• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Cleaning records required essentials?

hbrocks

hbrocks

Super Member
I am new to cleaning albums.
Is it necessary to purchase anything to adequately clean vinyl?
All of my record purchases so far have been used from thrifts and some of the albums are trashed, moldy or just plain dirty.
I did experiment with warm water, mild dish soap and 2 cotton rags and that seemed marginally successful however I'm curious....
What are the essentials in your opinions?

Thanks
 
Register to hide this ad
just to warn you. You are opening up a large can of worms. :yes:

I personally get away with a Diskwasher D3 brush and fluid right now. Get yourself something to dust the records before play. This is essential. Either a carbon fiber brush, or use a diskwaserh dry.

As far as heavy cleaning I currently use a mix of 25% isopropanol, 75% de-ionized water and a small drop of unscented dish soap (as a surfactant, it breaks the surface tension and lets it spread better). Then I scrub with a paint pad and dry with a micro fiber cloth. This is only for the really bad ones though. I need to get a record cleaning machine sometime.
 
Last edited:
Be sure a buy lots of micro-fiber towels. I have the Spin-Clean and love it. Pretty cheap and easy to use. I've had great results with mine. I use distilled water too.
 
ssmith3046 said:
Be sure a buy lots of micro-fiber towels. I have the Spin-Clean and love it. Pretty cheap and easy to use. I've had great results with mine. I use distilled water too.
Click to expand...
10-4 on the MFT's.....I've heard these towels require special cleaning...or something to that effect.
Any Do's/don'ts with them?
 
hbrocks said:
10-4 on the MFT's.....I've heard these towels require special cleaning...or something to that effect.
Any Do's/don'ts with them?
Click to expand...
Wash with WARM water, NOT hot. No bleach and NO fabric softener.
Damp dry then hang to finish drying.
You can add a little bit of vinager to the wash to help soften them a bit.
 
Some guys use a Record Cleaning Machine..it is better since you dont have the risk of harming the records when doing by hand.
The disadvantage on this machines, is the price...very expensive.
 
I use a formula similar to X-25's, except I use one part alcohol to two parts distilled water, plus a drop of Dawn. The alcohol enhances drying. I picked up a copy of Dave Brubeck's Time Further Out at a flea market this weekend. It was filthy and moldy. A couple of times squirting it down good with the solution; washing it with a microfiber cloth and drying with a microfiber towel and it was shiny again. Let it dry a bit and run over it with a carbon fiber brush: then a legendary album that I almost passed by was making me smile.

Regards,

D-Ray
 
I found an improvement on the dish rack: A friend gave me one of these 60s vintage wire record racks:

070809-6-.jpg


Mine has wood handles on the ends and holds 39 records. I love it. No more hogging up the kitchen dish rack with a paltry 18-record batch. Plus, I can carry it somewhere else for re-uniting records with their sleeves. :thmbsp:
 
hbrocks said:
(lol at the dish rack)
Click to expand...


You won't be laughing after you use the spin clean for a while. Very handy for letting the albums dry. Otherwise, you can take a microfiber washcloth (or two) and fit them over a vacuum attachment to vacuum remove the excess moisture.
 
hbrocks said:
Thanks fellas...
Just purchased directly from their website....got the $100 package deal.
http://www.spincleanrecordwasher.com/products-record.html#1
Click to expand...

After researching this product, I am very tempted to try one also. The manufacturer's website looks like the best place to buy from. Everyone else seems to have them on backorder. May email the manufacturer to be sure that they have them in stock. When you get yours, let us know how it works. I've read a lot of rave reviews about it. The package deal looks best as you get the extra fluid and brushes.
 
Last edited:
hbrocks said:
10-4 on the MFT's.....I've heard these towels require special cleaning...or something to that effect.
Any Do's/don'ts with them?
Click to expand...

Absolutely do not wash with other items MFT only in the load, and if you are using public or heavily used washing machine, get a 100% cotton zipper pillow case or one of those delicates net bag. I use about half the detergent that it calls for and do an extra rinse, delicate dry medium heat and if not completely dry I hang them and once done I immediately fold and stick them in a giant Ziploc baggy to keep any dust off them. Sorted by color and size.. but I am not obsessive really I am not.. :no::yes:
 
I just rinse my microfiber towels in plain warm water...no detergent...wring 'em out good and hang to dry. I keep all my record cleaning supplies in a plastic tote about the size of a big shoebox.
 
Remain calm, I clean my records with the distilled water & iso alcohol solution. BUT, if the record is really bad with background noise & crackling, I spray Plexus plastic polish on them and rub them up shiny. It makes them look & sound a whole lot better. The first time playing them I do have to repeatedly clean the stylus with the magic eraser. I know it clogs the needle and all, but darn it it works for me. Don't do this on your records, you'll ruin them and your stylus!
 
With the SpinClean, let the brushes dry after use. They're easy to remove. If you leave them in the tank with the cleaning solution, the adhesive holding the brushes on the plastic backing will eventually fail and you'll have to replace them prematurely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom