What's Your Record Cleaning Ritual?

[MDP]

I've adopted a new system when playing and cleaning my vinyl records. When I'm done listening to a record, I immediately take it to my laundry room and put it in my Klaudio for cleaning. After it's done I put it back in it's sleeve and put it away until the next time I play it.

I've also decided, with this process, to not use a brush on my records anymore. My reason, in my mind at least, is to avoid brushing dirt back down into the grooves. I know people will not agree with me, but it seems to be working very well. I've noticed, as I do this process on a record, it seems to have even less surface noise with each cleaning.

What works for you?

[puroagave]

with used vinyl purchases I pre-scrub with a solution of diluted dishwashing soap (fragrance and dye free) and distilled water. its kept warm in a baby bottle warmer and applied with squeeze bottles and the broad MoFi velvet brush. they then go into the vinyl stack/trusonic ultra sonic machine in pure distilled H20 and I run it at an elevated temp of 45ºC for 15-30 mins @ 1/2 RPM. They're finished on a Loricraft PRC4 'point nozzle' RCM, again using plain distilled H20. Once they're cleaned this way I don't need to clean them again.

I quit using bio-enzymatic pre-cleaners, boutique cleaning additives/concentrate and anything alcohol based.

[bzr]

I think you are both onto the same way of thinking I am at as far as cleaning my vinyl goes. I am very similar to what you do Mark & am trying to stay away from brushing period unless it's for static.

[A/V Solutions]

cleaning vinyl.jpg

[CPP]

works everytime,

[bzr]

Ha! Yeah, thats why cd's were made, to put over the labels when the vinyl was in the "washer"!!

[Golucid]

I own The Klaudio, AudioDesk, VPI HW27 and the ClearAudio Double Matrix Sonic. The only unit I use is the ClearAudio. I have retired the Ultrasonics as well as the VPI.

[MDP]

I own The Klaudio, AudioDesk, VPI HW27 and the ClearAudio Double Matrix Sonic. The only unit I use is the ClearAudio. I have retired the Ultrasonics as well as the VPI.

David, how about giving us some more pics and info on the ClearAudio?

[Steve]

Audiodesk using Mark's approach. Wash before when new, wash after play. No brush. On the most part, humidity and particulate levels are managed well, but there's no such thing as a laboratory clean room in the comfort of your home.

Also save on inner sleeves this way.

Store with Poly sleeve inside a sealable Japanese cellophane. Sticker with grading and last play/wash date.

[MDP]

Steve, I also use stickers!

[A/V Solutions]

Any new or used record that comes into the house goes through this:

Audio Desk with extended wash cycle to 3X and 1/3rd of a bottle of the supplied fluid to one gallon of distilled water. I've tried lab grade water instead of the distilled water but found the distilled water just as effective for this step and less cost. The Audio Desk machine is primaraly a pre-soak step. Having the fluid in contact with the record for 3-4 minutes helps loosen up the contaminates deep down into the groove. I use each batch of distilled water and Audio Desk fluid for about 30 records and spread it out over a 24 hour period then dump the fluid.

For this step I use my VPI 16.5 and my own cleaning fluid. I apply approx. a 1/2 inch bead of cleaning fluid starting in the middle of the record and continue around the entire record until there is a full bead of fluid on the record. Next I engage the platter and use an applicator brush (I like the Last brushes) to spread the fluid over the entire record, once the fluid is covering the entire record I place the brush at the 9:00 oclock position on the record and move back and fouth to aggitate, about 15 seconds then allow the fluid to soak for about 30 seconds then repeat with aggitation then soak.....about 3 minutes of aggitation/soak step. Then vacuum off fluid and repeat for side two.

I use my HannL cleaning machine for this step which is my rinse step. I could use my VPI machine and a different vacuum pick up tube so there are no cross contaminates happening but choose to keep the rinse step to a dedicated machine plus I already owned both machines. One other reason I like the HannL for the rinse step is it absolutly leaves no static on the record, no matter how many revolutions you let it spin removing the rinse fluid. For this step I use my rinse fluid which is Lab Grade water, its applied the same way as above, apply approx. a 1/2 inch bead of fluid around the entire record and engage the platter, spread the fluid using a dedicated applicator brush, aggitate for about 15 seconds then let stand for 15 seconds, do this for a minute or so then repeat for side two.

If you don't count the Ultra-Sonic time as its next to no work just time the wash and rinse procedure is about 4 minutes or so per side.

All cleaned records are placed in a new inner poly sleeve and outer sleeve.

[madfloyd]

Wow, do you really hear a difference following up the Audiodeske with the VPI? The whole point of the Audiodeske is so you have one-step cleaning...

[Paul]

Wow +1.

I will stick with my EMM and Lampi.

[madfloyd]

Wow +1.

I will stick with my EMM and Lampi.

Ha ha!

[A/V Solutions]

Yes.....many are content with a one step cleaning process and many are not.

[bzr]

Wow +1.

I will stick with my EMM and Lampi.

....hey Paul, bout time we got a pic of your system isn't it?

[Paul]

....hey Paul, bout time we got a pic of your system isn't it?

I will sometime soon, once I have some new gear come in, Stay tuned

[Mike]

....hey Paul, bout time we got a pic of your system isn't it?

Our distinguished forum member Paul gets a mention in the Harbeth newsletter ….
http://www.audioshark.org/showthread.php?t=8787


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[socfan12]

Yes.....many are content with a one step cleaning process and many are not.

I think I need a multi-step process myself. Or get one of those ClearAudio RCMs!

[Loop4fun]

I've adopted a new system when playing and cleaning my vinyl records. When I'm done listening to a record, I immediately take it to my laundry room and put it in my Klaudio for cleaning. After it's done I put it back in it's sleeve and put it away until the next time I play it.



What works for you?

I do the exact same process with the Audio Desk.


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[groovy]

Lest we forget to clean the turntable platter.

[Steve]

Lest we forget to clean the turntable platter.

Yes a can of compressed air is never too far away!

[Golucid]

David, how about giving us some more pics and info on the ClearAudio?

What specific info would you like for me to write up, Mark? Happy to do so.

[MDP]

I haven't read anything about how it functions and why you consider it the best.

[Wntrmute2]

I am still in the stone age with my lowly VPI 16.5 that I rebuilt adding a cooling fan, polyurethaning the insides and adding an acrylic tray to catch any drippings. I start by plopping on a cork mat from VPI marked dirty; then the dirty record. I take a cotton facial pad left over from the prior first rinse and gently pass it over the spinning disc. This picks up a tremendous amount of dust and dirt that I don't want to scrub into the record. I then apply a bead of Tergitol 15-s-7 (recommended by the US LOC) to the record and to the Record Doctor brush and gently work it into the moving record. After a few revolutions I rest the brush on the record surface and it is held in place over the record by a thin metal ruler. This allows me to pick up my drink while the ruler flexes and scrubs the moving record. After about 2 minutes, I vacuum the surface and stop the suction after about one and a half revolutions. The vacuum wand lifts just about at as the record completes its second rotation.
I then wet a cotton facial makeup cleansing pad (cut in half) with reagent grade water from Amazon and go over the spinning record a few revolutions. I make sure there is plenty of liquid to dilute the Tergitol. I then vacuum it off the same way as before with a separate wand. This pad is retained for the first pass on the next record.
A final rinse is done with a fresh 1/2 cotton pad and vacuumed off with another separate wand. This final rinse pad is kept also for the first rinse. The platter is stopped and the record flipped over onto another cork mat kept for clear sides. Process is repeated and then the record is placed in a wooden dish rack for a few minutes before either played or placed in a DiscKeeper sleeve. Doesn't really take as long to do as it might sound. I can clean about 6 to 8 per hour but I usually limit to 4 for sanity's sake.
I'm just beginning to experiment with Triton X-100 but I don't really expect much difference. I may just mix the two surfactants together.

[PMCH]

I am beginning to feel like a slouch, just using my KL Audio.

[Mike]

I WILL be going Klaudio + VPI. Klaudio to break up the crap and the VPI to suck it away.


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[Barry]

For new records only, I use the KL Audio set at 5 min for wash and 3 min for dry using distilled water. Ideally I'll rerun them after each record play, but I have a few hundred records that have never seen the KL Audio.

For older records, especially ones I have bought used, I have a 3 step process. First, I use the VPI 16.5 with AI One-Step #6 using the VPI brush. This is followed a VPI rinse using AI's ultra pure water using the Disc Doctor brush to remove any remaining residue. I then put the record into the KL Audio for 3 min/3min. Can't say I'm wild about this process for used records as there is some static and I'm lazy and it takes too long....

[Mr. Big]

Just like others, I use the VPI 16.5 for used records (or old records that I've mis-treated back in the day) followed by a 5-minute cycle through the Klaudio. For new records it's just the Klaudio.

I thought that I was going to sell the 16.5 when I got the Klaudio, but I found that the ultrasonic didn't get rid of all the pops and clicks on old vinyl, so a good old fashioned scrubbing really helps. Sorta like hamburger helper for vinyl.

[A/V Solutions]

I see a few using Vac machines followed with US machines.....I find much better results using the US machine first then followed with the Vac machine. I'm also in favor of using a surfactant (wetting agent) with US cleaning, it helps break surface tension otherwise the water is just skimming over the LP and not doing much.....If you don't use a surfactant with the US machine the record doesn't wet above the water line. I think US is a good pre-soak but not for the final clean, just leaves behind too much crap on the record IMO....My cleaning steps are US cleaning then wash/vac then rinse/vac for best results.

[Mr. Big]

I find much better results using the US machine first then followed with the Vac machine. I'm also in favor of using a surfactant (wetting agent) with US cleaning, it helps break surface tension otherwise the water is just skimming over the LP and not doing much......

I've been known to do things backwards, so I'll give that a try. Regarding using wetting agents, I'm a bit reluctant to do so. I emailed Klaudio about water not coating the surface and they told me that cavitation takes place while the record is submerged and coating the record is not necessary... but I have on occasion thrown in a drop or two of photoflo.

[A/V Solutions]

Surfactants (wetting agent) results will differ.....small amounts they act as an emulsifier, at moderate amounts it reduces surface tension and large amounts it acts as detergent. Using a drop or two of photoflo most likely isn't doing much in regards to surface tension plus it contains chemicals that remains as a coating on the surface of the record and gunks up the stylus....Try a product called Ilfotol its much better, use about 7-8ml (1.5 teaspoons) to a gallon of distilled water.....

[puroagave]

a few drops of plain dish washing soap is a surfactant and dissolves completely with a final rinse, no gunked up styli here or trips to the camera shop.