Can Wood Glue Beat Specialist Vinyl Record Cleaning Products?

In this video, we test out some popular & cheap vinyl record cleaning products to see if they can really get your vinyl clean. We also test household wood glue to see if the rumours about it being the best way to remove dirt and dust from vinyl are true.
All cleaning products shown in this video (except the wood glue) were supplied by 'Protected' whose online store you can visit here: protected.de/shop/en
Use code 'Parlogram072023' for an 8% discount when ordering from their site.
The wood glue used in the video: amzn.to/3rOy496
Check out our essential Vinyl Care playlist: • Vinyl Care
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[@generalleoff]

This reminds me of when I used to do lines on my records back in the 80s.

[@zaynakhalid963]

Huh 😭😭 You mustve been really cool

[@Bururaian]

Shout out to SPIN-CLEAN. Very very good American made record washer. Basically two velvet brushes sandwiched in a big yellow trough/washboard. You manually rotate the record between the wet brushes to clean both sides at once.

[@scatteredfrog]

I'm on Team SpinClean too!

[@thefleshexperience]

It’s a great product for the price. I used it for years until I got an ultrasonic cleaner and still do occasionally when cleaning large batches that don’t need a deeper clean.

[@bhosken]

Absolutely agree on spin clean and am always amazed to look at the water after cleaning a batch of records.

[@muzzy1978]

I keep mulling over buying the Spin Clean. Every time I decide I'm going to I'll see a bad review that puts me off for another week. Should I just go with my gut and purchase one on the basis that there's more good reviews than bad? Any advice would be welcome. 👍

[@yutopia7]

@@muzzy1978it’s wonderful. I love it. The only problem is the price. At $80 each you feel a little silly paying that much for a piece of plastic. Try to get 2 spin cleans for that price…. The 2nd spin clean should be used for rinse cycle.

[@DrVonChilla]

Been using standard products for more than 40 years to clean my vinyl. Cleaning discs with serious value, that's one thing....but let's face it.....we're not saving the world here, we're cleaning records. 😀

[@fatherman9]

For everyday cleaning, I use the wet solution and a Discwasher brush. I highly recommend the wood glue method. I have had many great results with the wood glue. I don't use a card to spread the glue, I use my fingers and really work the glue into the grooves. I don't mind the wait time, if it's a hot day, the glue is dry enough within 2-3 hours.

[@theHeartlessNooB]

Yeah I do the same, I don't know why people say you have to wait overnight. The glue dries within 2-4 hours.

[@cvee2614]

Been using the wood glue treatment for 20 years and as long as there’s not a deep gouge, or a scratch in the record to begin with the wood, wood glue treatment (using my finger to flow it out and I do let it dry overnight and reapply and repeat) is the best by far of any of the other treatments. From an audio engineer, with three turntables and high-end, moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.

[@shnibby69]

In the 70’s, my friends and I had The Discwasher. Good size pad that rested in a wooden handle. Used it before playing EVERY record.

[@jmad627]

Did the same thing in the 70's. In fact I still do and still have one.

[@daniannaci3258]

I had a Discwasher, too. It harms records more than helps. No way that velvet pad can pick up 100% of the liquid mixed with dust and dirt on the surface of the record. What’s left dries into a type of hard mud at the bottom of your grooves similar to adobe, which native Indians I the southwest of the United States used to make bricks for their homes. Those homes stood up to dust storms, thunderstorms, snowstorms and tornadoes. Your stylus doesn’t have a chance! You need a proper vacuum machine to completely remove 100% of the liquid.

[@shnibby69]

@@daniannaci3258 Thank you! We never used the liquid “cleaner” that came with it.

[@dearprudence2001]

@@daniannaci3258 wouldn't the D4 liquid simply evaporate leaving no residue? Distilled water doesn't have any impurities to leave behind.

[@daniannaci3258]

@@dearprudence2001 It’s the dirt left in that fluid. The fluid evaporates, leaving the dirt.

[@williamhild1793]

I panicked when I saw you pouring glue all over an album. I had NO idea that this was a "thing"! :)

[@JWD1992]

I like the idea of using flour for a better visual representation. Doesn't flour get like super sticky when it gets wet, though? That might prevent a wet cleaning from being as effective. Just a thought. Plus we do know rekkids often have some foul gunk on them!

[@kamikazepinocchio]

I've been using the wood glue method for years, using the brand Titebond II (blue label). The mask with Titebond II is thicker than what was in the video, peels similar to removing plastic from a new phone, and it even is thick enough to play on a (cheap) turntable (albiet, backwards). I've seen a REMARKABLE sound improvement, keeping in mind, damaged records don't get better, just pops and dust type noises are eliminated. The success I've had is unmatched, however, I always follow up with my 1980s Discwasher cleaning brush and fluid.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

Discwasher for the win.

[@daniannaci3258]

@@sourisvoleur4854 Curiously, Linn recommended no cleaning of the record at all. Just keep the stylus clean, they said.

[@phishpot]

@@daniannaci3258 They are basically saying, use your stylus to clean your record. You can get away with that if you use a conical or elliptical stylus. If you use anything that is Shibata/Fineline/Microline/Gyger variant, the mistracking from a dirty stylus will likely damage your inner grooves. This I know from bitter experience.

[@mrn234]

@@sourisvoleur4854 Sometimes even a Disc washer cant get rid of certain dirt when it backed into the grooves over decades.

[@fastcakes]

Been selling (and cleaning) records full time for 17 years - I did buy a heavy expensive machine that acts like a vacuum cleaner, incredibly noisy and didn't perform as expected. It's (ironically) gathering dust in the shed. My go to method for everyday cleaning is cleaning fluid and a soft cloth, usually one wet clean and a dry 2nd pass does the job.

[@daniannaci3258]

I hope your RCM wasn’t the VPI HW-16. I bought mine 30 years ago and when properly used, is amazing at bringing records back to life. It is freaking noisy, though…

[@Vince_Tasciotti]

A record cleaning video from Andrew, unexpected but welcome just the same. My method to clean my vinyl LPs is two stage. First, I wash the dirty record in the sink with dish soap and warmish water. Step two is putting the record in a Spin Clean with distilled water and Spin Clean fluid. I let the record dry in a plastic dish rack and finally wipe it off with a micro fiber towel. If the record is seriously dirty, I have used the wood glue technique with good results. After that, the record is subjected to the dish soap and Spin Clean to cure the static charge.

[@Parlogram]

Sounds like an excellent method, Vince. Thanks for sharing it!

[@thenerktwins]

You're getting the labels wet?

[@Vince_Tasciotti]

@@thenerktwins I have some lucite discs that have a rubber gasket around the outer rim to protect the labels. They are held in place by some handles the screw in place through the spindle hole.

[@marktubeie07]

I am sure a lot of us were cringing during this video ! I had to laugh at your choice of record to try these cleaning experiments with Andrew - the same kind that all of us use all round the world - classical & schlager 😉

[@Gigidag77]

Ugh, these gels are usually sold as a PC keyboard cleaning product. And from what I remember they are basically a one-time use affair. Way to expensive for what it's worth imo.

[@SydneyDrums]

Having tape players & a Turntable I have a little air compressor from a hobby shop next to my hi fi set up which I use a small nozzle to blow the dirt out of the grooves and off the record.. Very quick and effective

[@buzzbabyjesus]

I've been using the Discwasher I bought in the '70's (I didn't play many records for a couple decades between then and now). When the special fluid ran out, I refilled the container with water. If a record is really dirty, I rinse it off in the sink, and dry it with a paper towel. Then I use the aforementioned Discwasher. This seems to work pretty well.

[@bille7928]

Yep same here, but I use distilled water, because of the high mineral content in our water.

[@buzzbabyjesus]

@@bille7928 I don't use tap water for sure. When I can't find distilled, I use purified.

[@andrews527]

If you're going to throw flour on records, it's a dry sweep or two first (no more), then the wet clean. Flour's got gummy gluten that can muck up the groove trench. Severe dust can gum up under wet cleaning, too.

[@mr.george7687]

I made my own wet cleaning machine for less than $100. A mini wet/dry vac, lazy Susan & PVC pipe. Works great. I also made a cordless handheld vac with a modified nozzle to accept velvet strips on it. This is what I use just before playing a record. Picks up all the dust.Sticky rollers are also great.

[@CarlBrothers-dv3mz]

I've had records that I bought in the 1960's as a kid and played the heck out of them without ever cleaning except with whatever dust brushes were offered at the time. The last ten years I've pulled them out of storage and with some tried every method at my disposal to clean that white hazy crud deeply in the groves with absolutely no success. I eventually tried the wood glue method and was amazed how new-clean they looked. I was also amazed how well the playback sound had improved on most of them. There were a few however that were too far gone for much if any improvement.

[@Stonecutter334]

Love my spin clean. Does a fantastic job. When i play an lp i use a discwasher brush. If really dirty ill use the liquid on the brush. Both cleaners do a great job. Any lp new or used goes through the spin clean before hitting my turntable. So i never have anything serious for the brush to handle besides light dust.

[@12stringblues]

The Spin-Clean Record Washer is my go to for cleaning records. After a proper cleaning maintain by keeping records in rice paper sleeves and using anti-static brush this gives me fantastic results.

[@declanfarber]

I agree. Whenever I get a record, even if it’s brand new, it always goes through the spin clean before it gets played. It really makes a difference, even new. Then new anti static sleeves (mofi.) I also have an ultrasonic cleaner for the tougher cases.

[@12stringblues]

@@declanfarber Yes Spin works great for dust, dirt and static issues. I think some people want it to fix scratches and warps or non-fill I have found nothing to fix those issues. I have not used a Ultrasonic I would use it for new records but I think I would be too scared to use on my vintage records like the Beatles that cost $$.

[@declanfarber]

@@12stringblues I’ve occasionally used a microscope and a fine pick to repair skips, but you can’t really do anything about scratches. Where the ultrasonic excels is reducing/removing deeply set dirt, thereby reducing surface noise. I’ve never encountered a situation where it made things worse.

[@galtsghost4454]

I once actually improved an original copy of The Beatles Rarities Capitol lp with wood glue, but today my go-to method, especially when I buy used vinyl, is a carbon brush, a Bug Fudge velvet brush for wet cleaning with home brewed cleaner, and a Vevor ultrasonic machine for deep cleaning. It won’t save everything, but it has had miraculous results in enough cases to make it work for me.

[@jamesstvincent]

Nothing beats a VPI 16.5 machine. Which, unfortunately I no longer have. Other than that, I’ve had wonderful results with Winyl cleaning gel and Record Revirginizer. Basically, it’s the same principle as wood glue, but they dry much faster and produce far less static. Of the two, I prefer Winyl because it dries faster than Revirginizer.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for sharing that, James!

[@AppleCorp3]

I use a record cleaning (vacuum) machine. First pass with tergikleen and second with a rinse of distilled water. Works great!

[@videoplusdvd]

I will treat older records with wood glue, but not the white stuff - the yellow product (carpenter’s glue) is much better. Since it is a PVC base, its makeup is very similar to vinyl, and if you do happen to get some left behind, you can alway re-apply and try again without issue. It is very good at getting embedded dirt out that a brush will not. Then do a wet clean to reduce static. For a wet clean, I use a homemade solution of distilled water, 99% isopropyl alcohol and a couple of drops of Kodak Photo Flo 200 as a surfactant, put in a generic spray bottle and applied to a microfibre cloth. This does very well, and there several videos on how to make an appropriate mixture, which is pretty much what you get with wet cleaning solutions like Discwasher, etc.

[@labnine3362]

I have gone down this rabbit hole! Glue, chemicals, the kitchen sink, VPI, you name it. What worked the best? An ultrasonic basin with a rotating attachment. Results were a 10 out of 10.

[@Renshen1957]

This video brought to mind a method of cleaning harpsichord soundboards with decades (centuries) of dirt. White bread. My grandmother's AM and 78 player (vintage tube) which had a round brush with a "deep purple" which appeared to be velvet.

[@errolfouquet7381]

Andrew, I found this video to be very amusing and informative. It certainly reinforced my personal view on dry carbon-fiber brushes and cheap wet cleaning solutions. I've long since concluded that a quick pass with a dry brush is sufficient with an already properly cleaned record. These carbon fiber brushes work great in removing tiny bits of surface dust that might've recently clung to the record between deep cleaning. As for more thorough cleaning of my records, I've always wanted a high-end solution like your Loricraft or Audio Desk Ultrasonic, but haven't been able to swing the nearly $4k on those toys :). That said, I'm quite happy with the results I get from using my Record Doctor V vacuum cleaning machine. I start off with a manual scrubbing of the record by laying it flat on a very large microfiber cloth. I apply a liberal amount of Nitty Gritty Pure 2 solution and scrub it in a circular motion with a goat hair brush. I flip it over and repeat this step. Next I set the record on my Record Doctor and spray the record with a fine mist of purified water that contains the prescribed amount of Tergikleen surfactant. After working that into the grooves with the velvet brush that comes with the Record Doctor, I flip it over and apply the vacuum. After treating the other side in this manner, I'm all done. Seems to work wonderfully for me. I know that some folks complain that these vacuum systems leave a static charge, but I don't seem to have issues. That said, my Milty Zerostat is always close by if I notice any serious issues with static cling.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Errol!

[@joelake7986]

Great video, Andrew! I've personally tried the wood glue method in the past with some of my thrift store finds, but did not have good results. Even though I used the correct brand and type of glue, I found that some records would sometimes skip afterwards (though they didn't before). This I attributed to some glue being left in the grooves. Eventually I acquired an ultrasonic cleaner. Your video has reminded me that I need to run those records through the ultrasonic to see if they still skip.

[@jrussellcase]

Great video, Andrew. I'd always wondered about that "wood glue" method. I bought a cleaning kit on Amazon several months ago called "Big Fudge". Silly name but it seems to do the job.

[@kevystead]

I use a tonar sticky roller (like a lint brush for clothing) and my trusted discwasher brush. If I'm wet cleaning a simple mix of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water works well.

[@TheSpiritingPoet]

One very fun thing I used to do with the wood glue method was play the mask that the glue set into! Don't worry, the only thing I tried it on was a 2012 Sgt. Pepper's Remastered pressing.

[@robertcoley1103]

Interesting and informative Andrew. I use and find Grovewasher cleaning products excellent for cleaning my discs. They do the job well. I also have a fibre brush and velvet pad which I use before playing the records.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Robert.

[@tedharrington5432]

That was a fun and educational video! Thanks for making the video!

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it, Ted!

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

Fun test with all those record cleaning chachkies ! I liked the use of flour good idea for your demonstration.

[@johnwhelan5332]

Since 1975, I have been using the DECCA Record Cleaning brush for all of my vinyl. It does the job for me.

[@tammygregory]

My hubby uses the 2-step product, the velvet brush with cleaing liquid. It works really well & cleans our records nicely. Sometimes it takes a couple of rounds but most times, only once. Watching you wrangle that slime was just about the death of me! I can't stand anything gooey or messy on my hands, & that demonstration was horrifying! 😂The glue was fascinating but I sure wouldn't have the nerve to try that!

[@fbt25]

I have one brush identical to #1, but mine is branded as Hunt EDA Mark 6 Brush by music hall. Does an excellent job for cleaning records that don't need deep washing. That Magic Gel looks like children slime, or as we call it in Brazil, geleca. Wood glue is also former Skid Row's frontman Sebastian Bach's favourite cleaning method.

[@paulrevelli]

I've been using a Record Doctor V for many years and it has served me well, as should any vacuum style cleaning machine. The only other product I use is the Audioquest carbon fibre brush just before setting the needle down. I have to be honest however in that I try to avoid records that no amount of cleaning will help.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

I have a Discwasher D4 that I've been using for 40 years. When the liquid ran out I replaced it with methyl alcohol. Works a treat.

[@nicknikipediacaulkin5943]

A very informative and useful video, Andrew! Thanks for demonstrating the different types of products that are available. I'm drawn to the wet cleaning product. Years ago I used to use a Dust Bug on my records. Who remembers that nifty little device?!!

[@martinross5521]

Ooh! I remember that little chap. It was goodish for collecting dust but created enough static for flash photography!

[@nicknikipediacaulkin5943]

@@martinross5521 Very true, Martin!

[@martinross5521]

@@nicknikipediacaulkin5943 Thank you for sharing ancient memories! I have a spinny hand driven washer system all ready to go; it just needs distilled water. Can I find it? Hell no! 🤣

[@daniannaci3258]

I had a Watts Dust Bug on my Thorens TD-124/Empire 980 for years. Best thing until I discovered the little carbon fiber brush mounted to the stylus assembly in upper line Shure cartridges. Also worked as kind of shock absorber/damper, too. That really worked well.

[@_lennard_lp]

I have the first brush you showed off and, for me, it works pretty well! It also lefts some hairs on the record, but these you won't hear when you play it. But non the less: your video is very informative and I'm a beginner in vinyl collecting and still am building my setup.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

I digitize lots of Jamaican vinyl, especially 45s from the 70s, which seemed to have been pressed while the maid was dusting nearby. The most effective thing I found, is first cleaning conventionally with the velvet brush/anti-static liquid method, followed by completely saturating the surface with water while I do the rip to the computer. This is very effective against even really bad condition vinyl. Third step is running the file through a de-noise/pop/click program. The problem with this last step is the guy who wrote the software has since died and it's based on Java which is a pain in the ass to keep running with modern OSes. It is what it is...

[@michaelrochester48]

You basically gave me a half hour video of why I prefer to have CDs

[@Parlogram]

😂

[@photonext44obrian31]

Well in my experience I used 3 different methods ultrasound machine, washed with a groovemaster and wood glue I used Wood Glue on Beatles 60s records a little different with a little help from Groovemaster label saver I do both sides with great results once you peeled the glue in both sides you have to give to your record a little rinse, great video

[@thechuckster6838]

Very informative! Thank you!

[@Parlogram]

Glad it was helpful!

[@grahampratchett8207]

I've found a special Green Gel that really DOES CLEAN right into the grooves. You apply the gel. Completely around the record. Then apply a piece of card. Leave it overnight. The gel 'sets' then take hold of the card Slowly lift off the gel. It pulls everything along with it. Problem is leave it over night. And you can only do one side at a time. The product is called. WINYL ADVANCED CLEANING GEL It's made in Spain And ordered it on-line I don't work for the company Just saw it and read about it And I was really happy with it GREAT TESTING VIDEO

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for the tip, Graham!

[@dantewhiterose1958]

Hi Andrew, I use the vinyl record cleaning set, and that works fine for me.

[@jameseybhoy1974]

Thanks Andrew. Always wondered about using wood glue but I don’t think I will now. Good video.

[@thefleshexperience]

I used a Spin Clean for years for a nice basic wet clean, but got the Humminguru ultrasonic cleaner with the Kickstarter campaign. I am completely thrilled with the results I get from it, especially for the price and ease of use. I use a vintage Discwasher brush with D3 fluid for occasional upkeep as needed which can be obtained easily and cheaply enough at thrift stores or online. I’ve found two with full bottles of fluid for $1 each in the past couple years and have plenty of fluid left. I’ve heard the newer Discwasher brushes use a different fabric and aren’t quite as effective, but as I have had such good luck finding cheap “like new” vintage ones, I haven’t needed to compare. Also, a stylus cleaner is extremely important and I use a MoFi stylus brush before every spin, but only using the fluid about once a week. 😊

[@surfcollector]

Warm soapy Dawn water and a soft cloth! Vinyl is plastic and it can withstand a light scrubbing in the direction of the grooves. Rinse under cool water avoiding paper label. Dry in circular motion with soft dry cloth. A must for those neglected dollar bin finds.

[@jacob_n_r_z8755]

When i'm cleaning my records, i dry clean my records first with a velvet brush until there's no visible dust. And after that, i wet clean the record with a homemade record cleaning solution. Which is a spray bottle filled with distiled water, 2 drops of dish washing liquid, and a drop of alchohol. After wet cleaning, i dried the record with the dry side of my microfiber cloth, and finish it of with another round of my velvet brush.

[@jeffcher10]

My method is to first brush with a carbon brush, then rinse with clean water, then wipe the surface of the record with a good quality soft "Paint Pad" impregnated with liquid sugar soap. Then rinse with filtered water and dry with a laundered microfibre cloth which has anti-static fluid in it. Works a treat and have brought back to life many grubby records.

[@joelcrowservo]

I’ve certainly seen people utilize the wood glue method, so I was curious to see your end result. You’ve certainly made a good case for it!

[@tagtv]

My favourite is PVA wood glue, which I happily use on rare ‘northern soul’ records that are frequently worth well over £1,000 ($1,200) each.

[@MikeGervasi]

I used Titebond II on my RL Zep II. It worked beautifully.

[@bpabustan]

My father used to have the vinyl cleaning set (the one with a cleaning solution). It was slightly larger than the one in the video and there were two holes at the top of the brush beside the handle. That is where you place a few drops of the liquid. Not very effective though. Our default mode here in our country if the records are not very valuable is bath soap and water or dishwashing liquid and water.

[@daniannaci3258]

If you’re going to do that, use photographic wetting agent, not soap or detergent. No scents, shining agents, or any residue whatsoever. Your vinyl will thank you.

[@bpabustan]

@@daniannaci3258 worse, some guy in Singapore uses WD40 to clean his records.

[@electron0002]

I like to see what ultrasonic cleaning vinyl is that any good..I like the glue treatment but would it get deep in dirt .?

[@timhubbard8895]

Hi Andrew. I use an ultrasonic tank and motor drive to clean my records. It involves a bit of expense, but once the parts are bought and assembled, it offers a relatively inexpensive method to clean and restore your records. I have cleaned all my Beatles vinyl collection, especially original 60's Mono pressings with some really exceptional results. Static is also killled practically dead. Re-sleeve the records and with careful handling you may not need to deep clean them ever again. My first cleaning results were so good I started my own Facebook group, and now our group is nearly topping 3000 happy members! I could not tell you how many thousands of records we have saved or restored between us all. Just about every record cleaned improves up a grade. Some records can be cleaned up to a nearly mint condition provided the record isn't physically damaged or playworn.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with Ultrasonic. It's something I've yet to try.

[@timhubbard8895]

@Parlogram It's certainly worth looking into. I generally dislike anything that involves a user potentially abrading the record playing surface as little as possible.

[@Cosmotype]

"No Beatles LPs were harmed in the making of this video" :D Great demonstration and valuable information!

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jankogl1251]

My definite go-to cleaning method involves four items: - KNOSTI Disco Antistat washing machine - Distilled water - Isopropyl alcohol (a few splashes) - Dishwashing liquid with non-ionic surfactants (a tiny drop) Works splendidly for me! Also, I avoid purchasing records whose condition is below VG+. Works even better! 😉

[@Parlogram]

That last tip is a golden rule!

[@markwinters3079]

30 years ago, an engineer friend borrowed my 1960s vintage "Animals Greatest Hits" vinyl. It had minor static with pops and cracks. A few days later, he played me a cassette of it that sounded like it was one he purchased at a store. Here's what he used: -A small spray bottle -One capful of rubbing alcohol -The same amount of Dawn Dish detergent Put the two ingredients in the bottle, and fill it with distilled water (like what you use in ironing). Gently mix the ingredients. Cover the label on the vinyl, and spray liberally around the vinyl, one side at a time. Get a clean, cotton t-shirt (the softer the better) and dry the vinyl counter-clockwise. Repeat if there is still dirt or debris coming off the record. Repeat the process for the other side of the record. Then put the record back in its cover and leave for 24 hours. You will be amazed at the sound. The alcohol cleans, the dish soap degreases (like from fingerprints) and the static is greatly reduced. If it still has static, pops and cracks, then repeat the process. Like I said, I have been using this process for 30 years, and it works very well. I once cleaned a record from my parent's house that had years of cigarette smoke and dust on it. The t-shirt turned brown in some spots from the dirt. It took a few days, but I got it sounding really good after a few applications. Note: scratches are impossible to fix.

[@Parlogram]

Great tips! thanks for sharing, Mark.

[@michaelbrooke6326]

One of the biggest mistakes people make in trying to clean vinyl, is not realizing that the dirt will loosen easier after the record has soaked in distilled water( think how much easier it is to clean dishes after soaking) If you have a record that is really old, soaking it really makes a difference, you can safely do so with a spin clean, label protector and distilled water

[@timpedersenmusic]

I use a Spin Clean. Then a goat hair brush after the record is washed and rinsed. After that I use the Vinyl Vac to remove any excess water and remove any residue. It’s time consuming but very effective!

[@colinduff2922]

I clean my records by first running them under luke warm water. Then wipe dry. Next, I add a product available here (Australia) called Mr. Sheen. It's an aerosol based cleaning product which can be used on most surfaces, including vinyl. Spray the record with Mr. Sheen & then wipe off before running again under luke warm water.Then wipe dry. You will have a clean record with all ingrained dirt and dust removed.

[@WeezeArchive]

no matter what type of video, its always a entertaining watch

[@Parlogram]

Thank you, Sir!

[@MN-fc5so]

I have cleaned my records with Loctite 2 wood glue for 30 years and it is also got Nicks and scratches out of some of the albums as well.

[@markjamesmeli2520]

I've forwarded this video through to a lifelong friend who inquired. He lives in the US, but he works as a musician on cruise ships. Maybe your video will work for him. It's worth a shot.

[@victorhugotoledocofre1366]

I'd have loved you showed us your professional vinyl cleaning machine. This would have been the perfect video to do it, but, alas, it was just a cameo. 😪😪

[@Parlogram]

Next time ;)

[@andybertaut]

wood glue has brought old crackly records back from the dead time and again for me

[@finnthomas8498]

Great video, I think a good video would be reviewing the Beatles on coloured vinyl, ive recently begun collecting all the 1978 coloured vinyl realises from France and elsewhere theres some cool variations out there

[@StewartScissor]

I've had a HumminGuru ultrasonic (40kHz) cleaner for about a year, and have found it works wonders, especially on crate-digging finds that need a really good scrub to get playable. Can't use it on shellac 78s though, as the vibrations might cause discs to shatter (been cleaning 78s gently with a toothbrush and warm water, and drying them in a drying rack like plates - seems to work fine)! For a quick brush before playing an already clean disc I use a standard carbon-fibre brush.

[@edryba4867]

When I worked in Radio in the USA, we had a device called a "Discwasher"'. I have one at home as well. It's similar to the one you demonstrated, but the handle is made of WOOD, which can create no static electricity, unlike most plastics. It has a directional velvet pad, with the velvet attached over foam rubber. By "directional", I mean all the tiny "bristles", if you will, point in one direction. I'll explain that momentarily. This device also comes with a bottle of Discwasher solution, the bottle of which lives in a cutout in the wooden handle. It has no odor, and as far as I can tell, it's largely polyvinyl alcohol with other mystery ingredients. To use it, you place your finger on the record label and spin the record in the regular playing direction, after putting a bead of the liquid on the leading edge of the pad. The "Leading Edge" of the pad is determined by pointing the "bristles" INTO the direction the record is coming FROM (and manually turning the record provides much more torque than the turntable motor). You then use the pad in a similar fashion to what you did with the "wet" cleaner you demonstrated. It seemed to do a very good job, left no static, and the records (which naturally got a LOT of use at a Radio station) were left sounding great. By the way, what you're calling "wood glue" is plain old polyvinyl glue. In the USA, "Carpenter's Wood Glue" actually has tiny pieces of WOOD IN IT, and would be completely unsuitable for this purpose. But if you told an American to use "Elmer's Glue" (a brand of plain polyvinyl glue), it would be exactly what you used. When I worked in Theatre some 50 years ago, I ordered the plain polyvinyl stuff by the case, in GALLON bottles! We used it for building "flats", from which the walls of theatrical sets were made. In the USA, what Brits call a "FLAT", we call an "apartment".

[@recordtime4923]

Never trust anything that has “magic” in its name! I laughed out loud during that messy moment of the video. Thanks, Andrew. BTW I have a product called Spin Clean that I like. It’s not a full fledged super electric cleaner but it does work. Can’t really use it every time you want to play a record but coupled with a wet/dry solution before playing does well.

[@TheHutt]

Well, my first weapon of choice is a rounded brush similar to the one that is used here with a cleaning fluid. But that's only for clean records that have some fresh dust on them. The cleaning solution is a German Knosti II (officially: Disco Antistat). It is good for 95% of all cases. I modified it with own devices for label protections, though. For more expensive/valuable records, I go to my favorite record shop where they clean records ultrasonically for 2€ per LP. Plus I have a nice chat and usually find something to buy there.

[@allandudson9684]

I don't know if this is wise, but I used to work in a laser cutting factory where they used pure alcohol to clean the lasers. I would wipe my vinyl down with this on a spectacle cleaning cloth. Is this a bad thing to do? It would clean well but I don't know if it melted the vinyl slightly.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

I prefer manual cleaning - I do own a ultrasonic cleaner I mostly use for 45s - sometimes LPs depends. One of the most important things to have is a general SURFACTANT no matter how you're cleaning vinyl records . I use something that is very in-expensive and one can mix up at home for pennies for gallons ... . You don't need expensive photo-chemicals for surfactants. I've used all the vacuum based machines as well.. they usually work awesome as well.. but the upkeep is real - it's almost like running a lathe :) I'll leave it up to people interested in either asking me directly what I use or to do a bit of research. hint - It's not a dish detergent and it's on the periodic table. It's a great topic as everyone can benefit from clean vinyl records.. especially that diamond tip - you can literally extend the life of your diamond untold times by keeping your records clean.

[@PGRPGRPG]

Hi, this is teasing…😂 coule you tell us what is this surfactant’s composition and brand? Thanks

[@goodiesguy]

I just bought a Pro-Ject VC-E and it's made so much of a difference it isn't funny. I'm largely into archiving somewhat rare Kiwi and Aussie discs, and it's made some pretty rough ones sound almost mint!

[@48musicfan]

Very informative, Andrew!

[@Parlogram]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jreynosoj]

Hi Andrew -do you have the link to the video where you talk about your set up? I would love to upgrade my turntable to the one you have :) thanks !

[@Parlogram]

Nothing wrong with soap and water!

[@jreynosoj]

@@Parlogramhi there! Thanks for the reply. Big fan ! I believe there was a video on your channel where you even linked an Amazon list of the turntable, pre amp, and other items you have hooked up to your turntable. I keep looking for the video but can’t find it :/

[@Delius1958]

For now 46 years I have played my Vinyl with a second arm (with a small brush at the end) filled with Isoprop alcohol and aqua dest. It leaves a wet line of ca. 1 cm on the record and moves along from beginning to end. The records sound extremely clear without any noise. No damages at all to the vinyl and the pickup for nearly 50 years! In the 70s and 80s everyone used it, called „Lenco“. No idea why it went out of fashion. My old vinyl sounds as clear as CDs - just better of course. Greetings from Berlin, Harry

[@JamesTaylor-yg7ow]

Splendid stuff for everyone who goes routinely dropping flour on their records. Not much use to anyone wanting to clean an old mildewed decades old LP or one with stubborn dirt in the grooves. Still a bit of a fun diversion even though the product placement is getting a bit much. I wouldn't let anything in this video anywhere near a rare record and have yet to find a record cleaning solution that doesn't leave an audible residue on the records.

[@jordipallach4185]

Thanks for this video🎉Andrew, I Have a lot of cleaning products, including the Nessie's cleaning líquid, my question its that if can applie directly to the brush, I DON HAVE CLEAN MACHINE Thanks again Jordi

[@Delius1958]

Don‘t do this! The liquid does not dry completely. When you take the record out of the sleeve later there is a film of the liquid on the record. Not good. It needs to be washed away with water. Harry

[@jordipallach4185]

@@Delius1958 Thank you very much

[@PaulRamoneFR]

Hello, I would like to know your opinion... What do you think about ultrasonic bath technique to clean our vinyls? I 've just seen that an accessories equipment exist to hold and make the record turn above a standard ultrasonic box. The cost would be $200 average ! Thanks

[@Parlogram]

Sorry, but I have never used an ultrasonic cleaner.

[@joshwilliams7692]

I'd love to see you add the record roller to this lineup. I've been using it for a few years and it works wonders for surface dust. But I don't know how it would stand up to this kind of filth in the grooves.

[@crunchyfrog555]

I would also add that if you're going to get a fair representation of dust removal you need to PLAY the disc with dust in it. Obviously don't do it on anything good. But you need to have the needle going over it, as the pops usually come from dust being very slightly melted into the surface as the needle briefly melts the vinylas it plays (in a very very tiny way). That's where you need to really clean things - those sticky dust particles that are stubborn.

[@peterdigwood2247]

Great video Andrew, and like anything in this world there's always going to be a certain amount of snake oil. I personally use a carbon fibre brush, for everyday day use. I also use the Spin-Clean system if I have bought a second hand album or single. The Spin-Clean definitely removes greasy fingermarks and built up dirt and dust but I'm not 100% convinced it can really do a deep groove clean. I think an ultrasonic machine is the way to go for that (as long as you have deep pockets). The best way to clean your records is to not let them get dirty in the first place...

[@rolandbogush2594]

Very interesting experiments, Andrew. For me, I use a carbon fibre brush before every playing, and if there is a build up of dirt (indicated by audible noise), I use a spray with a small percentage of Isopropyl Alcohol which works wonders. I know, some folk get hysterical about the use of IPA on vinyl, but I use it infrequently and haven't noticed any harm done. Something else well worth checking is for dirt on the stylus. I have a few times gone mad trying to clean a record several times before realising there was something on the stylus. As well as a stylus brush, there are various sticky pads which work well - again used infrequently. I also have one of those anti-static guns. I don't doubt it does what it says on the box, but whether squirting the records with ions actually reduces the amount of dust they collect I am not at all sure.

[@jimcabezola3051]

I've used the old Discwasher brush for ages.

[@IndigoDavei]

I haven't tried it with flour (!), but I use the Disco-Anitistat record cleaning gadget coupled with L'Art du Son solution (rather than the solution supplied). As a moderately-priced option, it gives pretty good results. It's a bit of a compromise between the under $10 options and (say) a Pro-ject VC-E2 or similar.

[@paperbackwriter64]

Good video, I love almost anything to do with vinyl.

[@LeftyPem]

So much snake oil in record cleaning. I use a Spin Clean and it’s standard fluid/distilled water for day to day cleaning, and a Music Hall vacuum based cleaner with Record Time fluid for heavier jobs. For the really serious tasks and expensive rarities, I employ a friend who uses a multi-step ultrasonic and vacuum process.

[@bobsoldrecords1503]

I use a Spin Clean machine with Tergikleen fluid. Works very nicely and it's relatively inexpensive

[@beatmet2355]

Can you get the fluid online? I have a spin clean. It definitely does clean the surface, but there’s still pops and crackles as it plays.

[@WC0125]

My process is a bit labor intensive but worth it. I use one of two similar cleaners; the Vinyl Style Deep Groove or Spin Clean wet bath system. The difference is Deep Groove has an axle and clamp and seals the label off which is helpful.Spin Clean rests on the sides so you need to be careful of the label. Rotate them in the bath and let them sit wet for a few seconds. This loosens the junk. Then rotate again. Remove from bath and rinse the groove area off with a household sink sprayer. Put on vertical rack to drip off. ALWAYS PROTECT LABEL...This is why Deep Groove is great...it also has a built in rack. After a few minutes drying, finish with a clean, soft, lint free cloth. This method works for all vinyl and 78s. Keep an eye on the "bath" of the cleaning device. When it gets cloudy, replace the fluid. Also, using a white cloth you can note when it gets dull. Replace as necessary. I'm aways amazed how just a few seemingly "clean" looking records can turn the washer fluid cloudy gray with this method. A word of caution. Be very careful using any cleaner with alcohol in it, especially with old shellac records! With vinyl, high alcohol concentrations will remove natural oils from the vinylite record which can make the material more prone to wear. With shellac records it will destroy them. Alcohol is a solvent to shellac and will soften and ruin the record. Even products with a small percentage of alcohol in the total solution can be detrimental.

[@RobAtTheRocks]

i also have a Loricraft PRC4. Its a fantastic machine which is a joy to operate. It cleans (and dries) the vinyl thoroughly and runs quietly enough to use when playing music. Unfortunately not cheap.

[@Parlogram]

Agreed Bobby. My Loricraft has paid for itself over the years.

[@robertlakay88]

I use a spray bottle with 50% alc/water mix and a soft cloth, the kind used for spectacles. I find that really dirty records need several clean and air dry turns. I get to a point where, once clean, they stay clean and just need a dry dust off with a soft cloth every so now and then.

[@Pascal15B]

See most of these comments, it’s really crazy how many carry out crazy “cleaning” techniques. These clearly work for them, especially if they are using basic equipment with £20 or $20 cartridges, then that might not be such a big thing. I started with a basic wet cleaning system in the mid ‘80s, then moved to a simple vacuum cleaner & then onto a much better vacuum cleaner. These I found to be really good. Then I came across ultrasonic cleaners & bought a simple setup. These were another step up the ladder. I then upgraded to the outstanding Audio Desk System Pro cleaner. That proved even better again. But, this year after some research, I bought the new Degritter MKII Ultrasonic cleaner. It’s by far the best I’ve used by a long way. As I buy mostly LPs from ‘65 to ‘72, & are high value first pressings, that are at least VG++ or better, I know they require cleaning. For me, playing LPs on a turntable setup costing close to £20K, it’s vital that they are clean. People would be surprised if they saw how much stuff the filter catches, even from NM LPs. After reading many of these comments, of people’s methods, I’m so glad I do have the luxury of this cleaner. Well worth checking out. Thanks again for taking the time to do the video Andrew.

[@luvmyrecords]

I use an old Dishwasher brush; the fluid - which leaves no residue - still is available. It works quite effectively, but sometimes, does need a second pass. I don't know if the stylus brush and fluid are made anymore, as the original company has changed hands at least once, but it also has prolonged the life of my styli.

[@mikewebster5597]

I use one of the 1st type of pad you featured and put my turntable into reverse so the dust moves towards the edge of the record.

[@mudsongs]

I use a standard RCA Discwasher brush with a liberal amount of a Isopropyl-based cleaner, essentially rubbing alcohol (70% alcohol, 30% water). My only complaint about the RCA Discwasher brush is that it's too short to cover the full side of a standard 12-inch record. The handle of the brush is 12cm (~4.75 inches), which is long enough, but the edges of the brush are curved so that only about 8cm of the brush can make contact with the record. Is there an advantage to having a brush that doesn't cover the full side of a record? In any case, if anyone ever produces and RCA-type record cleaning brush with enough length to cover the whole side of a record, I'd buy it.

[@calebwright6151]

I’ve used a Knosti manual cleaner for a number of years with my own cleaning fluid made from 95% distilled water 5% Isopropyl Alcohol with a couple of drops of Ilfotol water dispersant and finally for dirty records a drop or two of Ecover washing up liquid it doesn’t have any harsh chemicals or perfumes in it. I know collectors get a bit jumpy about any alcohol on their records but I have had nothing but clean better sounding vinyl for years with no problems.

[@donaldlush2822]

I have the same device - works very well on most records.

[@trevorbrown2813]

I use Knosti until I took my turntable for a service. They told me that had to give my stylus a really good clean as he found something on it. He asked what could it be. I said probably my record cleaner as it does leave residue after cleaning. He said just stick with the carbon fibre brush. And use stylus brush.

[@calebwright6151]

@@trevorbrown2813 It's probably the cleaning fluid they supply I had issues with residue as well. I threw that away & used my recipe instead....Works a treat

[@donaldlush2822]

@@trevorbrown2813 I use a stylus brush and a carbon fibre for the record. Never have any problems

[@millopguy]

I use a tried and true setup that's inexpensive. Start with a Nosound Record Label Saver Waterproof Clamp. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate Spray Bottle. A Spin-Clean Record Washer Mkii Replacement Brush. Spray bottle with distilled water. Lint free Viva paper towels. Compressed air duster. A rack to air dry any remaining moisture. You will be amazed.