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THE vinyl cleaning solution!

Record Research Labs Fluids

Disc Doctor brush

AQ Carbon Fiber brush

RCM (buy one or DIY)

I highly recommend these products, unless you are a molecular chemist. If not, I suggest you trust someone who is if you truly value your record collection.
 
Of course, after having played devil's advocate here a little, I hope you guys do remember (or can look back) that in my original post, I stated that I don't use Windex to clean records and, as fotno said, see little reason to do so.

In fact, I'm kind of of the old school and just use dishwashing detergent for the most part (no ammonia in Dawn, I don't think) :D , and alcohol if there appears to be something stuck on there that looks like it would come off with alcohol (grease, etc.).

And I doubt whether I will wet clean most of my records more than once (at least for a very long time) unless something out of the ordinary were to happen to require it (like somebody other than me getting ahold of one - not likely).

Doug
 
What about Mr. Clean Magic Eraser? Has anyome experimented with these ? You can get extra strength and I do not think it contains any detergents.
 
Library of Congress uses:

http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/record.html

Not being a chemist have no idea what the common names are. or if you can get the stuff..

Triton™ XL-80N surfactant, 20 ml (0.5 percent).
Ammonia liquor (analytical reagent grade), 20 ml (0.5 percent).
Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, 0.5 ml (0.13 percent).


Hmmmmm Just looked at the link again and they have changed it (the web page)... The above was what they used to have listed.... Hmmmmmm Hmmmm .. took out the cleaning section, or it has not been updated??? yet???
 
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OMI said:
Library of Congress uses:

Triton™ XL-80N surfactant, 20 ml (0.5 percent).
Ammonia liquor (analytical reagent grade), 20 ml (0.5 percent).
Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, 0.5 ml (0.13 percent).
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The surfactant could be nearly anything, Photo-Flo would probably be a good commercial choice.

The ammonia liqour is... Ammonia! Usually a low percentage already, probably 25%. Household ammonia is about 5% concentration. So, if using 'household' ammonia, you'd need 100ml instead of 20ml.

The alkyl dimethyl blah blah blah is a standard anti-bacterial agent. Look on a can of lysol, you'll probably find it! I have no idea where you can get it in pure form, but the final concentration. .13%, is about a fifth of what is in lysol, so a very low concentration.

And of course, the final ingredient would probably be distilled water, one liter.

Now, the question remains... Why did they remove it from the website? Is it because of the unspeakable dangers of ammonia? Or some other reason? We may never know...

peace,
sam
 
www.records said:
Record Research Labs Fluids

Disc Doctor brush

AQ Carbon Fiber brush

RCM (buy one or DIY)

I highly recommend these products, unless you are a molecular chemist. If not, I suggest you trust someone who is if you truly value your record collection.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I have had excellent luck with the RRL products. Why anyone would pour all sorts of "home brew" ideas on my albums is beyond me. These sucessful commercial cleaners are just not that expensive, especially when compared to the value of a large vinyl collection. It is amazing that this issue keeps popping up.

Russellc
 
Don't do it!!

hakka26 said:
Picked up a can of Realistic Record Cleaner yesterday at a yard sale. Came with a cleaning cloth. Originally 99¢ for 6 oz. (paid 25¢). No telling how old it is. Only warning is "don't use on 78's." :scratch2: Silicones, IPA and hydrocarbons.
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I was a kid in the 70's (which means I ain't no kid no more) and I trustingly bought a can of that crap from Radio Shack and used it to clean a brand new LP I had gotten for Xmas (or maybe my birthday...) I was horrified as the disc warped and softened in my hand! Tried to play it, the tone arm bobbled up and down on the "waves" with a loud "chfff!" at each peak (even on the crappy stereo I had then!) Anyone finds any of that $#!+ still around should buy it just to take it out of circulation and recycle it as hazardous material...in more ways than one!:nono:
 
Raphael someone just might followup, they'v tried just about everything else. I'm with Russellc and can't figure why anyone would use home brews, my only guess is that their record collection is in such poor state that they have nothing to loose.
 
Some of these bottles of record cleaning solution cost more than many people here paid for their turntable. It's no wonder some are looking for cheaper options.
 
Wigwam Jones said:
Dish soap. Paint pad. Tap Water. Microfiber cloth. Done.
Click to expand...

That is the method I have been using with overall good results. There are still some records that have a lot of pops and surface noise after it's done though. I guess I am getting picky, but I really want to get rid of that last little bit. Thinking about getting a Record Doctor. It never ends........
 
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