LP cleaning- how do you?

[mjazzg]

I'm wondering what people are using to keep all this lovely vinyl posted here clean?

Any recommendations on cloths, brushes, anti-static gizmos and liquids gratefully accepted

Ideally I'd be looking at a record cleaning machine but budget and space preclude at the moment

apologies if this has been discussed before. Search facility didn't turn anything up

 

[Clunky]

I've had RCM for seven years. It's a Clearaudio Smartmatrix but an  Okki Noki is very similar ( and now a lot cheaper). VPI also do one. ( HW16.5 ). I clean most new purchased records and shellac. I'm no obsessive but this audio gadget has been a very cost effective purchase. As long as you don't expect silk purses from trashed vinyl. 

[HutchFan]

In my experience, any vacuum-type cleaner is going to be MUCH better than anything else. Yes, they're (relatively) expensive. But they're worth it!  I have the Nitty Gritty model 1.0. It's their most basic, all-manual model. But it works great, often dramatically improving the sound of LPs. (Even brand new ones.)

Before getting the Nitty Gritty, I used the Discwasher Record cleaning system and an Audioquest record cleaning brush. Those tools worked worked O.K. -- but any sort of wipe-on/wipe-off cleaning or brush can't compete with vacuum-style machines like Nitty Gritty or VPI.

BTW: I'm not a super audiophile type person. I have an old Rega Planar 3 table with a Marantz receiver and 20+ year-old Pinnacle speakers. All good stuff, but nothing extraordinary.  I'm saying this because you don't need a fancy, mega-buck audio system to notice huge sonic improvements with vacuum-type cleaners.

 

[mjzee]

I use the Spin-Clean system.  Fairly economical after the initial purchase, with satisfactory results.

[Larry Kart]

Have had a VPI for maybe 20 years or more. In my estimation, it's paid for itself (can't remember what it cost back then, maybe $300-400?) many times over, especially if you buy a fair number of used LPs, which I do. If the VPI used properly doesn't help a good deal, there's little or no hope. Damn thing just keeps ticking too -- hope that doesn't jinx it. At one point I acquired a new device (better than the old one) to spread the cleaning fluid on to/work it into the surface of the LPs; otherwise I'm still in the  same place with it.

I see that they go for about $650 now:

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-7658-vpi-165-record-cleaning-machine.aspx

Edited September 21, 2015 by Larry Kart

[peterintoronto]

Nitty Gritty 1.0 - it allows me to clean a record exactly how i want to.

[sidewinder]

I use a VPI 16.5. Excellent piece of kit.

[spinlps]

Another +1 for VPI 16.5. Mine has been going strong for over 10 years without a problem... unless you count the vacuum tube I dropped and crushed when I stepped on it.

Friend has an ultrasonic machine which is unreal (cost and performance). Clean records on my VPI are even cleaner / quieter after cleaning on his machine. Amazing....

[aparxa]

It is past time I bought one of those LP cleaning systems.

Before investing  in one of those $500+ record cleaner, I plan to purchase a Knosti Disco-Antistat cleaner (http://www.planetedisque.com/fr/entretien/313-knosti-disco-antistat-avec-kit-de-rincage.html) and the reviews are quite positive. Have any of you tried a similar system with good results?

 

[tomatamot]

I use a Clearaudio  "double matrix professional sonic", daily.

[BeBop]

  On 9/21/2015 at 10:21 PM, Larry Kart said:

Have had a VPI for maybe 20 years or more. In my estimation, it's paid for itself (can't remember what it cost back then, maybe $300-400?) many times over, especially if you buy a fair number of used LPs, which I do. If the VPI used properly doesn't help a good deal, there's little or no hope. Damn thing just keeps ticking too -- hope that doesn't jinx it. At one point I acquired a new device (better than the old one) to spread the cleaning fluid on to/work it into the surface of the LPs; otherwise I'm still in the  same place with it.

I'm in complete agreement here.  What are people using for record-cleaning fluid?

[sidewinder]

The Disco Antistat can leave a lot of gunk on the record and has a tendency to stain the outer rim of labels, in my experience. Wouldn't personally recommend.

[Larry Kart]

  On 9/23/2015 at 6:17 PM, BeBop said:

  On 9/21/2015 at 10:21 PM, Larry Kart said:

Have had a VPI for maybe 20 years or more. In my estimation, it's paid for itself (can't remember what it cost back then, maybe $300-400?) many times over, especially if you buy a fair number of used LPs, which I do. If the VPI used properly doesn't help a good deal, there's little or no hope. Damn thing just keeps ticking too -- hope that doesn't jinx it. At one point I acquired a new device (better than the old one) to spread the cleaning fluid on to/work it into the surface of the LPs; otherwise I'm still in the  same place with it.

I'm in complete agreement here.  What are people using for record-cleaning fluid?

Super Record Wash from Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, bought from Music Direct:

http://www.musicdirect.com/search.aspx?searchterm=super record wash

$24.99 for 32 oz. My container, purchased maybe five years ago, still has a quarter of its contents left.

Edited September 23, 2015 by Larry Kart

[HutchFan]

  On 9/23/2015 at 6:17 PM, BeBop said:

  On 9/21/2015 at 10:21 PM, Larry Kart said:

Have had a VPI for maybe 20 years or more. In my estimation, it's paid for itself (can't remember what it cost back then, maybe $300-400?) many times over, especially if you buy a fair number of used LPs, which I do. If the VPI used properly doesn't help a good deal, there's little or no hope. Damn thing just keeps ticking too -- hope that doesn't jinx it. At one point I acquired a new device (better than the old one) to spread the cleaning fluid on to/work it into the surface of the LPs; otherwise I'm still in the  same place with it.

I'm in complete agreement here.  What are people using for record-cleaning fluid?

I've used both Nitty Gritty's and VPI's cleaning fluids. Both have worked well for me. 

[Clunky]

L'art du son Record cleaning fluid.

this comes in a 100ml bottle (£30 from Amazon merchants) . Diluted with distilled or ionised water . The ratio IIRC is around 1 to 50. So this tiny bottle lasts a really long time. Works as well as any thing else I've tried. Also works fine on shellac ( no alcohol)

[spinlps]

  On 9/23/2015 at 6:17 PM, BeBop said:

  On 9/21/2015 at 10:21 PM, Larry Kart said:

Have had a VPI for maybe 20 years or more. In my estimation, it's paid for itself (can't remember what it cost back then, maybe $300-400?) many times over, especially if you buy a fair number of used LPs, which I do. If the VPI used properly doesn't help a good deal, there's little or no hope. Damn thing just keeps ticking too -- hope that doesn't jinx it. At one point I acquired a new device (better than the old one) to spread the cleaning fluid on to/work it into the surface of the LPs; otherwise I'm still in the  same place with it.

I'm in complete agreement here.  What are people using for record-cleaning fluid?

I use the Osage Audio / Audio Intelligent fluids. The No. 6 for most LP's, the No. 15 followed by the No. 6 for truly dirty LP's. Either way, I leave the fluid on the LP for 12 - 15 minutes before vacuuming.

[sidewinder]

  On 9/23/2015 at 9:31 PM, Clunky said:

L'art du son Record cleaning fluid.

this comes in a 100ml bottle (£30 from Amazon merchants) . Diluted with distilled or ionised water . The ratio IIRC is around 1 to 50. So this tiny bottle lasts a really long time. Works as well as any thing else I've tried. Also works fine on shellac ( no alcohol)

Just ordered a new bottle - my last lot in the fridge is well past its use by date. Works well with the VPI 16.5 and as mentioned, quite good value.

Edited October 7, 2015 by sidewinder

[sidewinder]

First clean with my new bottle of L'art du son. Immediate sonic benefits with 2 washes per side.

Edited October 10, 2015 by sidewinder

[aparxa]

  On 9/23/2015 at 7:01 PM, sidewinder said:

The Disco Antistat can leave a lot of gunk on the record and has a tendency to stain the outer rim of labels, in my experience. Wouldn't personally recommend.

Thanks for the tip. I guess it's time to buy less records and save for this VPI.

 

[mjazzg]

  On 10/10/2015 at 8:08 PM, aparxa said:

  On 9/23/2015 at 7:01 PM, sidewinder said:

The Disco Antistat can leave a lot of gunk on the record and has a tendency to stain the outer rim of labels, in my experience. Wouldn't personally recommend.

Thanks for the tip. I guess it's time to buy less records and save for this VPI.

 

me too

[Teasing the Korean]

I have a Nitty Gritty, the least automated model, which I bought new for around $300 maybe 10 years ago.  

 

It paid for itself when I sold a few rare LPs on eBay with the description "cleaned on a Nitty Gritty machine."

 

Great customer service from the company, BTW. 

[GA Russell]

I see that the Spin-Clean is on sale for $60.00 + $5.99.

https://www.amazon.com/SPIN-CLEAN-STARTER-RECORD-WASHER-SYSTEM/dp/B002UKSZUU

[Dmitry]

Last year I started using an ultrasonic tank bath, followed by the Loricraft rcm, which I've had for more than a decade. The results are fantastic, better than with the rcm alone.

Regarding the various cleaning fluids...I make my own, consisting of filtered water, a couple of drops of soap and a small amount of alcohol.