Question about cleaning vinyl

[Steelmaker]

If I don't have an official vinyl cleaning kit, are there any around the house products I can use to clean them with?

[schan1269]

Eye glass cleaner.

Wipes or bottle/fiber towel kit.

Exact same stuff. 1/4 the cost.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by schan1269

Eye glass cleaner.

Wipes or bottle/fiber towel kit.

Exact same stuff. 1/4 the cost.

Thanks!!!

[Johnny Vinyl]

I would strongly suggest you get at least a Spin-Clean system.

[Mr.Twinks]

I have been using groove glide for years and it works good.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

I would strongly suggest you get at least a Spin-Clean system.

Sorry Johnny, I refuse to pay those ridiculous prices. The cheapest I've seen those sold for is like 70.00 and that is a rip off of for a plastic miniature tub that you manually spin your records in. In fact, I've found that vinyl record accessories in general are the very definition of price gouging.

[schan1269]

I've never used a spin clean.

I've always use a brush with a spritz of eye wash. Fiber towel if you don't have a brush.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by schan1269

I've never used a spin clean.

I've always use a brush with a spritz of eye wash. Fiber towel if you don't have a brush.

I tried this with a micro fiber cloth and it worked great!

[Johnny Vinyl]

A cloth only serves to remove surface dust & grime and does not and cannot deep clean into the grooves.

I did a search on eyeglass cleaner to see what it consists of, but came up empty.

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

A cloth only serves to remove surface dust & grime and does not and cannot deep clean into the grooves.

I did a search on eyeglass cleaner to see what it consists of, but came up empty.

Eye glass cleaner is, essentially, isopropyl alcohol.

If it is good enough for a $1500 Zeiss...

I agree about the microfiber towel. Why I use a brush(what $12? I think I've bought 4 since 1985).

But...if you don't have a brush...

Also...if you really get a record dirty...

Filtered water(not tap) from a bottle or pur/culligan/Brita warmed up to about 85°/90°(F) and soaked with a touch of dish soap(non lotion variety, lotion is just harder to rinse). Use a sponge(doubled sided not really necessary) that has NEVER touched animal fat.

[Johnny Vinyl]

The bottom line is that at least the vinyl gets some sort of attention with these basic methods. It's better than not cleaning at all. I have too much invested in my collection and system to not use something that is proven to be much more effective.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

A cloth only serves to remove surface dust & grime and does not and cannot deep clean into the grooves.

I did a search on eyeglass cleaner to see what it consists of, but came up empty.

I could understand investing in a pricey record cleaner if I owned a record store and took used records as trade. I'd absolutely clean every record before putting them out on the shelves for sale. However for my own personal collection, I just don't see the value in it.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Deep cleaning one's records with either a manual system, such as the Spin-Clean, or more expensive automated RCMs not only assures that they are truly clean, they benefit from better performance (sonics) as well. That is a fact.

Additionally they help to reduce possible stylus damage/wear from dirty grooves, and potentially further damaging the grooves themselves.

BTW...many record stores will machine-clean your records for a nominal fee, so that may be an option.

[starman15317]

I have a Discwasher from the 80's that I use with record cleaning fluid. It's good enough for me.

[leeving]

My home brew cleaning solution:

3 parts distilled water
1 part Isopropyl Alcohol - 99% if you can find it, less is fine, but still get in the 90% range.
1 - 2 drops of Dawn dish soap

Scrub record with a soft, stiff paint brush.
Rinse - distilled is best, but I just use tap water
dry with micro fiber chamois

For this method I use 2 dent pullers to clamp on the record...makes it so I have something to hold and keeps the label safe from getting wet.



Even though I have a VPI record cleaner, I still use this method for those really grimy GoodWill records before I put them on the VPI.

But I do use this solution recipe as my VPI cleaner, too. Works great and I've never had a problem with it. A lot cheaper than the MoFi cleaner that I really don't like.

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by leeving

My home brew cleaning solution:

3 parts distilled water
1 part Isopropyl Alcohol - 99% if you can find it, less is fine, but still get in the 90% range.
1 - 2 drops of Dawn dish soap

Scrub record with a soft, stiff paint brush.
Rinse - distilled is best, but I just use tap water
dry with micro fiber chamois

For this method I use 2 dent pullers to clamp on the record...makes it so I have something to hold and keeps the label safe from getting wet.



Even though I have a VPI record cleaner, I still use this method for those really grimy GoodWill records before I put them on the VPI.

But I do use this solution recipe as my VPI cleaner, too. Works great and I've never had a problem with it. A lot cheaper than the MoFi cleaner that I really don't like.

I may steal that dent puller trick. I usually just mount something skinny and put the hole on it...

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

If I don't have an official vinyl cleaning kit, are there any around the house products I can use to clean them with?

Steelmaker,

Here is what I do and it has worked out perfectly almost every time (and I have 12-inch singles on vinyl that I used when I was a mobile DJ years ago that were CAKED in all kinds of gross stuff, some even having canine urine on them from when my collection was in storage and my parents' Malteses thought the boxes they were in were fire hydrants...the urine seeped through the outer jackets, rendering them useless, and eventually crystalized on the vinyl itself...so you KNOW I had some cleaning to do!):

Lay a lint-free or soft towel/cloth down on the bathroom counter. Put the record you want to clean down on it for now. Put a little Dawn dishwashing soap in a little bowl and add warm/hot water to it. Take a sponge -- a CLEAN one or brand-new one, which will be relegated to ONLY cleaning your records -- and get it soapy with the Dawn (or any other GENTLE dishwashing solution) while also drenching the record in some warm to luke warm water. Lay the record on the towel and begin using the sponge with the soap to go around the record IN THE DIRECTION OF THE GROOVES, really getting in there to get the grooves as clean as possible. Rinse off the soap, repeat for the flip side...

Then, being that your label will be wet -- don't panic -- DAB at the label (don't rub) with either paper towels or another clean soft cloth, and then begin drying the vinyl by going in the direction of the grooves once again with the paper towel or cloth. Do this for both sides. Your records should be squeaky, shiny clean and you should notice a reduction, if not elimination, of crackle and surface noise (provided those noises aren't due to groove damage, which there's nothing you can do anything about). I use this method on every record I clean and have had remarkable results in particular with my vinyl that exhibited caked-on pet urine.

[Filmasong]

I find that warm water and windex works too.

[IntelliVolume]

I have used Windex on CDs, but I would NOT put it on vinyl...

[SarahS]

The best thing in the world to use is a bottle of "dawn" soap, a handle clamp that covers the label on both sides to keep it dry and a record vacuum attachment for the shop vac. All for under 75.00 bucks and works just as well as a 1,500 dollar machine.