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What is your on turntable record cleaning routine?

Treker

Treker

Super Member
I'm just curious what on turntable record cleaning routine others are using.

I just got back into vinyl after many years off, but years ago I bought a Discwasher DC-1 and used it religiously before playing any record. First with the original D3 fluid, and then with the D4 fluid. During my recent return to vinyl, I have also added a dry carbon fiber brush mostly for its anti-static properties.

My current on turntable record cleaning routine starts off with turning on the turntable and running the carbon fiber brush over the disc and gradually sweeping outward to push any dust and/or debris off the edge of the disc. Next I use the Discwasher DC-1 with a few drops of D4 fluid on the leading edge. I use the DC-1 as directed, (slowly rotating the brush as the disc rotates beneath it) and then slowly sweeping the DC-1 to the outside of the disc like I did with the carbon fiber brush.

Are others doing anything else significantly different than what I am doing? Just curious if there are any other better methods out there that I may be able to take advantage of.

Regards,

Jay
 
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D3 brush and fluid. I put three or four drops of fluid on the leading edge of the brush, distribute the fluid across the edge of the brush using the bottom of the fluid bottle, turn on the TT, and hold the leading edge on the LP for no less than 4 revs. I then slowly roll the brush back to remove the dust, clean the brush, and reapply it. I do this a few more times without adding any more fluid to the brush.

I never try sweeping the dust off to the side! It's just not necessary as rolling the brush back removes the dust and debris.
 
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I created a mixture of distilled water and 91% isopropyl that I coat the grooves with to loosen up any deep down dirt. I then rotate the album about 3-5 revolutions while brushing the liquid into the grooves with a soft brush. Then I remove the liquid with a soft cloth, then finish up with the Discwasher brush w/D2 system. Using my homebrew cleaner and method resulted in a quieter record all around than with just the Discwasher method alone.
 
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This one takes away all dirt and don't ruin any records. Well worth the 1000USD. I have tried a lot of different methods and this is incomparable. A lot of money but if you have expensive first pressings and like clean great sound...

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I use a dry carbon fiber brush before each play. I clean all of my records on a vacuum RCM before they get played the first time.
 
I use the carbon fibre brushes pre-play. Normally we have a mix of Statibrush II's, Decca Derams, and older Hunt EDA brushes. We normally machine clean records when we first get them. There is a carbon fibre brush at each turntable. And a stylus brush. And used religiously.
 
classic carl said:
I use a dry carbon fiber brush before each play. I clean all of my records on a vacuum RCM before they get played the first time.
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I have been cleaning all of my new "used" LP acquisitions using the DIY cleaning method of Dawn, RO water, paintbrush, rinse with RO water, dry with microfiber towel, air dry method for the past week or so, as I don't have a vacuum type RCM. So far it is working out quite well. I figure the final on turntable step of using the carbon fiber brush and Discwasher DC-1 with D4 fluid will get any of the micro fibers that may have been left behind by the microfiber towel before they are gathered up by the stylus. So far I have not noticed any accumulation of fibers on either the carbon fiber brush, my Discwasher DC-1, or the stylus. It could be that they are not present and so are not being left behind in any appreciable numbers by the microfiber towel, or that my on turntable disc cleaning routine is effective in getting rid of them, or a third possibility is that they are so small I am just not seeing them and that they are indeed present. In any case, I would say I am pleased with my results so far. Having never used a vacuum type RCM, (I am thinking about building my own, however) I can't say if my results are better or worse than what I would get if I had one as I currently have nothing to compare it to.

Thanks to everyone for their responses. It is interesting the "rituals" we go through when playing vinyl. It almost borders on the religious, don't you think?
 
Thanks! Sounds like that would be even cleaner than distilled water!
 
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After an intial clean in the old Spin-Clean and a new MFSL sleeve I use a carbon fiber brush before every play. Looking into the the Nitty Gritty Mini Pro because it cleans and vacuums both sides of the record at the same time. I've had such great results with the Spin-Clean over the last few years I just don't know for sure if I want to make the investment in the Nitty Gritty.
 
Condorsat said:
Religious ... As in faith in the results? :no: I've cleaned thousands of records over the last 12 years ... using numerous methods, home brews, devices ... etc. What I'm using now works better for me than anything else I've tried to date ... I'm getting great results. I don't believe it gets any better than this (RCM & Disc Doc in combination) but I don't know what I don't know ... there may be better methods, products or machines out there. If there are ... I would really be amazed. :yikes:
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I was using the term "religious" more to refer to the ritual of it all, not in reference to "faith." The term "faith" is used in several different ways in our society, but I think the one you are referring to is a belief in something for which there is little or no evidence. That is not what I am referring to here, as their is ample evidence that cleaning a record, with either a RCM or one of the DIY methods produce measurable results.

Jay
 
The question is "What is your on turntable record cleaning routine?" (emphasis mine). This means what do you do to the record to clean it once it is on the turntable, presumably the same TT you will then immediately play the record on?

There are lots of threads covering RCMs, washing methods, etc., but this isn't one of them.

I think it's a really useful question. Do you wipe every record before you play it after you place it on the platter? How do you do it?

I use a 1982 Discwasher record cleaner. It is in remarkably good condition given its age, like new. I ran out of the original fluid, and I'm currently experimenting with recipes. Current formulation is distilled water, about 10% isopropyl alcohol (91%) and tiny, 1//2 drop of Dawn. Next batch I will use Photo-Flo instead of the Dawn. (Should we stock up on Photo-Flo now that Kodak has declared bankruptcy?)

I run a bead of fluid across the leading edge of the brush, and then place it on the record with just the weight of the brush pressing down. I hold it with the fluid bead down for at least 3 revolutions, until I can smell the alcohol. I then slowly rotate the brush, and when I'm at the end, lift it off. I immediately brush off the brush with the stiff, short-brsitled brush that came with the Discwasher for this purpose.

If there is visible dust removed, I repeat after brushing the brush, without additional fluid.

I am careful not to touch the playing surfaces with my fingers, as I have heard that it's the lipids that cause dust and dirt to adhere. Lipids, finger oil, etc., are insoluble in water, hence the alcohol and surfactant (Dawn or Photo-Flo).

I found it is critical to allow the disk to "soak," therefor the minimum three revolutions. I'm sure more revs would be better for some records.

This works well for records that are not very dirty. For many thrift store finds it is necessary to wash them, i.e., in the sink as opposed to on the platter.
 
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I follow jviss' routine with my D3 brush. Only difference is that once I ran out of D3 fluid and switched to homebrew (same mix as jviss) I switched from the D3 bottle to a fine mister spray bottle. Two spritzes on the brush and then roll as per usual.

I've never understood pulling any brush from center outwards at the end. I tried that with a CF brush and any dust gets left in an arc on the record. Easy to tell if you hold a LED flashlight along the edge of the record after dusting. The misted D3 brush gives me the best results.
 
I use the same "rocket blower" (google rocket blower) that I use on my digital slr to clean dust off of the sensor.

I clean my records and store them. When ready to play I'll knock off stray dust particles with the rocket blower.
 
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