquest : http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-Anti-Static-record-cleaner-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

as for wet cleaning, for awhile I used Last (http://www.lastfactory.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=8&category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1) which works very well, but is a bit spendy and it's only 2oz.

after searching around, i settled on MoFi ONE (http://www.mofi.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=171&idcategory=11) with the MoFi brush (http://www.mofi.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=70&idcategory=11) and i'm really satisfied. definitely an easy, effective hand cleaning solution.

avoid Phoenix record cleaner. terrible. left a layer of shit on the records i used it on that collects on the stylus. not pleased with that stuff.

[ohmessylife]

carbon fiber brush is essential. i use the one from audioquest : http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-Anti-Static-record-cleaner-brush/dp/B0006VMBHI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

as for wet cleaning, for awhile I used Last (http://www.lastfactory.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=8&category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1) which works very well, but is a bit spendy and it's only 2oz.

after searching around, i settled on MoFi ONE (http://www.mofi.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=171&idcategory=11) with the MoFi brush (http://www.mofi.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=70&idcategory=11) and i'm really satisfied. definitely an easy, effective hand cleaning solution.

avoid Phoenix record cleaner. terrible. left a layer of shit on the records i used it on that collects on the stylus. not pleased with that stuff.

thanks dude

[tankerdesk]

New and used get this:

Mixture of:

Water - (distilled if I have any) -> 8 parts

IsoProp Alcohol - 91% -> 1 part

Dishsoap - no fragrence/dye -> 1 drop

I put that mixture into a small tuperware tub, and then dip an osage brush into it. Gently scrub each side of the record then rinse.

To protect the labels I have something called a label saver - Check Audio Karma forum for the original or a DIY version.

Dry with microfiber towel and set in filing rack.