Do You Make Your Own Record Cleaning Fluid?

[Shitty Rambo]

I'm thinking this has to be a lot cheaper then buying premade solutions, however I have no idea where I find things like 'triple deionized water' or Kodak Photo-Flo (aside from online with a huge mark-up). If you have a simple and reliable recipe please share!

I found these via eHow, but if I can't get everything from Amazon then I'm kind of not interested haha.
 

1. Laura Dearbon's Method

   • Mix one part isopropyl alcohol to three parts diluted water. This is the basis for all record cleaning sprays. For best results, use lab-grade isopropyl with triple deionized water. Both of these ingredients can be found relatively cheaply at a chemical supply store. Mix in an empty spray bottle.

   Soundstage Method

   • Mix 1 pint of isopropyl alcohol with one-half gallon of distilled water. Add 2 oz. of Lysol Antibacterial All-Purpose Cleaner, 20 to 30 drops of Kodak Photo-Flo, then mix with a second half-gallon of distilled water. If Kodak Photo-Flo is unavailable, a small amount of dish detergent may be substituted. Pour into empty spray bottle or any bottle with a small opening, allowing you to control the application of the cleaner.

   Jonathan Scull ("Stereophile Magazine") Method

   • Mix three parts distilled water with one part isopropyl alcohol. Add 10 drops of Kodak Photo-Flo and 10 drops of Lysol Antibacterial All-Purpose Cleaner.

[ajxd]

There's a lot of threads on this.

[tekkno-guy]

From what I remember hearing the last few years.  DO NOT USE KODAK PHOTOFLOW.  It has chemicals besides the wetting agent in the solution that can be left behind on your record.  Kodak company also recommends NOT using product for this purpose.

 

You are missing one important component to Laura Dearbourne's solution.  Wetting agent.  Try Triton X-114 which I found online at a very reasonable price for a pint...that amount will last you forever as you only need a drop or two.  While it may be more expensive than the chemicals you mention it will never ruin your records like the other stuff.  Museums use X-114 to clean artifacts, not lysol, dish detergent, or photoflow.

 

So...in review...

 

3 parts water.  

1 part lab grade iso alcohol

A drop or two X-114

 

And you will have  great cleaning solution.  I use it for hand cleaning out of a spray bottle but it will work in a Spin clean or a VPI machine as well.