My Record Cleaning Process 2017

This is how I cleaned my vinyl records in 2017. Questions I have been asked about this process are answered in a follow-up video here: • Record Cleaning Questi...
UPDATE: 2020 cleaning process is shown at • Record Cleaning Madnes...

[@gogogostopstop3891]

Enjoy your videos, Bill... and for those of you who CAN'T spend 40 hours per week cleaning your LPs: one part 99% isopropyl alcohol to four parts distilled water in a spray-bottle, spray LP, wipe off with a soft microfiber cloth. Done. (if vinyl is really dirty, repeat process)

[@z1522]

Uh, 99% iso costs dramatically more than the standard pharmacy 71%, and as you're just diluting it anyhow, this seems silly; if you must, calculate the dilution needed to result in the same final %, by starting with 71% and adding less water.

[@mikewest1542]

I would be worried about the fingernail brush !

[@kylesmith9048]

@@z1522 this man gets it. I often see people with similar misconceptions about alcohol in other applications. So many people think the higher ipa% means it’s better. Obviously if you’re diluting it with water, there’s no benefit in using higher ipa% - just like you said. Another example is disinfecting. 70%ipa is more effective than 90%+ because higher ipa% evaporate too quickly to be as effective. 70% is the way to go for disinfecting and dilution.

[@ivanbogush]

@@kylesmith9048 I guess they're worried that the other 20% isn't pure distilled water, but if the isopropanol is supplied as lab or pharmacy grade solvent, it most likely is. That being said, I've had success just washing old $1 records under the sink, letting them air dry, and then wiping them with a mix of Audio Technica surfactant-containing solution and distilled vinegar using a discwasher pad. I tried using just the AT liquid without the vinegar and there was very little result. Another thing to be wary of is building up static, so no more than 2-3 drying rotations with the discwasher.

[@budsmoker4201120]

If you need to use a detergent the only one to use is liquinox.

[@Paneeks1960]

Hi Bill, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing your cleaning process. I particularly enjoyed your liquid settling comparison in and around 13:40. You know I never knew that grain alcohol could be used for cleaning. But better the wax than my stomach. I always thought that deep cleaning took a lot of time. But if you want your records to clean up, play clear and look good you have to put the work into it. I will try this process. Don't be a stranger~ Rob/Boston

[@tonymontana897]

This is an excellent video. Thank you for this method of cleaning LPs. You make total sense with all the aspects you mentioned. I appreciate the time you took to make the video for the rest of us. To the thumbs down people... Go and get some joy in your lives for crying out loud. If you all know better, upload a video and show us how.

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

There is an update and a rebuttal to those thumbs down folks at kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqvOnHyQpclgecU and thank for watching and commenting!

[@dixielandfarm]

Great seeing the process, Bill. You know Im a sink washer, but it is always good to see what other people do.

[@mauricemason7135]

I will put this to test....thanx Bill's Box Of Sound!

[@dondieu3154]

Great info, Bill. Thanks. I'm going to try that with my SpinClean and see if my records come out cleaner than they have been. Looks like it works real well. Thanks again.

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

You might want to watch my update ”Record Cleaning Madness 2020” for other tips. Thanks for watching!

[@Vince_Tasciotti]

Hello Bill, Yes, I did see your earlier Spin Clean Record Washer video. And Yes, I purchased a Spin Clean on the basis of your video. But I do not always use store bought distilled water. My preferred cleaning fluid is water from my dehumidifier. For some reason that I can't explain, dehumidifier water gets the records that much more clean. I also add a step to my Spin Clean method. In between the clock wise and counter clock wise rotations, I move the records back and forth over each quarter of the circumference 3 to 5 times. Then let the record drip, dry with the cloth and wipe it with a carbon fiber brush, and the record has a radio broadcast ready playing surface. On the basis of your new video, I may add a few drops of Everclear to the Spin Clean tank. I can see where it will be an aid in removing very stubborn debris. I would like to ask, how do you clean your stylus? We are treated to your record cleaning techniques, but how do you maintain your stylus. Also what is your preferred MP3 cleaning technique? Vince in Poughkeepsie.

[@docholiday5766]

Listening to that brush scrape across that record for minutes was painful. This was insane.

[@ralex3697]

Will not damage at all Records are sturdy, you’d be surprised

[@Stringbean421]

@@ralex3697 Yeah right,..I believe you,..millions wouldn't!!

[@galus14436]

@@Stringbean421 not a big deal on a scratchy sounding record, or a part of a record that had a few odd skips. Just make sure there is a soapy slippery lather on the record before using brush. It has really helped at times. It does probably help were the record out a bit faster, but who can handle a very scratchy sounding record. The reward outweighs the price in this case. And that's why having many records helps, play more records, and less of the same record. The glue deal works too.

[@garypenketh4940]

Awesome Bill - thanks!

[@oswaldclarke6247]

I think this is the most effective way I ave seen🎵🎵🎵💯💯💯

[@arcturusbbqsausagemaking2435]

Just started listening to vinyl again pulled my records out of storage to find out that someone must have put them near a heat source at my old house Yeah they were melted ,Not all but a lot , I just replaced them and some just have to be cleaned ....Great video Thanks for the info just subscribed

[@slam854]

Very informative. I just ordered a Spin Clean plus a Record Doctor V. My VPI 16.5 HR does not clean all the crud from older recordings.

[@jazzbumsmike]

just came across this video -- that's one of my favorite records, rat pack at the 500 club 1962. awesome.

[@stevehughes5403]

I have been digitizing Friends LPs since about 2002, My fee was a 24 pack of Beer for every 25 LP's and of course I had digital copies of any music I wanted to keep, and many after having the Digital copies did not want the LP's back and let me keep them. Also had a condition they were in no hurry to get the job done. What I do is add a few drops of Blue Dawn Dish soap to about a pint of warm water. "I figure if it would get Alaska crude oil off little ducklings it was safe for LP's" before the recording process would put the record on a clean cloth and using a 3 inch wide disposable natural hair Chip brush "About a buck at hardware store" to work the solution into the record and let sit a few minutes then going over a second time, Final step rinsing under warm water from the sink Sprayer "Note I do live in area with good soft water supply" . Then let them air dry on the Dish rack like you use. Then before recording use the typical record once over with the record brush. Having done this hundreds of time now I have not had any problems and it is easy to do with minimal cost. Thanks for the video, I enjoy watching what others do and appreciate the time you spent making the vid.

[@nanchanger]

You just equated duck feathers with vinyl...

[@ronholz7624]

Nothing like a Maytag for hands free bulk platter cleaning , you know for those hard to reach places , lol . Good tutorial , thanks

[@ForTheRecordaudiophileMichael]

I have to say the best instructional video on the topic. Great job thumbs up

[@dsonyay]

I use a few drops of jet dry (for dishes). It's a great surfactant and doesn't expire like the other chemical you use. Good video

[@DocJJohnson]

Great video

[@paultopace1234]

Good tip for adding the enzyme cleaner. I think that is missing from most cleaning solutions. I think it is spots of mould that are the most perstistent problems for record cleaning. Thanks for the video.

[@mercurialmagictrees]

seems like an excellent method

[@DMC428]

Hi, I personally recommend using 40 % isopropyl alcohol in the cleaning solution. It doesn't hurt the vinyl, but dries off faster... Pretty good in regions with high humidity and/or lower temperatures.

[@goldenvinylspin]

I did a review on it too and has been good to me for views as well. But like you I have changed my method too. maybe it's time to share a new video.

[@lastcrateontheleft]

Hey Bill! Thanks again for making another informative (and helpful) video. Your contributions are appreciated :) -greg

[@Beatgeneration2010]

Hi Bill, what about the suggestion of the light surgical gloves to adopt in the process?

[@Methodical2]

Can you use any nonionic surfactant? I have some nonionic surfactant (wetting agent) that I use with herbicides. I asked because I checked the Triton data sheet and see that it can be used with Agrochemicals, too. I'm going to try your cleaning mix. I have a similar mix, but will add the enzyme cleaner. Curious. Why don't you make a gallon mixture and have it ready when needed? What is the shelf life of the enzyme cleaner? I can't spin that fast with my pads in the spin clean. Thanks... Update: I experimented with the surfactant and it works.

[@Hoss1492]

From an affiliate point of view or just an informational point, I wish you had the links to the items you have suggested in your vid. thanks for the vid

[@orbsphere-]

I had the same idea a few years back to use an old TT plater. Didn't have a spare on hand and the ones I found on-line were to pricey for this use. I looked into something like a Trim 'n Turn Plus Cake [decorating] Turntable for around $10. It's just under 12" diam. Drill a center hole and you can temporarily use the spindle off your TT or make another. Get and use a cheap woven (not solid) TT mat. Makes me kind of nervous to be moving the brush haphazard over the record grooves. I hold the brush perpendicular to the grooves similar to how you hold the Spin Clean brush later in the vid and spin the TT with my free hand. BTW it's been 40+ years and still can remember Everclear. LOL

[@tomkendall4532]

Interesting video! You say Triton X-100 has a shelf life of about two years. Have you ever thought of pouring it into glass bottles, then refrigerating them? That little trick works for lots of liquids with short shelf lives.

[@lorenmars5244]

I've been using water, few drops of dish soap and a half cup of alcohol in a quart sized spray bottle. Before, I tried SprayWay aerosol foaming alcohol free glass cleaner. Leaves residue. Giving your process a shot next.

[@sidvicious3129]

Great video on record cleaning. This is very similar with the exception of the Spin Clean solution that a guy named Koolkatjazz came up with and posted on 02-11-2015. He uses the nail brush and the Triton X-100 and he uses an old record player with a shop vac that he modified with a small tube to clean the solution off of the record and he uses three bottles the last being the wash and he makes his own enzyme cleaner that he makes from fruits. He lets the cleaner stay for 15 minutes. I use this as well, but not with an older record cleaner. Hey if you came up with this on your own great and if you got the idea from him, show him some love and mention him, "koolkatjazz how to properly deep clean records". This method works great and I do have a VPI which I use as part of the cleaning process and I have a spin clean that I use to either prewash or as a ending to clean any residue off (depending if I fell lazy or not). I also use the VPI cleaning brush as part of the process. I have used this process with great success, bringing VG- records to VG plus or better with repeating of the process or letting the enzyme work on the record longer.

[@razorback-mark]

Bill, I found some x100 and added a cap full to my ultrasonic machine which holds about 1 and 1/2 gallons. The x100 is awful thick and dropped straight to the bottom and stayed there. How do I get it in solution? Thanks

[@georgeprice7922]

One question: will this work with Polystyrene 45's,at least to get them clean enough to run to a computer? I'm in the planning (ok,putting 45's and- if the 45 skips badly- finding either CD versions or mp3 versions of the songs on a computer) to hopefully start an online radio station that strictly plays music released on or as singles...but not necessarily the HIT singles, just so long as it's on a 7 inch 45....although, I do have a few 7 inchers that run at 33 (such as Carole King's "Pierre" ).

[@SGW4K]

The alcohol will probably wreck polystyrene records..

[@sharonsmith948]

Do you know of any where i can get my album covers restored to like new condition ..? Thanks i really like your videos!!

[@dwoodog]

Really good video. Just to throw my 2 cents in, I did this too, the home brew cleaning fluid, the old turntable as a RCM platter. Then upped my game, bought a okki nokki. Bailed on the home brew methods, and bought some actual cleaning fluid that you just dilute and good to go. Big difference in time saving. The old method 3 to 4 records I was done, now can do double that before I'm getting a back ache leaning over the table. IMO if you have a nice table and say your up in the 500+ records and growing, treat yourself to a RCM. VPI, okki nokki. It's soooooo worth it.

[@n__neen]

any reason not to use a tiny amount of dish soap instead of an obscure surfactant? dish detergent is also a surfactant (breaks surface tension)

[@bradymorgan5207]

I use a wire brush! It will definately make sure you get everything!

[@gazzertrn]

Brillo steel pads are best , that pink stuff on it works great .then dry off with a heat gun .

[@taranagnew436]

does the vinyl-zyme gold get the dirt/grime out of the grooves or is it a combo of all of that in the deep cleaning fluid?

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

It's a combo. Vinyl Zyme is good by itself too, this is just how I roll.

[@jamesallen5591]

Everclear! Crap, did you just bring back some bad memories! I think.

[@thomaskendall452]

Many states don't permit sale of Everclear. But 99.9% isopropyl alcohol is available on Amazon and is legal everywhere. It's not cheap (about $20/quart).

[@z1522]

Basically, Everclear is pricey ethanol that IS drinkable, because you pay liquor taxes, as opposed to Denatured alcohol from Home Depot that has toxic methanol added. High % isopropyl is far cheaper from most pharmacies and works great. I used to use Simple Green, but Krud Kutter works even better on household stuff w/ less noxious smell. Vinyl is pretty tough in regard to these liquids even full strength soaking for an hour. Such a cleaner/surfactant, with water to dilute on the surface, with gentle brush scrubbing in line w/ grooves, then several rinses under the faucet, an alcohol rinse with more brushing if you must, and a distilled water rinse and gentle microfiber dry is going to get anything any other method will, given most records will never be exposed to adhesives or other really bad compounds. I do not recommend a power washing unit, tho' I bet it would outclean any other commercial product, but "playable" might be limited to frisbee golf.

[@kjelleriksson5122]

I treated a number of albums 45 years ago, but I can't remember the name of the product. It was a one-time treatment. Those who made it hoped it would last 20 years, but it still works. There is still NO static on the treated records. I marked them with a "p" on the label. The package included the fluid, a roller made of inert rubber and maybe something more. Do you know if this anti-static still exists? TIA.

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

Kjell Eriksson Might that treatment be called “Last” or “Sound Guard”?

[@nanchanger]

@@BillsBoxOfSound hmm...

[@ortsplaytv1954]

Great!

[@vinylkats6281]

Most interesting

[@LordOfTheThreeWorlds]

That hard brush will certainly scratch the vinyl. A VPI RCM replacement brush would be an improvement. Too many chemicals for 99.9% of records - especially worrisome is the alcohol. Distilled water with a drop of that Triton or another anionic surfactant will suffice, followed by distilled water rinse or spray. Terrycloth will leave lots of threads behind, fresh microfiber cloth would be an improvement. Rest of video is well done, good luck.

[@andrewcrain5461]

Well I like everything you did but to dry my albums I use a wet and dry vacuum with a soft brush that comes with it I found that that works very well cuz it sucks any leftover dirt they maybe left you can get the Rack you at home or lowes $34 Dollars

[@FlipSideCT]

Why reinvent the wheel.....will give this a go......I have been doing the lazier approach and getting tired of the poor results.

[@generalgozz]

The width of a record's groove is 0.04 - 0.08 mm. There is no way the bristles of the brush are getting into those grooves. All that brush is doing is creating more minor scratches. If that cleaner is as good as he says it is, all need to do is spread it around with his finger.

[@victorvella9760]

exactly

[@utub1473]

Yea I was thinking “There’s no way that’s getting into the grooves themselves”

[@TOM-C.]

And, the way he is drying these, seems there would be more album label contact with the water. But, to each his own. lol

[@AndyP126]

I use a nail brush on my records. You can feel it "riding the grooves" as you spin it around the record. How deep it get in the grooves I guess is debatable. But I've gone from pop and click hell to dead silent surface noise using a nail brush. If the nail brush bothers you, use an ultra-soft toothbrush instead.

[@ArczAngel]

@@AndyP126 any nailbrush will do?

[@bingsinatra5283]

The Nagaoka roller cleaner is what I used back in my vinyl days.... truly great.... there are similar versions of it available online.

[@connorm955]

Personally i would NOT use that nailbrush! unless it was used on a record like the one you cleaned. I wouldn't mix different cleaning fluids. Plus aren't you supposed to use as little isopropyl alcohol as possible?

[@nanchanger]

or none?

[@Stringbean421]

All I can say is thank goodness I use adblock so he doesn't get monetized for my clicking on this video

[@HeadbangersLocal]

A fan blowing dust in the air onto a damp record? Aren’t you just putting dust right back on it?

[@davidtillwach5542]

After all that you go out and buy a record doctor cleaner machine like me ,but i slod mine last year i needed cash . ill buy another one soon . . But thats for dirty thrift store records . I keep my vinyl clean and i clean the stylus as well . Im yet too try a Mr clean magic sponge Ive heard good things about them .

[@wampat9520]

Are those b&w hm110 speakers that you have?

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

DM110i, yes.

[@TechNed]

The plastic bristles on many brushes aren't even round ended but even if they are, they're usually a bigger diameter than the width of the the groove. That looked too brutal to me.

[@LEDFOOT49]

Man I think you are like the best record cleaner out there. All you gotta do is a test sound before and after. Before I even spend the money on all the liquids. I know, I know that they are not expensive. Skip the turntable I use the Vinyl Stack is a better on hand process. I’m also or was a certified carpet and fiber cleaner my take is using a surfactant high alkaline and then your 110 what ever you call it. And the rinsing process distilled water and distilled vinagre. What I learned at the cleaning institute is that acid neutralizes alkaline meaning soap. When I cleaned carpet and it was really really dirty I used really high alkaline plus degreaser and finished up with a neutralizing rinse.

[@nanchanger]

Huh?

[@LEDFOOT49]

@@nanchanger exactly only a certified cleaner understands how to clean anything at industrial standards . Everyone else will respond huh? It's all about the PH scale when it comes to cleaning everything is measured. By Ph even the soap you use to shower dude.

[@nanchanger]

@@LEDFOOT49 I don't put soap on my records, and only my Pigface stuff is Industrial...

[@LEDFOOT49]

@@nanchanger what ever dude if you add a surfactant it's soap dude it's just another name for soap. I don't see anything being cleaned without alkaline I don't even try to understand where you are going with this. What ever. Cary on.

[@LEDFOOT49]

@@nanchanger if you don't want to add a surfactant at all then I suggest to try alkaline water with a PH of 10 there no soap or surfactant but good luck with that because water itself washes away but don't clean any oils or dirt. Try washing your hands without soap good luck with that too.

[@sheilarogers8719]

Would a tooth brush work

[@EWmedia]

I wanna hear at before and after listening...... I have some vinly i have clean and they still crackle

[@D_2_da_K87]

I use a 100% cotton cloth and a purdy paint brush.

[@ianaintsaying1625]

Throw the plastic bristled brush in the trash and use one with natural hair fibers (boar or goat's hair for example). Unlike the plastic bristles the hairs will actually get down into the grooves and clean them. The plastic bristles just push the grime deeper into the groove since they're so much thicker than the hair fibers.

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

You need to watch my 2020 record cleaning video, I use a different brush now. But the nylon brush served me well.

[@Fontsman]

That nail brush is lethal. You can scratch a record just by removing it from a paper sleeve, so God knows what that brush does.

[@galus14436]

Yeah, but when you take a record out from a papersleve, the record isn't soapy slippery wet. The nail brush is good for rough records, it helps polish, flatten the scratches, and remove some skips. And paperscuffs dont seem to effect too much playback anyway. Its dust embedded in the grooves, mold etc, and of course real scratches. I normally use a flat paint trimmer doodad as a cleaning brush, but do use from time to time the fingernail polish brush. Try it

[@thomaskendall452]

Paper always has little bits of silica embedded in it, so paper is harder than the vinyl record surface. The right kind of fingernail brush is softer than vinyl.

[@nanchanger]

🤣

[@Beatgeneration2010]

Why did you not let us hear the sound comparison; before and after? Then we know whether the process worked or not (effectively)!

[@karimmore2199]

Because you don't play a dirty record with your beloved stylus and there's no point in playing it on the garbage turntable either.

[@moonytheloony6516]

@@karimmore2199 Uhh no. You can play a moderately dirty record with a diamond stylus. It’s the hardest surface. Secondly, if you paid attention to this video, which you didn’t, Bill does not use the “garbage” turntable to play his records. He made that clear in the video. A Before and After demonstration is very reasonable to demonstrate that the process actually supports the claim. That’s how science works. Karim.

[@nanchanger]

@@moonytheloony6516 🤣

[@giovannibaietti2384]

Analogis clean (Lenco clean) but with Vetril liquid, from 50 years and for the rest of my life !!!

[@marktuyet]

Laundry detergent such as Tide contain surfactants .

[@nanchanger]

What else?

[@patrickfrawley8705]

Where do get the Spin in clean from?

[@nanchanger]

them

[@THEBATMAN28AHH]

Cant surfactant be found in dishwash soap? Any tips?

[@blackwaterdogs4256]

One or two drops of Dawn dish detergent will act as a surfactant ("water wetter")

[@idtubenod]

The proof is in the playback. There wasn't any. 😶

[@davelevac5904]

Does the water hurt or remove the label in any way ?

[@nanchanger]

yes

[@821tone]

Do you only dry one record at a time?

[@nanchanger]

🤣

[@donsmith3309]

nice

[@PrinceFluffy]

Jeez, I wont be putting no nail brush anywhere near my records, I use a paint pad ....lovely and soft ..

[@think2023]

You put a diamond stylus on it!!

[@nanchanger]

Nail brush bristles are no stiffer than a pad...

[@60638286]

How did people get so fanatical about records ? we werent like this in the 60s and 70s . all we used was miled dish soap water and a soft artists brush , it worked great.

[@gaza4543]

It’s all I do and I’m pretty new to it all. But I use a microfibre cloths instead of a brush. Works great

[@Stringbean421]

@Bill Many of us didn't even go that far with cleaning records in the 60s and 70s. We just used a micro fibre cloth sprayed with some cleaning fluid and gave the record a wipe over. Did the trick. People have become so bloody obsessed today with trying to make their records as squeaky clean as CD but there will always be pops and crackles, it's the nature of vinyl.

[@72Disco1998]

@@Stringbean421 I agree, I guess it's a millennial thing.

[@thomaskendall452]

@@iroj3241 It's amazing what kind of gradoo can build up on vinyl records after 40-50 years. Back in the day, we were playing discs with brand-new surfaces. Nowadays, that's probably not the case, unless you're buying new pressings.

[@nanchanger]

No, that's what you used, I was using the Discwasher system...

[@jimmyducker5197]

I mixed my one record cleaner its in a spray bottle its 3% peroxide abrought haffull and 70% isopropyl alcohol very little and nasal saline solution

[@casperguylkn]

That could work ok. I do denatured alcohol and distilled water.

[@szozeernany1299]

Is that red brush really good for your record?

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

NO! of course no! warning

[@SGW4K]

Maybe not good but not bad either, it's only a nail brush. Remember your stylus is diamond, I doubt nylon bristles could possibly be worse.

[@nanchanger]

@@SGW4K diamond in the grooves, bristles not...

[@Buck380s]

It seems like a sure fire way to get views on KZbin is to post a video on some wacky way to clean records. I haven’t yet seen someone attach a rack to the roof of their car and go through a car wash to clean records. Anyone who wants use this for a video have at it. Enjoy the views and please don’t forget to monetize.

[@ryanlindsay2662]

I clean my roger Hodgson albums In ey strom is clan good

[@erowal1]

I usually just use the end of the t-shirt I’m wearing at the time to clean my record before playing.

[@theTORTUGAZUL]

Before or after using it to wipe your nose?

[@steelydanfan100]

😂😂😂

[@steelydanfan100]

I just put my records in the dishwasher on the china/crystal setting ....

[@marktryon5373]

Hard to imagine cleaning all 12,000 plus records I have with this method - 18 minutes per record???.....I love my noisy as shit VPI vacuum-type cleaner that'll do the same thing in all of 60-90 seconds......for those who think VPI's brushes hurt records that is only for those that do not keep the brushes clean throughout the process. I use two tooth brushes - one to keep the VPI brushes clean and the other for records that had a stubborn bunch of dirt or finger marks and for those I'll use 99% alcohol mixed with distilled water and work those spots out manually and then run it through the VPI. I've had my VPI HW-17 since 1988 and though it's needed a little service here & there, that I did myself, and replacing old brushes, it's been a work horse!!!

[@steelydanfan100]

Why could you not use dishwasher rinse aid for the surfactant ?

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

Never heard that suggestion before. Lots of folks use Dawn liquid detergent.

[@steelydanfan100]

Bill's Box Of Sound a dishwasher rinse is a stronger surfactant .

[@nanchanger]

@@steelydanfan100 with many other contaminants in it...

[@johnrees5867]

Like the information....Question..... One of my Beatles LPs i cleaned many years ago useing cold tap water, the problem now is when i atempt to play it crackles all the way through from start to finish, ive taken a very close look at the LP there are no scratch marks at all so could be the crackle was caused by useing tap water and not distiled water.................. is there anything now that i can do to remove the crackle and would any part of your video content that could rectify the problem.

[@marmabeast]

Hi John, if your Beatles LP is old and pre-owned, remember most people smoked in the 60s 70s and 80s and smoking is a nightmare for records. I use a bleach based detergent solution and clean my LP s with a record cleaning brush and then play both sides and you will see a string of gunk coming out of the groove and you will need to clean the stylus maybe after each track. The LP should be glossy and shiny and not only click free but with clearer treble. Think of it as gently cleaning nicotine staining off a picture.

[@blueshirttail]

yes, tap water has minerals in it. if you use tap water in a steamer, eventually it will clog up and you will have to run vinegar solution through it to clean it out.

[@repairitdontreplaceit]

i bet your turntable bearing loves you

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

reviews and repairs I doubt that Turntable will be used for listening ever again. You can use a lazy Susan or just clean on a table top.

[@VinylCollectorJames]

I bathe with my precious records. Big bird bubble bath does an AMAZING job with those stubborn grooves that need a deep clean. Then I remove from said bubble bath and transfer outside the tub to my foot soak filled with epsom salt and toilet water. Rinses the Big Bird soapy stuff off just fine. Then I just dry then with the towel I use when exiting tub. Not only is this method effective its great time management. If they still appear a little damp, my hair dryer set to maximum heat fixes that little problem real quick, although I have noticed some warping issues now. But I'm working on that next solution with my toaster oven. Will let you know how that goes. PS - don't do any of those things. After further review I've ruined most of my records uugh

[@casperguylkn]

Thanks douchebag

[@machango1970]

Maybe you thought this commentary might be funny but it just comes to show what an asshole you are.

[@DetroitNerd]

I feel like the fan would just blow dust on the record

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

Please check my follow up video in the description. I address that concern.

[@paulomontero12]

Time to start using a cd player.

[@kimchee94112]

My head just exploded. The irony is will not sound better than digital due to RIAA in cutting the LP as well as playback compensation not to mention tracking error, anti-skating, seperation, dynamic headroom, wow and flutter, S/N ratio, frequency response and the elephant in the room, clicks and pops no amount of cleaning will completely remove. With a decent system you still could enjoy LPs, I like the artworks but that's about it with a few exceptions of couple of albums. If you don't want to clean it, get the Japanese no mechanical contact laser player but that have issues, one being cost.

[@MrSonofsonof]

A new fingernail brush for records only? Do you think I'm made of money!?!?

[@LEDFOOT49]

I'm only trying to give my point of view of once a certified cleaner of just about anything! But you guys can clean your records how ever in the heck it pleases you. If it works for you well then keep doing that. I don't like people Net Banging on me. If you don't have nothing nice to say then shut the F up! As far as I see this guy is doing an excellent job on cleaning records just giving my 2 cents. After all it's up to him if he takes my words for granted or accepts them. For the rest of you Net Bangers Piss off!

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

Whatever works for you - that's right!! Check out my video "Record Cleaning Madness 2020" - I address the trolls and flamers. Thanks for watching!

[@jimmychua6529]

I do it while the record is playing with water on makeup brush the sound will be clear

[@ottschi63]

I'll be back, when i'm in retirement!👴🏻

[@ZippaD]

You probably still buy green bananas.

[@jvidia]

Not a very consensual cleaning method this is. I thought alcohol damages vynil! And that nail scrub sounds terrible. Doesn it make micro scratches? This method look very scary to me lol and where did you learn to mix those liquids? The resulting chemical formula can be dangerous to vinyl in a long term. Who nows right?

[@wcnmvp3820]

Alcohol doesn't damage vinyl and neither does the fingernail brush. See, vinyl is made of a plastic called PVC (you may have heard of it because it's used in plumbing pipes) and is very strong and rugged. A fingernail brush uses material that is not strong and is quite soft. It will not damage your vinyl or make any scratches.

[@kevinfetner7983]

@@wcnmvp3820 And you base this on scientific microscopic examination? Otherwise, we're just victims of your brain confabulation. Where is the actual science in any of this? Searching KZbin for record cleaning methods is like going to used car lots and listening to their spiel.

[@wcnmvp3820]

@@kevinfetner7983 Just ask any record store owner about it. They'll say the exact same thing I have. And yes, numerous people have used microscopic examination after using a fingernail brush and no changes have been spotted

[@kevinfetner7983]

@@wcnmvp3820 Record store owners don't do scientific microscopic examinations of record groves. If they sell a record and the customer doesn't come back in to complain, they consider that a win....hardly scientific. On a lot of systems, you're not going to hear micro groove damage. But as you go up the food chain in audio, you hear more and more from your records....sometimes to the good, sometimes bad. All I'm asking is to show me the science before one should take a nylon bristle fingernail brush to record grooves.

[@shanny6043]

@@wcnmvp3820 Mom and Pop record stores are flipping records, they'll say what ever you want to hear!

[@stem50]

AIRBORNE Dust Particles are getting Right Back on your Record by drying them on a Rack and using a Fan to Dry them ....BAD IDEA .

[@DetectiveOnan]

Shelf life of triton matters for scientific lab work. For cleaning vinyl is not so important. So, it will last a very long long time if you store it properly

[@hmrowland6114]

NO alcohol on vinyl it dries out the plasticizers. I wash prior to every play unless it's been held in a rice paper sleeve - clean new records before the first play always.

[@nanchanger]

With?

[@D8TNCracka]

i wouldn't do that on my turntable, all that stuff dripping down cant be good for it.

[@thomaskendall452]

That's why you find or buy a junker turntable that you use only for washing records, as he mentioned. It doesn't even have to be a working one.

[@moonytheloony6516]

Uhh…did you not listen to the video carefully? He very clearly pointed out how he got the turntable and that he uses it strictly for cleaning records.

[@adriantool]

Thanks seems like a lot of work :( ill try a shorter versión

[@rpg896]

No before and after. No way to know if it actually helped.

[@johnmundiejr3959]

No way that brush isn't damaging the record?!?! This is a very bad idea! Fingernail brush- the hardest thing touching my records is a micro fiber towel! who is this guy?

[@tarstarkusz]

I really, really seriously doubt a nail brush is physically capable of hurting a record. The bristles are very soft. If they don't damage your fingers, they are not scratch the record.

[@HarmonyMan]

Notice, He didn't play the record afterwards?

[@ajmoore2201]

Harmony Man that’s probably for copyright reasons

[@D_2_da_K87]

No way that brush is damaging the record...

[@gearbox7043]

Actually, the bristles on a fingernail brush is way thicker than the grooves in a record, so the brush no way impacts nor has any physical contact with the sound producing part of the record. If you look at the Pickering and Stanton Carts of the 70's, they had a dust brush on its stylus and it only rides on the record lands doing no damage and also does not impact inside the grooves. The chemicals he uses is the only thing that touches the inside grooves and removes and dissolves the decades of hardened dirt and pot smoke coating the grooves lol. The brush just agitates the chemicals.

[@charlesludwig9173]

The objective of cleaning records is of course to make them sound better. I think most folks want their cleaned records to play pop free. So far, I have not heard a pop free result with any cleaning technique I've tried. Now, I've gotten close to pop free; but, there always seems to be one or two pops which will persist at particular places on the record which just cannot be removed. I can accept this when the record having been cleaned is a used one; and, I can digitize the record and remove the pop digitally, or I can just download the particular song from iTunes to replace the offending song. On a new record, I will just take it back to the store and get my money back; but, this is a hassle. So, what to do?

[@casperguylkn]

Some vinyl manufacturers are notorious for having pops and loud clicks in vinyl. Modern picture discs have this problem too. Some you have to live with. Some are static. Dry climates will have more static related pops in records. Anti static gun or a carbon brush take out static.

[@kevinfetner7983]

Records bless them, are an imperfect media compared to the dead silence background of digital. But, those first-order harmonics and the coloration/distortion of analog keep us coming back for more. There was actually more science involved in the playback and maintenance of records in decades gone by. The sheer size/strength of the industry back then made it a required process for audiophiles. Now, it's just sea of opinions, almost all of them subjective. I've been collecting records for over 50yrs. I still can't tell you which process is best to clean records....you could say I've tried a FEW....lol. I say do the research on what chemicals can harm vinyl, stay clear of them and go with what gives you the best results by your OWN ears....bearing in mind that any actual damage you do to your records is irreversible. I'd like to see much more science in this (and not paid for by RCM manufacturers) and a LOT less speculation. Welcome to Fool's Paradise.

[@shanny6043]

Seems some cleaning methods clears one part of the record and residue creates pops and such elsewhere, possibly the wood glue method might be the best - after cleaning.

[@kevinfetner7983]

@@shanny6043 I bought records new back in the day that were full of click and pops.....still have them. All glues have chemicals...unless there is some science, how do you know those chemicals don't adversely affect the vinyl? Better to clean them conventionally and use a modern diamond design that will track in places that the older diamonds didn't...they make older records sound 'new' again.

[@vaughntonkin539]

Stay away from iTunes, digital sux

[@amysarg]

These methods are very, very questionable

[@ralex3697]

Thing is, your stylus should push the dirt out of the way, that is a belief of many

[@PrinceFluffy]

The nail brush.....I thought it was going to be used for scrubbing his hands afterwards not on the records...

[@cyclohexane9295]

This guy is crazy, he recommends to clean a NEW RECORD!! LOL!

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

If you only knew what kind of debris is on a "new record". Enjoy your uncleaned records.

[@moonytheloony6516]

You’re misinformed if you think new records don’t benefit from cleaning. Bill’s advice on this particular issue is shared by dozens of different KZbin channels devoted to vinyl including those who operate their own record stores. Both they & Bill know what they’re taking about. Do your research before you start calling people crazy.

[@janetowens7288]

Geez, how much crap do you need to clean a record. This whole video is good material for monty python bits

[@burdturglar]

Yeah, nothing like having to listen to that annoying vacuum sound. It can't be any worse than this lengthy video of questionable ways to clean vinyl. Next up? Wood glue!