vinyl owners how often to clean lp

leftwinger57

The title isn't really stated right so here goes. How often do you with w/ tts and vinyl clean your records. I of course went the least expensive cleaning route w/ the brush and fluid system and w/ that comes a stylus brush and dust rag. I personally gave a wet wipe to any 1st play of any record and then just a wipe of the rag and a dusting of the stylus w/o power on.

New news on the 2b front have been in contact w/ VR-3 mods and they gave me the 411 on their procedure.Cost was actually approximate or comeserate w/ price of tweeters .This might happen sooner then I relized.I will surely keep all informed and at VR-3 the response was unbelievably swift, consicse and congradaltory on my find.

Obsession18

I've been back doing the vinyl thing for about 8 months now, so far I've done an initial cleaning (sink method) and than used a dry brush before each spin and have been quite happy. One thing that I thinks makes a HUGE difference is to use a new inner sleeve after your initial cleaning, I use poly lined sleeves. The old paper sleeves will put a lot of crap back on your records, don't reuse them!

Dawgfish

I clean my vinyl before every play. The degree to which I clean varies however. Whenever I get more vinyl in, new or used, I do a full and thorough cleaning with a VPI 16.5 RCM. Really dirty used vinyl will also get a full steam clean in addition to the RCM. I then put the cleaned vinyl in a new MoFi anti-static jacket.

When I grab a record before playing, I visually inspect each record side before it is played. Obviously if the record is in a MoFi sleeve, I know it has been cleaned as above. If not the record will be cleaned as above. If the record is not coming straight from being cleaned by the RCM I will go over the record with a carbon fiber brush. Also before every side is played, I go over the record with an anti-static brush. I also zap each record side before play with a Zerostat anti-static gun. I also clean the stylus before each play on every side with either a magic eraser, MoFi LP9, or both. Even if a record is in a MoFi sleeve, if it looks dirty upon visual inspection, or sounds noisy while playing, I will give it the full RCM cleaning.

I know this sounds like a lot of work and it is, but the gains in sound quality are totally worth it.

leftwinger57

Wow, you guys are uber serious w/ your LPs. I did not expect that.I of course have all original covers and inner sleeves that I got either @ Good Will or through George G. Georges rating system btw is spot on.I did have one beat LP that surprised me. It was Carly Simon's Anticipation from GW and going along very nicely until it hits a f%&king divot, not a scratch mind you but a divot.I tossed the album and kept the cover art.

hochpt21

I clean each LP with the RCM one time, and then put it in a MoFi sleeve. I then use an Audioquest antistatic brush on each side before play. I clean the stylus with an onzow zerodust blob before each side played.

Once the initial RCM and new sleeve is done, the little routine before each side takes no time at all, and like Dawgfish said...is totally worth it.

Fongolio

My procedure is identical to hochpt21's as stated above except I use a stylus brush before each side is played instead of onzow.

leftwinger57

I forgot to mention ,I did try the sink method w/ Dawn. I did not have the the device to hold the record and protect the labels .It was a bit unwieldy but I did manage to do it as carefully as I could. All labels were retained and I told a friend who's not into audio at all and never heard of the tricks of the trade so to speak and thought idea was nuts but if your careful it does clean up some filthy garage sale albums.I can't go the extremes like you guys do.I have a $40 very used Denon Dp 11f and Grado GF3 cart clearly very entry level stuff here and also it has one feature that I think is a horrible design flaw.You push down on a spring loaded on/off button which never shuts down unless you shut it off manually by releasing the button.I have already left it on overnight and can't stand that feature, I want my Dual 1229 back from a hundred years ago.

nspindel

I have a VPI 16.5 and gave each of my LP's a steam and then cleaned with MoFi solutions. Then I replaced all original sleeves with the MoFi sleeves. I do a quick dry brush before each play. I also do stylus cleanings after every few sides.

Obsession18

Go to Harbor Freight Tools and get two cheap dent pulling tools to cover the labels as well as hold the records while doing the sink cleaning thing.

treitz3

Both sides, every time I play a side including a steam cleaning on the side I am about to play. The end result of what doesn't hit your ears makes it worth it all to me. Nice speakers BTW, Obsession18. *winks*

Tom

txcoastal1

Tom, What steam cleaner do you use if you don't mind me asking?

treitz3

Hello, txcoastal1. No, I don't mind at all. I use the Shark w/ the 45 degree tip attached at about 2-3".

Tom

brgman

I use a similar process to Dawgfish but I also treat all my records with Last Record Preservative before storing in MoFi sleeve.They give you small stickers that say last on them so I know a quick clean is sufficient with MoFi brush and anti static gun.

SCompRacer

hochpt21 wrote: »

I clean each LP with the RCM one time, and then put it in a MoFi sleeve. I then use an Audioquest antistatic brush on each side before play. I clean the stylus with an onzow zerodust blob before each side played.

Like hochpt21. I use a Tergitol-distilled water mix with Mo-Fi brushes to scrub followed by a vacuum and distilled rinse and vacuum. I only steam when normal cleaning fails to loosen cheetos and pizza roll sauce. I've also gone back to using my old dust bug when playing. It collects any new airborne deposits.

pearsall001

Thanks for the belly laugh guys!!! Over the top too funny. Keep it coming boys.

tonyb

Man, that's too much work to play one song.

SCompRacer

He-heh....digital stirrer's.:biggrin:

George Grand

pearsall001 wrote: »

Thanks for the belly laugh guys!!! Over the top too funny. Keep it coming boys.

From the guy with an eleven channel sound system.

treitz3

Different strokes for different folks.....

Tom

BlueFox

tonyb wrote: »

Man, that's too much work to play one song.

Especially after you accidentally drop the tone arm onto the record while trying to play the one good song on that side.

tonyb

Didn't mean anything by that comment, you won't find a bigger fan of analog than myself either. Just that listening to you guys reminds me of why vinyl went by the wayside.

Just like cd's, I can't recall too many albums that I actually listened to a whole side. A few good songs and your flipping sides or switching albums and that cleaning/dusting process started all over again. Kinda like washing your car, driving to the store, and washing it again before pulling into the garage. You get a tad tired of it after awhile.....but, you can't take away it does sound good.

SCompRacer

No worries here Tony. I'm gonna do what I want regardless of what folks say or think.:biggrin:

I don't see it as work. You develop a routine and it's no big deal. I wash a record once and strive to not touch the playing surface. Dry brush takes seconds. I moisten the dust bug with distilled and it traps dust as I play. I get tired of changing records, I go digital.

Dawgfish

It's not really an issue with me cause I'm one of those weird people that likes to listen to a whole album at a time. Talk about being behind the times......and I love it!

leftwinger57

What I find amazingly funny about LPs is that by the time you put it on and get all setteled the side is almost over and then I have to pick my **** up and change sides.I'm fascinated at the extent that the vast majority of you go to protect your albums.I don't toss mine around or abuse them but it does seem extreme to me.

boston1450

Dawgfish wrote: »

It's not really an issue with me cause I'm one of those weird people that likes to listen to a whole album at a time. Talk about being behind the times......and I love it!

+1 im the same way. I really enjoy all the artist has put into their music. Ive found that i enjoy their least listen to songs much better that their hits sometimes. A good example is RATT & many many more artists

Dawgfish

^^Agreed^^ There are often so many great songs on albums that never receive airplay, especially if you're into longer instrumentals. La Villa Strangiato immediately comes to mind.

Msabot1

I clean mine before every spin...just use a stylus brush and a Audioquest anti static preener...keeps em like new!

gudnoyez

I clean mine before every spin along with a blast from the zerostat, I clean the stylus after a 1/2 dozen albums or so.