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Record Cleaning - Soap and Water - test results

Pure sulfuric acid's housed in plastic jugs
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This is probably trivial and off topic but pure sulfuric acid is inert. Start adding an electrolyte to it (water) and then you have something going...

I am contemplating a well protected (at the label) dirty LP, mounted vertically to a horizontal axis, rotating slowly in and out a luke warm water bath, brushed with soap and soft brushes (say, like shaving brushes) stationary, hitting the vinyl as it emerges from the water. Slow rotation at 10-15rpm for reduced wear and friction effects from the brushes, processed for 20-30' or so, should remove any and all foreign material.

The cleaning mechanism in all discussions is:

"Attach the dirt to the cleaning agent and remove both"

Elmer's glue does just that as it attaches (hopefully) better to the grit than grit is attached to vinyl.

Soaked LPs running through VPI have just that.

Discwasher brushes (the old ones) do just that.
 
If I may ask a few questions that have been asked a million times before:

1. What ratio Dawn to water?
2. What kind of brush is recommended?

Thanks!
 
ranf1970 said:
If I may ask a few questions that have been asked a million times before:

1. What ratio Dawn to water?
2. What kind of brush is recommended?

Thanks!
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I just fill that empty margarine bowl about 2/3rds full with warm water, and put two squirts of Dawn and whirl it around with the paintbrush and it is very soapy. Since I can really rinse the records well with the Groovmaster label saver on the record, I don't worry about too much soap, and Dawn rinses off very well as noted by other feedback in this thread. I'm also rinsing with warm water.

Mine is an inexpensive 2 1/2" paintbrush, probably nylon, nothing special.

Snade
 
Record cleaning & drying

While air drying my washed vinyl, I rest 'em in an old fashion plastic dish holder (the kind that were used years ago after hand washing dishes, before dish washing machines became ubiquitous.) My wife hates seeing the dish/record holder on the countertop, but I tell her it's necessary.:D
 
nitrous said:
While air drying my washed vinyl, I rest 'em in an old fashion plastic dish holder (the kind that were used years ago after hand washing dishes, before dish washing machines became ubiquitous.) My wife hates seeing the dish/record holder on the countertop, but I tell her it's necessary.:D
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Hey, that's a great idea. I've got an old plastic dish holder around here somewhere.

Thanks. Snade
 
Depending on the water supply(I have well water full of minerals), I use a spray of distilled water at the end, prior to towel dry.
 
Update:

I've now done about 100 albums.

Very happy with the results. Records are very quiet and very clean. The process takes me about 5 minutes per record.

Here is a before and after of a recent goodwill score - a very dirty Dave Clark Five's Greatest Hits (1966). Yes, it was that dirty.


Before washing using the soap and water method.

record_clean_before.jpg



After

record_clean_after.jpg



Cheers, Snade
 
why didn't i buy that dave clark five album i saw the other day? dammit....

soap and water always works for me. we have very low mineralization in the water here in big d....they always rinse clean as can be. i never even cover the labels, and i've never had one run or loosen....
 
Wow, soap and water, huh?

I may give this a try tonight... I have a couple records that couldn't possibly sound any worse than they do right now, so why not?
 
My mix: Couple drops Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Soap (NO perfumes or dyes)
Teaspoon 91% or 100% Iso Alcohol
Tap Water
100% Natural Bristle Paintbrush
 
Cool Raiders LP too....

I know there's folks out there cringin' at the fact you're not using some high falutin' system, but you know, those LPs ARE cleaner and in FAR better shape to play than before you started.

BTW, if you can chop those bristles down to about 1-2" to 3/4" in length, they won't roll over as much and scrub much better. Or try the paint pads :yes:
 
OK, back up a minute.....where did you get the Groovemaster label saver?? I cant seem to find where this came from.
 
day67 said:
OK, back up a minute.....where did you get the Groovemaster label saver?? I cant seem to find where this came from.
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If you search (Google, eBay, etc.) for Groovmaster (no "e") Label Saver you'll find it. He's in RI, maybe you could save on shipping...I mean, how far can anything be from anything in Rhode Island? :D

I just ordered one direct from him this morning, I'll let you know how it goes.

In the mean time, a question: I did my first experiment with wet washing last night. Worked great...a hand-me-down copy of Aqualung that had previously lost a shootout with an mp3 ended up sounding good! Only issue I had was some visible water spots in the dead wax. Does that mean I need a.) distilled water; or b.) a better drying technique?
 
Snade, I notice that you use tap water to rinse. Now, you and I don't live that far away from each other and my water is pretty hard (Chicago city water).

Any thought on potential damage?
 
cfranz said:
Snade, I notice that you use tap water to rinse. Now, you and I don't live that far away from each other and my water is pretty hard (Chicago city water).

Any thought on potential damage?
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I don't see or hear any residual on the record from the chicago tap water. I think the Dawn in the soapy water helps the water to rinse off well, and when I dry with the microfiber towels, they seem very dry. When I rinse the records off, I rinse them well and the tap water is very warm.

Also, I always thought Lake Michigan water was pretty clean and it tastes good, but that's just me.
 
clarke68 said:
IOnly issue I had was some visible water spots in the dead wax. Does that mean I need a.) distilled water; or b.) a better drying technique?
Click to expand...

I rinse well with warm tap water and then use microfiber towels to dry and I don't see any water spots.
 
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