PROOF! Cleaning vinyl records NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION!!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Hi, thanks for watching the video. Its very long and deliberately starts of slow to get you ready for all that hits you in the second half - so make sure you give the video a chance to show you some very cool stuff - or use the chapters to find the bits you might want to see specifically.

[@phrayzar]

I've been assing about cleaning records for nearly 30 years now. I only started using an ultrasonic cleaner a couple of years ago. It really is a complete game changer. Records that I thought would always be noisy are now quiet, especially after 2 cleans. I have one of the cheap Vevor machines and I've done 1000's of cycles with it now. What is amazing is that the sound is more detailed and spacious with the US cleaned vinyl.

[@llewellyn56]

I just use micro fiber cloth. That’s it. Been using for years. Works for me. No pops no skips. Great video

[@negolfman]

Someone showed me after an alcohol, soap and distilled water cleaning, using wd-40 and distilled water blen, can remove deep dust and remove pops when listening to your vinyl.

[@Baci302]

@@negolfman Using a blend of WD-40 and distilled water to clean records is not recommended as WD-40 is not designed for cleaning vinyl records and can potentially damage the record surface, leaving residue and potentially affecting sound quality; it's best to stick with dedicated record cleaning solutions or a mixture of distilled water and a small amount of mild dish soap

[@automatedelectronics6062]

Records are charged with static electricity when placed into and removed from a lined inner-sleeve. Brand new records have a high static electrical charge from the manufacturing. They are not packaged in a cleanroom. As you remove them from the lined inner sleeve the first time, the record pull dust out of the air like a magnet. Any friction on the record, brushing and even playing, generates static electricity. Wet-cleaning records neutralizes static electricity. Over-vacuuming creates static electricity. Using glue on a records does leave residue behind. No matter how much glue you apply to the record surface will not all be removed. Plus it takes a long time. Thank you for your exceptionally thorough video. Very educational. I love your scope. What brand and model is it?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thanks very much, here is a link to the scope I used geni.us/4PHPwBA

[@DJStanSteel]

I love my vinyl but it’s all over kill, clean by hand each time, enjoy your music and store away carefully. I’ve been doing this for over 50 years and still play albums from the late 60’s that sound great. Few pops but hey ITS A RECORD not a CD.

[@Skyshakerrrr]

It's a record for sure😂😂

[@piffromney1916]

I agree I’m not that old but I’m old enough to have had records and still have a record player, clean them be gentle with them store them properly don’t try to overkill with a bunch of chemicals just distilled water some people even use tap and have no issue

[@therealchickentender]

A few very clean microfibre towels, some gentle homemade cleaning solution, and an even gentler hand with a tiny bit of patience do a wonderfully good and very adequate job IMO.... Provided you care for them and store them well in the meantime. For sure.

[@Brian-qg8dg]

Some of the methods tried in the video are pretty much what you do, and by your statement, those would be considered not over kill. Yeah, a wet clean is great way to kill static and get a pretty good clean. Then a simple swipe from a carbon fiber brush is usually good enough.

[@RickSanchez_85]

Well my records are also this old but without any pops. Why? Because I want this "overkill" and I'm not satisfied with mediocre results.

[@alangross2277]

Thank you for the time you have spent confirming my cleaning methods. I started handwashing with a Paint Brush and have progressed to using, a hand scrub prior to a Vevor UltraSonic Cleaner to deep clean. I then use a carbon fiber brush before each play.

[@MichaelWelch-du1id]

Hi mate well done on your vids. After being a hopeless vinyl junkie for many years I've stuck to a very simple practice in record cleanliness and achieving clear playback is to avoid the need for wet cleaning through proper handling and re-sleeving. Obvious no no's being of course keeping fingers (or any other body parts for that matter) off the vinyls playing surface. Avoid finger prints at all costs as they will act as a glue for dust and harden in the groove over time causing terrible playback and creating the need for a wet clean (in which lighter fluid is my go to for a quick residue free finish). Prevention is always better than cure and preventing small particles (or anything else) from entering the groove to start with will be your best defense at maintaining quality playback for years to come. So keep record sleeves/covers and storage areas as dust free as possible + playing equipment. Always handle your precious vinyl with CLEAN hands (even though you shouldn't be touching the record surface anyway) holding from the edges only. Also eliminate excess static with a pass over the record surface with the tone arm raised which should earth any static through the stylus. Hope this has been of use to yourself or anyone else reading, keep making interesting videos. Thanks Steve

[@OS_SWE]

That MFSL pressing of Scetches Of Spain is my favorite pressing of my favorite record. Sounds phenomenal. Great work with all the in-depth testing! It's all very interesting. Keep up the good work!

[@erwindewit4073]

Interesting. I bought that record used for 1 euro. But I'm sure it won't sound as good either..

[@gsherlock]

Well done Terry for this methodical approach to record cleaning.

[@millopguy]

Great video! Cool to see the grooves in a closeup manner. As far as cleaning goes for me, I have been using a personal tried and true affordable route that delivers incredible results. A label protector, Simple Green cleaning spray, a Spin Clean brush, distilled water for rinse, Viva lint free paper towels and a small USB compressed air blower to assist drying time. Thereafter, I always use my Zerostat, a Boundless carbon fiber brush, and Opula fluid/brush. I can't emphasize enough how good Simple Green is for cleaning. It's my secret sauce for safe and effective vinyl cleaning.

[@rajendrakumarduggar1835]

What do you use to wipe the record with after rinsing? The cleaning cloth cannot remove the water residue lodged in the groove, so it has to dry by itself.

[@MrZeusFaber]

Simple Green all-purpose cleaner you mean? Do you use it in the solution or just kike that right onto the vinyl?

[@johnnyg1700]

I clean my records the cheap and cheerful method Terry. Label protector for the center label ( less than £20 from Amazon), wet mixture of Iso, distilled water and a drop or two of Fairy liquid mixed up and applied with a soft brush held over the sink and given a good old wetting going around following the grooves. Wash off with filtered water, placed down onto a 40cm lint free microfibre cloth and patted dry with another lint free microfiber cloth, flip over and do the other side. Place on kitchen drainer stand to air dry. Works every time for me! Simples....

[@shaunmk]

very similar to my method

[@rajendrakumarduggar1835]

What do you use to wipe the record with after rinsing? The cleaning cloth cannot remove the water residue lodged in the groove, so it has to dry by itself.

[@keldherbst]

I use a regular T-class Delta Definition synthetic paint brush. I point the bristle tips AGAINST the grooves while rotating the record, and in my experience, this removes all dust/debris that create audible pops and clicks from my records. The bristles are pointed and very thin, so I believe they actually get to the bottom of the grooves. In the case than something has stuck inside the groove, a brush will of course not be able to remove it. When I experience a needle jump, I therefore locate the precise location of it, and use a plastic tooth pick to force it out of the groove, and so far with success. Wet cleaning is another story. When I buy used records from my local used records dealer, I know that he cleans all records with some kind of machine. The brand is unknown to me, but the results are good. Older records in my collection simply get a treatment of lukewarm water with a drop of dish washing detergent added to the wet record (never unto the center label though). Then I wait a moment for the water/detergent to take effect, and then use a a soft brush several times all along the grooves the whole way around. This seems to work on my old, battered records. The record is then placed on a lint-free dish cloth, and dried off with a similar cloth, again running it along the grooves until the record is dry.

[@puciohenzap891]

The difference in sound quality after cleaning records is incredible and greatly underestimated. I always went: 1. Wet cloth to remove fingerprints 2. Knosti with DIY fluid 3. Second Knosti with demineralized water 4. Degritter Heavy run ultrasonic cleaning 5. Few zaps using Milty Zerostat. Sadly I sold my Deg due to financial reasons. The Zerostat does wonders on static pops.

[@brunohebert1351]

totally agree wet clean for used record is a must especially for the fingerprints etc I live in Nevada and the Zerostat is a life saver in this high desert climate. (heck it works too when you have a clingy shirt especially when you get of the car.) I don't have a Knosti, I use a paint edger to wet clean in the kitchen sink with a basic 3-1 clear shower gel that has conditioner in it. It's what help the record not get too staticky to begin with. Then, in the Humminguru (I wish I could afford a Degritter or a KLAudio) At every play, a gentle brush from the Audioquest carbon fiber brush. Works pretty good for me.

[@davevandemark6586]

I thoroughly enjoyed your explorations and processes. I, too, own a Degritter, though it is only a lowly, outdated, ineffective version 1 machine (just kidding). The company's recent firmware update has created a nice two-tank cleaning process, which includes a pre-wash and a rinse. I'm using the following solutions: Into wash tank goes 1,400ml distilled water and 4 drops Tergikleen and 1ml of Degriter's own solution (I get a sudsy look if I use 2). The 4 drops of surfactant is roughly equivalent to maybe 11-12 drops per gallon, so I'm being conservative in the amount used. I always run my Degritter on the "heavy" cycle, which includes 6 minutes of actual ultrasonic cleaning. The Degritter then asks you to remove the "wash" tank and put in the "rinse" which is filled with 1310ml distilled water and 90ml 99% alcohol (roughly a 7% quantity). Degritter rinses the LP briefly then drys it. Total time is 15 minutes. I normally put a record through two of these 15 minute cycles (why not be thorough?) What is notable in the wash cycle is almost no sudsy-bubbly look, but instead a glossy "sheen" of water covering the entire record from edge to label, even on the record at its highest point of rotation. No dry looking spots form (obviously the LP is wet when being washed, duh). But I still find this look tells me the surfactant is having a "helpful" effect - and maybe this really means nothing, I know! My reasoning for the. small percentage of alcohol in the rinse is that it certainly can act on things that water alone doesn't. After the record is dry, I take it to an old gadget I've had for decades: a Kinetronics anti-static film cleaner (I'm a photographer who still has lots of negatives) which is connected to a small air compressor (with filter traps for water & dust). The compressor hose connects to a small roughly 4" cubic box powered by 120 ac. From this "box" an air tube and wire go to what resembles a paint sprayer! I "pull the trigger" on the "sprayer" and out comes a 75psi blast of clean air which removes any static charge and blows away anything else clinging to the record surface. The record then goes into a new static-free sleeve. I also give records a "blast" of air before playing and also when I flip to other side. Never are ANY brushes used and no physical contact is ever made to the record. I use a DS Audio ST-50 "gel" type of stylus cleaner and I never see any gunk collected on it since obtaining the Degritter. I only use the wash & rinse solutions for 20 passes, then start afresh. I went on-line to see if my unit is made any more and it doesn't appear to be, but others are). I do not see dust being drawn to my LP's and there are rugs all around. I own an extensive collection of early Decca classical music and pressings often had poor vinyl often with very audible surface noise (yet the records are otherwise pristine looking). My process really cleans that up nicely!

[@geoffdaykin250]

The one thing missing from your testing, Terry… the good old fashioned cleaning machine. You have best of both worlds because you’re brushing and wet cleaning at the same time. I use a pro-ject vcs and get great results using homemade solution (distilled water/isopropyl alcohol/small amount of detergent). I have found that you get better results with a stiffer than normal brush.

[@ridirefain6606]

Own the Degritter myself. For what it is worth I do a very similar method, dry wipe with brush, sonic clean cycle 4, wet physical clean with brush and surfactant, second sonic cycle 4 (shorter ones used in circumstances where the record has been taken care of.), remove tank, run a rinse with distilled water that is in a second tank and finish with the air-drying cycle. You cannot get everything, especially if it's a 50-year-old pressing where there was no attempt to conserve it. Sadly, sometimes some records get mold growing on them and the grooves get damaged. However, on most albums I can get things to a point where people will ask what CD I am playing?

[@robertogerber]

How often do you clean each record on the Degritter?

[@ridirefain6606]

@@robertogerber Depends on the condition of the record. If it's been well taken care of only once. If it filled with 30 years of filth it can go as high as 3 times. With a couple of physical scrubbings with a Kirmuss brush between cycles.

[@rickmilam413]

I mostly agree with your technique. I quit using Tergikleen after observing faint brush marks from my very soft goat hair brush during pre-cleaning. Someone I know with a very serious microscope (he does make cleaning fluids) maintains there is evidence of damage. I used the minimum strength recommended. Now I use a pre-wash on a vacuum machine with one of two cleaning solutions. Then a quick rinse (I'm a rinsing fanatic) and into my Klaudio ultrasonic with just distilled water. It replaced my Degritter and is clearly superior, both visually and sonically, albeit at double the price. I also used and still have a Kirmuss which is a very time consuming process that I rarely see the need for. Even if I use it I still do the final Klaudio clean/rinse. This is the best results I've encountered and after much experimentation, this is my technique moving forward. Thanks for the thoughtful video, Oh, the person with the very expensive microscope (I just have USB ones like you) said the glue method absolutely leaves reside in the grooves.

[@rajendrakumarduggar1835]

What do you use to wipe the record with after rinsing? The cleaning cloth cannot remove the water residue lodged in the groove, so it has to dry by itself.

[@rickmilam413]

@@rajendrakumarduggar1835 Usually nothing. If I rinse, vacuum, then into the Klaudio it's dry cycle takes care of it. I've been convince that if you're going to use a cloth you shouldn't use microfiber ones because the lint they have is microfiber as well and can get into the grooves. I either use the felt pad that came with the Kirmuss or, most often, a clean cotton diaper. Cotton particles are too large to gert into grooves.

[@danpetitpas]

This video just popped up in my timeline so I thought I'd chime in. From the comments, I don't think people understand the point of this video which examines a number of record cleaning systems in an attempt to get a record as clean as possible at a microscopic level. Saying I use water, or alcohol, or detergent, a microfiber cloth, a brush and so on and they work fine isn't really describing what is going on in the grooves. For example, regular water and/or detergent can leave sediments and film in the grooves. Alcohol can dry out vinyl. Brushes and cloths push the dust around. Sure, any of these methods can remove 99% of dust, and the records may sound fine on a mediocre sound system, but it's not describing what's happening on a microscopic level. And I appreciate actually seeing how these systems work throough a microscope.

[@markcarrington8565]

Great job, Terry! That’s some serious commitment to cleaning. I’m using the, admittedly noisy, but much quicker and more affordable Pro-Ject vacuum machine. I use a tiny carbon brush, usually used to clean a stylus to really scrub the grooves. I move it across the surface 5mm at a time, holding it for 2 seconds each time for a new record, 5 seconds for an old one. The audible results are fantastic and I’d love to see the results on your microscope.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I am pretty sure the first record I used for the test was cleaned with a Pro-Ject VCE machine back when I first started and that looked pretty good ti me and that is what was messing up my testing initially. I dont think I ever played that record either so it was new too

[@biketech60]

This suggestion may sound backwards , but try cleaning with a Degritter , followed by a distilled water rinse and vacuum with a Loricraft , which truly removes loose debris which ultrasonics detaches from the record . Some clean with a vac machine first to spare contamination of ultrasonic water , but rinse in ultrasonic leaves water on the record .

[@rkilbrai]

Would love to see how a Spin Clean matches upm. I'm guessing it would be very close to the Degritter.

[@flageborg]

Nice to see you have the same equipment to verify results before/after. Keep up the good work !

[@MD-wk3gj]

The extreme closeup near the end is very cool. It makes me think with any dust and minor imperfections it’s a miracle we can hear anything 😂

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yes vinyl is a miracle that is works at all :) what this testing doesn’t really show is how the dust is the collected by the stylus or how the stylus rides through it or over it as of course that will effect what we hear. One step at a time to try and get this sort of thing on video :)

[@RoccoXYZ1]

Did you ever wonder why people went over to CD's? I like vinyl and have many players and cartridges but at the end I just listen to the music and dont get myself totally freaked out by some surface noise. But I admire your determination. Happy listening.

[@ThemFuzzyMonsters]

Nice video! I’ve only done the glue cleaning method a couple of times but I used at least four times more glue. I made a nice, thick layer of glue, enough that it only takes minimal amount of manual application. Once dry, it was easy to grab, pull-off and it came out in one piece.

[@false_binary]

Excellent video! I use a Humminguru and triple wash...the first tank with surfactant, a fresh to wash it off, and a final fresh bath + auto dry. The difference in sonic quality is amazing...new vinyl is often the worst (yuck) lol.

[@davidtorres2048]

Thank you for the thorough breakdown!

[@negolfman]

Nice setup and detailed video, thanks for posting this.

[@rwlodarczyk]

Love your work. Wish I could send more as a thank you.

[@ESSBrew]

11:00 Thanks, Im going crazy trying to get my vinyls cleaned, feeling the same way about it all, and I cant wait to see the rest of this video.

[@Wised1000]

Im going to make it really simple. New records will have only surface dust. Your fluffy makeup brush is perfect for that. If you handle and store you records well, (MOFI rice paper sleeves are excellent), that's all you will ever need. Old records come in a variety of conditions but almost always require some wet cleaning. In my 40 plus year as an audiophile, the best fluid I have ever used is Tergikleen. a few drops added to a gallon of distilled water creates a "brew" that will clean the nastiest records perfectly and in one application. Apply (scrub radially) with a microfiber applicator like Groovewasher and wipe dry with another microfiber towel. It leaves old records spotless regardless of whatever was on there. The "carbon fiber" brushes are bunk, they are really nylon, and have thick bristles that serve to rearrange rather than remove dust. Another great solution for records that have more than just surface dust but not stubborn, stuck on embedded material, is the silicone gel roller. It's also a snap to clean.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I have not been buying new vinyl that long but I already know there is more than just dust on new records. Lots of people have their own best methods, not many people have tested them thoroughly under a microscope to know for sure. There is a lot you cant see by eye alone as this video shows.

[@Wised1000]

@PursuitPerfectSystem All vinyl is cleaned after pressing. Some can have some residues if its not done well. A quick clean with a clean, damp microfiber cloth with destilled water is all they should need. About the microscope, it's a nice tool. However, it doesn't tell you what is stuck on the groove and what is just fluff sitting on the surface. You would be surprised how much dust will simply set on the record within a few minutes of just lying out flat in the open just after it was cleaned. Again, if the dust is not suck in the groove, the stylus simply pushes it aside. A record is never truly 100% clean. The glue method is simply hairbrained you cant guarantee that it will all come off. Worse yet any tacky glue left over could end up gumming your stylus...a big problem! However, if you were going to try it, you should wait overnight to ensure that the glue is dry through and through before attempting to remove it. Finally, all that is all unnecessary, If Tergikleen can not clean it, it's probably better just to toss the record.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Pretty sure it was when I made this video where I unsealed a brand new record and it had way more than dust stuck to it from the sleeve it was packed in. If that record was cleaned at the factory there is no way it could have ended up like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqWmpmSDedmXaJY

[@jimw5165]

Great video and prompts me to relate my near perfect cleaning method as he prompted me to exam in my results with my own microscope. I use a VPI following their protocol including their solution and brush. Where I differ is: just after I turn on the vacuum, I apply a disk doctor brush at an angle to the now dry surface as it rotates and spray liberally with distilled water. The brush forms a water damn, slowly releasing the clean water to the surface. Microscope shows at least 50 times less surface AND groove gunk as the best example in this video. And I rarely hear a click or pop (less than one/side). My theory is that the vacuum arm is actually sucking the fluid up even before it reaches the arm, resulting in a very high velocity of fluid flow through the narrow grove which in turn results in tremendous turbulence that knocks everything loose from the surface to be sucked away. I am a retired scientist with curiosity about what is really going on but at 79 I am more interested in listening to pristine vinyl than making mods to my hugely successful method.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

the best solution in this video was no groove dust and better than brand new - if you can do 50x better than nothing congrats

[@jimw5165]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem you are correct, my comment of 50x was overall gunk reduction. And while surface gunk might seem of no concern to playback, I worry that the needle can drag stuff down into the groove where the pressure and heat might imbed it irretrievably into the vinyl. Or, as chemists are like to say, you can’t tell if the inside of a flask is clean if the outside is dirty. Which raises the interesting question of why the degritter is cleaning the depths of the groove better than the surface. Particle size? Sorry if I seemed to be critical, that was by no means my intention.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

There is a brand new model they just announced that brushes records first and is far more comprehensive of the water filtering - buts huge and very expensive - but maybe there is a clue there - but I agree on the surface dirt should be better but its hard to know what the exact cause is

[@str8_88s]

I found the record doctor vacuum system works really well. Also the record doctor turn table clam combined with a suede platter mat is the best combo out there imo. Great vids!

[@steveknipe579]

Great comparison of record cleaning options. Since ultrasonic preformed so well, I’d love to see a shoutout between Degritter and Hummingbird.

[@Wookiemonsterfreak]

Very nice presentation. I like seeing the microscope comparison. I recently tried a method out of personal curiosity, and so wish I had a microscope set up to compare. Perhaps I will break out the jeweler’s loop to get a close eye on results. Anyway, I used a paint roller the with of a record outward from the label, I shaved the fuzzy part off, sanded the roller smooth, then moulded poster tack on the roller, and began rolling the surface of some very poppy records. I followed up with an Isopropyl alcohol rinse, and enjoyed the results. I have yet to a magnifying device up onto the grooves, but from ears only, it was an improvement.

[@qj1247]

Hell of a video!! Great analysis!! Many thanks. Would have loved to see the Disco Antistat at work. What are your thoughts on that? Best

[@MSTrusAgent]

Thank you for the work and for putting out the results! I hope it will help people in the future be more careful when choosing the right cleaning method. I think we need more vinyl mythbusting

[@VoituresIngénierie]

Hi, thanks a lot for this truly superb video. Would be great if you could make the same comparison between manual cleaning machines such as Knosti vs Ultrasonic cleaning. Regards.

[@pontram]

I support that suggestion, since the Degritter costs about 2890 Euros (!) and the Knosti about 62. I cannot imagine that the difference - about 2800 Euros - would be visibly reflected by the cleaning results. Since standard ultrasonic cleaning devices (for jewellry etc.) begin at about 30 €, I would definitely feel not very good after buying something that expensive utilizing the same technology. But, there are currently several similar devices of Chinese provenience I've seen on A*zon, that are much cheaper. And there are some solutions with suction.

[@maxthefacts]

Thanks for the video. Unfortunately the cost of the Degritter is too expensive for what it is. Not everybody can afford the asking price.

[@chalkyc]

Great video love the detail and pics of the grooves man!,

[@jos5067]

Great 👍 video, Terry, thanks! 🙏

[@lesharknett3755]

I Enjoyed the video I've used the brush and the wet wash system, the one I've used and find it affective is the German made Disco cleaner and it's not to expensive it's worth a try.

[@jamesschneider3828]

You've gone down the rabbit hole. To me it's like thinking about traveling through space to see if you can see the other side without the realization that it will go forever. To me, I can put up with a few pops and crackles without coming close to the rabbit hole or a deep space journey.

[@rwlodarczyk]

Seriously LOVE your approach! Awesome work.

[@DaveSHarris]

This tells me I can make a significant improvement for £25. Off to do that now

[@jameswest6116]

Try a comparison video of Degritter machine vs. Humminguru machine 😅

[@thetragicyouth]

The great thing about your videos, Terry, is that you often show things that I didn't know I needed to see! That can be hifi equipment with a five figure price tag or the microscopic examination of dirty vinyl grooves! 35 minutes flew past in what felt like ten. Have you ever come across the Australian product called Record Revirginizer? It's not PVA glue, but works on a similar principle (sets into a 'skin' more quickly and much easier to remove from the vinyl) - would love to see that tested under a microscope as I'd always wondered whether tiny particles of the substance would remain in the grooves, invisible to the naked eye.

[@hoobsgroove]

I believe that's a type of rubbery glue? used in children's craft work it smells of ammonia? is that correct? that could be used. for the life of me I can't think of the proper chemical name.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thank you for the very kind words, pretty much everything is still new to me at this point so I am gradually exploring and experiencing new things. I will look into your suggestion for sure.

[@oiygfdxssfgg]

Hi, I own a Kirmuss record restorer and ultrasonic is the way to go, I have some records that took 10 ultrasonics cycles to get them clean and the anti static gun works very good.

[@robertballard8833]

I've had great results with dish soap and new 1.5 inch fine nylon paint brush over the sink. aftr washing and drying both sides,i then use a Diskwasher brush from the 70s. they look clean under magnification, and only need re washed after many plays. I use the diskwasher to dry clean each playing. bee interesting to see what you get using the dishwashing soap and brush method.

[@richardsinger01]

I have found brushes are very good at piling up the dust in neat radial lines across the record. Actually removing the dust from a record is rather hard with a brush. I think I will try the makeup brush.

[@pnichols6500]

Use a Giotto bulb blower along with a goat hair makeup brush, blast that line with air and sweep with the brush towards the edge of the record, works great. A good turntable light makes a world of difference too.

[@alexandrefernandes6286]

Here are some tips for those that want to use the glue process: 1. Put a record on a lazy Jane. Don't hold it. 2. Apply a thick coat of slightly diluted glue with a soft brush. You NEED to brush along the grooves so that the glue goes inside them. 3.Leave to dry for 8h. 4. Repeat side B. 5. Peel glue off of both sides. Thick layer leaves no residue. Done

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Have you checked under a microscope to see if no residue is left? You can’t see it by eye always as I showed

[@tomwebb7091]

Alot of "white dots" arent dirt at all. Alot of the time its minor fill or stitching issues caused during manufacturing. Sometimes its seen as patches of tiny speckling, sometimes its more a line of larger shinier pearls in line with the grooves. Theres no amount of cleaning that resolve these issues. They are only issues if they are audible though. When they are they tend to produce a ripping, tearing, scraping kind of sounds.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

That’s very interesting to learn about thank you

[@anotherfatbeardedmantalkin5893]

Yes, I saw that MOFI Miles record and immediately thought I was seeing the tell-tale signs of non fill. You really don't expect to see that in a record which costs so much. I wonder if it was given as a freebie as it was a return? To be honest I'd rather have the dirty Good Morning Vietnam disc, which could be cleaned, rather than the Miles with the non fill.

[@BomBoo-rn8gj]

Pick a method...and DO IT>>> Mine. I “wash” first in my SpinClean using a 50/50 mix of distilled water and Simple Green, spray rinse, and wipe with microfiber. Then a deep cycle on the HummanGuru Nova. (works great on the really dirty vintage). A new purchase gets the Nova clean only. “It sounds like bacon smells”, Bonnie Raitt described her vintage 1965 Stratocaster. ☮

[@TheBinaryWolf]

I mix a little detergent with water and always play my records wet, for no amount of cleaning will resolve the pops and crackles that are secondary to worn vinyl. The procedure does not prevent wear, but it dramatically slows it down.

[@77MovieFan]

Great video, still considering buying a Degritter but I already have a cheap ultrasonic cleaner and a Levar Twin which is very similar to the Clearaudio Double Matrix. Levar Twin gets in every groove with their liquid I guess but IMO it is not getting the dirt out efficient enough. Happy that I bought the Levar and not the more expensive Clearaudio because I founda dealer who cleans everything with the Clearaudio and their records sounded as shitty as mine, so the Clearaudio isn´t working much better with difficult records. Degritter is getting the dirt out but getting into every groove all around the record is very difficult, will need multible tempts. Pure out of logic I would say something like a Keith Monks Prodigy Deluxe should do better because it really gets in EVERY groove, but is it really enough? No clue Another legdown would be the side after side cleaning, I really like my Levar Twin for doing both side, gets the job done really quickly. My guess would be, starting with a Degritter cleaning, then going into ghe grooves again with a Keith Monks and finishing it of with a Levar Twin will work the best, but this would be very expensive just for cleaning. If you have a huge collection then it might still be a solution. I highly consider it now OR I´m buying a new cartridge with the capability of my Clearaudio Goldfinger but not as critical when it comes to noise. My Goldfinger really is a diva when it comes to this, extremely sensitive, maybe other brands to this better, no clue yet

[@ahaveland]

Dust in the grooves is the worst - the needle can hit them and then deform the vinyl leaving permanent damage. Surface dust builds up on the needle and can cause skipping. I think I'd mount the record in an electric drill, spin it up slowly and try using a shower, or even pressure washer to dislodge the dust in the grooves, this should remove the particles completely instead of just pushing them around to find another home. Then use distilled water to rinse and spin up faster to dry. The ultrasonic cleaner looks cool, PVA method interesting especially if there's a solvent for it that doesn't touch vinyl. Compressed air with a vacuum also another approach, or use all methods!

[@Fontsman-14]

Over 30 years ago, there used to be a liquid PVC record cleaner. You applied it and once dried, peeled it off. Unfortunately, when you then played the record, there would be residue PVC debris build up on the sylus from the cleaner. So I abandoned using it.

[@Woofy-tm8si]

Frequently cleaned records can sound brand new after years of playing. I have records from the late sixties I thought were played to death with horrible surface noise. Two trip through the record cleaner and their surface noise mostly disappeared and they sound like the pressing is nearly new.

[@davevandemark6586]

In a post I just made, I said, " I went on-line to see if my unit is made any more and it doesn't appear to be, but others are" That was in reference to the anti-static air gun.

[@RemyRAD]

Really, mate. From across the pond here. As I see it. As, you can see it's also. Through a microscope. The grooves all have modulations. What the hell are you doing trading a needle through it still? What century are you living in? Who wants to play records with needles? We should be playing them with lasers. And optical sensors. To retrieve the resolution. No stupid old vibrating needle can, deliver. I mean you are living in the past, man. And you have perfected the past. Great! You learn how to clean your records, finally. After all these decades of records. For the past 100 years. It took you 100 years to finally figure out how to clean a record. You should be proud of yourself. Your mother would be proud of you. Your father would be proud of you. The rest of us? Not so much. And so there are laser record players, available. No more needle geometries, to care about. Just pure, laser tracked and defined, sound. Vibrating needles? Give me a break. Vibrating magnets. Vibrating coils. Have you gone mad? And how many of them are using neodymium magnets now? Those only last a few years before they deteriorate to, normal magnets. But stupid people will never know that. And you'll spend $10,000 plus. Just to play some aging old records. And while the polyvinyl chloride after all these years. Loses most of its, internal lubricity. It's no longer resilient like it was when new. It'll never sound again like it did when new and young. But how would you know? I've always hated, vinyl and records, in general. So susceptible to the, environment of dust and dirt we live within. And possessing the wrong static charge. Attracting all that dust and dirt to it. And a folly if you think you can get rid of it. Before the next layer accumulates. Ugh! Let me tell you c. We were elated. When in 1983. We got the world's first CDs. Hand delivered to us direct from Japan. At NBC Radio's Flagship, Washington DC FM music station. #1 in the ratings. We got the world's first CDs to play. It was Michael Jackson and others. We couldn't read anything. It was all in Japanese. But it was still Michael Jackson. And sounded better than any record or tape, ever. And we knew we were onto something. No more scratchy records. No more noisy records. Huzzah! Done. Gone. No more crappy sound from bad pressings. Maybe you should go back to the planet you came from? And you got to wash the records. Change the static charge of the records. And spray them with some WD-40. So the needle can track with less resistance and heat. On a molecular film of lubrication. That displaces water, in the air. And hangs on your records. And instead if you use Dawn dishwashing detergent. Your, needle will clean all the crud out of the grooves better. When you code your records with, Dawn dishwashing liquid. As its higher viscosity also helps to dampen, the resonant frequency of the cantilever of the stylus. Which, you did not consider here. Yes those little cantilevers I'll have a resonance frequency. Best damped down with, Dawn dishwashing liquid. Acting something like a shock absorbers upon the cantilever of the stylus. You'll hear the improvements immediately. The sound will be smoother and cleaner sounding. Your mother would be very proud of you today. If she was still alive. But no. All of your screwing around with the stereo system. Killed her. And it's all your fault she is gone. You have cheated your family out of your mother. Because you're playing with your stupid record player. And did not know she had a heart attack in the living room. Shame on you! Your poor mother. Hopefully that did not occur? But you can see how it could. If you do not code your albums with Dawn dishwashing liquid before you play them. Hasn't also save a lot of oil soaked birds. So you know it has to be good. Even for your records. As it has a surfactant. And Surfactant's get Funky. Along with James Brown. James Brown! James Brown! You say, James Brown. I say, James Brown. So where is? James Brown? Who you say? James... Brown!? James Brown?!! Now what was that you were saying? RemyRAD

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

It must have taken a very long tome to write all that, that likely no one will ever fully read. Thank though for 5 paragraphs of taking the piss when clearly I do not care. Good effort though :)

[@MattfromBelgium]

Very interesting, great work !

[@marcparsons1726]

Part of the charm sometimes! Just played a brand new record and oh well still fantastic

[@thomosburn8740]

the metal handle of the audioquest brush is supposed to touch the metal spindle of your turntable's platter to electrically ground the brush and reduce static. plus the carbon fiber bristles are supposed to reduce static even further.

[@mcnaugha]

I’d love to see this same kind of analysis done on the much more affordable Spincare recording cleaning “machine”. Just how much difference does it make to a record under the microscope. Then compare to ultrasonic to establish the value differential or not as the case may be.

[@sergiolopez-pf6tx]

Hi, I love your curiosities, but now I would like you to prove I am wrong about LP cleaning, more especially Picture Disc. I have tried a new way never seen before anywhere. My methodology consists in put salt cooking butter and spread over the disc, with a micro brush, I spread even further and after a good scrubbing I put some fairy liquid and spread it over the record, scrubbing some more time and finally rinse with warm water and dry with a towel. Never my records were clean like they are now. Believe me! Prove me I am wrong.😊 Sergio from Upper Norwood

[@bgroovin1343]

I wish you could do the same analysis of my cleaning method to compare it to the Degitter. I'll put it below in case you decide to do more comparisons in the future. 1. Cleaning mixture: 1 gallon of distilled water with 20 drops of Tergikleen and approximately 2 tablespoons of 99% isopropyl alcohol. 2. I use 2 Vinyl Styl manual cleaners, which are similar to the Knosti Disco-Antistat cleaner (goat hair brushes). 3. In the first cleaner with the mixture; 5 revolutions of the record clockwise and 5 revolutions anti-clockwise. Let the extra solution drip off into the container when finished. 4. Put record in second cleaner with only distilled water. Repeat the revolutions. 5. Dry with a vinyl-vac. I place the record on a lazy susan that has a record mat on it and I mounted a wooden dowel for the center hole Let air dry a bit more before packaging. I normally clean 8-12 records at a time due to fluid cleanliness and time. All records get cleaned , even new. I use a similar carbon fiber brush and Milty Zerostat before each play. It all seems to work pretty good. I also catalog my records into Discogs when they get their initial cleaning.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

That would probably work very similar but I don’t have all the bits to test it and it’s a lot of money to buy all that in. It’s cheaper for you to buy the scope and test it for yourself :)

[@middleearthltd]

Been looking at various cleaning alternatives +1 to a label protector but not alcohol So far highly diluted Dawn or Simple Green hand washing and rinsing with distilled water sounds best post cleaning when played Not saying it is the best method but for me the best and most silent sound I don’t have any cleaning machines so I may just get a microscope and look 👀 I have your results for comparison Microfiber cloths and a dedicated record cleaning pad for setting the record down during cleaning with super soft brush or soft sponge … still figuring it out Use nitrile gloves But I need to get a microscope like you have to really know other than the sound improvement Might get a record vac wand for in between use Use the same method for the CDs except swipe out rather than around Regardless this was an excellent video

[@peterz3373]

I've been using ultrasonic cleaning machines for some years now with very repeatable results. Your microscopic comparisons are very interesting and lead me to the conclusion that most of the grains that are visible even after thorough ultrasonic cleaning must have been sucked in from the environment and shot at the record by the machine itself during the drying process. The Degritter - as opposed the the Gläss machine - doesn't seem to have air filters at all.

[@GordonPyzik]

Once the record really dries again. Its back to tics and pops. Cleaning only stops static charge.

[@mymixture965]

Great video, it has good information in it, thanks for doing that.

[@Hi-FiChess]

If you use pva glue to clean tiny crevices of anything you have to put it on very thick so there aren't any thin spots that remain when peeled off. For albums you need to carefully put up a "tape wall" so it doesn't flow onto the label. Lastly the thinner formulas work a lot better at getting in smaller grooves.

[@erwindewit4073]

Thank you for doing this. And doing it WELL! I've been playing records all my life. But nobody has ever done a thorough type of test so far, so I'd just done what everybody does. That Audioquest brush is interesting. The only thing I still wonder whether the ultrasonic cleaning can be done more affordably.. Getting a cleaning machine that costs as much as the turntable itself seems a bit much.. But this, I can work with!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I think the most affordable ultrasonic commercial unit is the Humminguru

[@erwindewit4073]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Yes, I'm thinking of trying one of those out. Would you be interested in trying it out before perhaps?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

If they sent me one I possibly would but I am not in a position to buy one to test it, I have other things I interested to focus on more for my own peronal interest journey.

[@erwindewit4073]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Yes, i fully understand that. I am very much looking forward to your next step to be honest 😄

[@johngardner9227]

Well I wasn't looking forward to watching this video but I enjoyed it. I was thinking prior to watching here we go someone with little experience talking bull but I was completely wrong. I found the video to be interesting with unbiased objectivity and I learned something so thank you. I shouldn't have been surprised really as I've always found your reviews to be honest with unbiased objectivity. It would be good to see you tackle the controversial subject of stylus cleaners in the future, in particular the subject of the polymer cleaners which you dip your stylus into to remove debris. Thanks again

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thanks very much, yes stylus cleaners is on my agenda to look at. Especially after seeing the super close up shots I got and how much dust there is going on

[@PUFFTAFFY]

Thanks for another great video, I purchased a lazy Susan from the Swedish furniture people ,drilled a hole in middle cut the drill bit down and glued it in as my spindle then covered the surface with diy cutting mat,do myrecord pre clean then bang it in the ultrasonic cleaner, 6 at a time, can usually do 18 records in a hour to a v good standard. I wouldn't mind the microscope set up and I'd use the Susan under that . Did you get the audioquest brush in uk? Cheers!

[@jaymerritt6230]

Terry, I was in Berlin recently and visited a friend who uses a reed turntable with a super expensive SME Tonearm and an Ortofon Anna stylus cartridge, Kondo Audio Japan equipment an Blumenhofer very high end speakers, I mentioned I was thinking of buying a degritter, literally he laughed at me when I asked how he cleaned his records, he bought a degritter yeah it removed some surface and groove dirt, lowered the noise floor slightly decreasing pops, then he pulled out a painters brush Staalmeester, he said I’ve used this and nothing no single audiophile brush will get anywhere near as good as this, it’s made from ultra fine but relatively firm material that just digs in and cleans like nothing he’s ever used, a simple but expensive painters brush?? Go figure mate

[@Miersemann]

Can you tell me which type of Staalmeester paint brush you are talking about?.

[@JonnyParker-]

The Germans don't mess about like haha .

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

You can see why, the brush's do move the dirt out of the grooves we have seen clear proof of that now but at the start of my video I used the microscope to record the record playing as close I could almost get it to focus on the grooves and the sheer amount of dust on the cantilever and stylus is crazy and I had cleaned the stylus only seconds before with a brush. So that is one of my next forays is looking into making the stylus cleaner and anti static or something to try and repel dust because that cant be good. I think brushes can be great but they can also generate static so you have to think about it

[@jaymerritt6230]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem use a really good brush like a top end painter and decorators wide brush, super fine bristles, hold the metal casing as you would the furatec brush 🧹 alongside Degritter machine, so called record brushes are made from plastic, proper application brushes that top decorators use like the type my pal uses are made from really exotic materials like animal hair and have naturally anti static properties, use a zerostat gun not the furitec that’s way ott, like running that lmc5 into an ifi phono using a sup, way over the top, everything your doing is way better than anyone else is doing, nobody’s gone as far as you have, kudos to you sir for all your hard work, I kinda like the pops and bangs, kinda adds to the flavour of vinyl, I’ve been listening to vinyl for well over 40 years, been a HiFi enthusiast, changing and chopping gear since the late 80’s big raver too, so know both ends of the vinyl spectrum from DJ’s spinning and scratching using Concordes to the other end using SPU’s, actually I’m actually using the same as you right now, starling into a V10, it’s nice and bold, full bodied and clear as gin, very good bottom end, mids are bold, but I’m using ATC 100 asl using my old Sugden LA-4 as a pre but also as I wanna record to reel to reel, mate wait to you go down that rabbit hole, unbelievable sound if you quarter inch tape right! Anyway thanks for the response, I love the work you do and it’s lovely to witness you grow, some smashing banging kit you’ve reviewed too.

[@jaymerritt6230]

@@Miersemann steelmeester, they are unbelievably good, I would recommend horse hair, wide deep and tall, firmer the better, a big old paint brush but a high end professional painters brush, not some nylon 1inch crap you’d get from shit box mainstream hardware store, a proper horse hair brush.

[@robertogerber]

Thank you so much for doing this. I just bought a record player and 4 new albums last month. I want to keep the r. player and the records in their best shape. Do you recommend buying the ultrasonic cleaning system for new records as well, or is it best used with old records? Thanks again.

[@shaunmk]

interesting... i dont own top like kit...basically cant afford it.. i have a 2nd hand spin clean...use the solution...but i also make my own ...distilled water, few drops of washing up and a cap full of 99% iso..i seem to have half decent outcomes..i sometimes think some people go over board trying to achieve the ultimate end result...but im not a purist...but again, great video, well done

[@JohnWick-y2u]

You should try spraying a record with plastic dip (would be similar to the glue technique, but much easier to remove in one piece!)

[@Raymondey]

Nice job! I suggest to look under microscope of the record that has Tergikleen applied - you can see dirt floating in liquid

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yeah there is a video showing that effect for Tergikleen which is what sold me to try it in the first place

[@brucermarino]

Thanks for a great video. What if you got a test record with groves end it before and after sampling. The testing would not be so much with the microscope but rather listening and recording and comparing? Just a thought. Thanks again!

[@waltermartinezthomaz921]

Dear, congratulations for the effort, time and information... amazing... I have and love my vinyls. In time, very nice your turntable (a dream). Thank you very much. Santos-SP Brazil.

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

Very interesting, thanks for posting. Jim🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙂

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thanks Jim

[@ChristopherSchaub1]

You should get some 99% isopropyl and directly apply, then clean with a mix of distilled, isopropyl and triton x100, and then distilled rinse, each step vacuumed off with a vpi 16.5. I find 99% really loosens up the stubborn dust in the grooves. The secret is to vacuum it off . I find it more effective than tergitol and other approaches, even ultrasonic. But realize static electricity will immediately pull dust onto the record, so you need an air purifier and humidifier to keep static down.

[@joemartin6439]

I used an ultrasonic record cleaner. My records have a beautiful clean look. But best they sound as clean as CD playback

[@agentblue52]

For really dirty records, I use diluted dishwashing liquid, a 3M microfiber cloth, tap water. For last rinse, distilled water.

[@redpill4431]

Been playing records for years and always look after them and never suffered from many clicks and pops .

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

That’s the whole point of looking after them but if you buy them used then it’s the Wild West, to be fair new ones as well

[@MrNicks-gn8jc]

My approach is to take new-to-me vinyl and run it in the Degritter Mark II for 4-8 heavy cycles. This can, if not spacing each cycles 1 hour apart and keeping the tank lid open, cause a slight warp from heat (enter: 133 degree limit for 4 hours, followed-by overnight fully open bag cooling RECORD PI). The mix is always changed per record....1ml Degritter fluid with 40ml 70% isopropyl alcohol in distilled water. When all done with cycles of cleaning (keep running heavy cycles until the water naturally gets to the min level...then done), remove the record [might need the Record Pi treatment] and run the DeStat on both sides. Use new inner and outer sleeves (I like the 5.0mil outer and Ultimate Audiophile inner sleeves by Sleeve Town USA). .....thank me later :)

[@chengo51]

Please try playing the record while it is wet with some glass cleaning liquid. Wipe the diamond, rince the record and repeat the process a second time. Dry the record and please watch it under your microscope.

[@garyausten5939]

I'd never seen a microscope comparison before of records before....disconcerting to know how dirty a record can be even if it looks nice. Just listening to an old Beethoven record given me years ago by a friend from her late father's collection. I use a "Record Washer" (yellow plastic tub washer) to deep clean my records and a fabric brush of some kind for light touch-ups. Not ready or willing to spend megabucks for an ultrasonic cleaner!

[@junglejim99]

In the dishwasher set on a quick wash with a Persil tablet, come out lovely they do, if a little warped, but my tonearm can handle a bumpy ride 😂

[@williamrose7434]

Well done captain .. again tip of the hat .. you did make me laugh .. the PVA’ thing tho ha ha .. it dries see through whatever the application DIY or not ha ha .. dirty dancing beast ha ha .. well appreciated brother .. a mission by any other name ha ha ❤big love always and thank you

[@pierreduchesne0001]

As an anecdote, a certain big band jazz musician produced her album for streaming and on CD. Given the demand for vinyl records, an LP was also produced. When listening to this LP, this professional musician said: "Ha, it's interesting to listen to my music with all this background noise". The vinyl format is great, delivers exceptional sound quality on good equipment, provides an incredible experience. But if you don't want to hear surface noise or the occasional clicks and pops, listen to CDs. No cleaning method will guarantee sound as crisp as CDs. I'm not talking about the vinyl experience, again, different and incredible. But vinyl is a format that has its imperfections, which is part of its charm. And clean your records with a brush.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

When you look at the results you can see the brush does some things good some not so good, wet cleaning, especially ultrasonic is far better - then in my last video you can see how brushing can and often adds static - the imperfections of vinyl are inherent to the old technology, not from whats added to the record after I think there is an important distinction there.

[@rajendrakumarduggar1835]

Since a compact disc digitizes music, the sound is bound to lose its contours. No matter how many zeros and ones are used in digitizing, the resolution is not the same as high-fidelity sound. In contrast, a vinyl record provides a rich timbre to music, regardless of the pops and clicks.

[@thewoofer7955]

Very interesting and useful. Watched to the end. I've often wondered about the effectiveness of these products. Keep up the great work.

[@D3athW1ng]

I actually pulled out some popcorn around midway... best, through explanation with a why and how to boot ... 🥲

[@aurynaichi7030]

Lol all i've been using is a mircrofibre cloth and a wet cloth for removing pizza stuff. I'm only messing around the edges of the LP world with 50s and 60s 10" and 12" - now those have some serious filth issues!

[@monkeybone39]

For those dirty records.... lukewarm water in sink (few inches) submerge vinyl. Take out - rub lightly with kitchen towel dampened with a little washing up liquid - use gentle circular movements. Re-dip entire vinyl in sink and rinse off under a cold top. Stand to drain, dry in circular motions, and leave to air dry.

[@bimmer100timc]

I send my records to Perfecr Vinyl Forever for a true lab grade cleaning using their Archival 4.1 SMF process which is their newest cleaning process. Worth every penny and makes ultrasonic cleaners inferior. I know because I’ve owned 4 different high end ultrasonic cleaners and nothing compares to PvF 4.1SMF. Albeit most my collection has been done with their 3.0 archival process. I plan to send my favorites back to them to do the 4.1 SMF process. It’s that good. ❤❤😊 Also use MA recordings sleeve to prevent static and scratch’s. Far better than poly sleeves of all kind. And use furutech anti stat III to treat one time before using the sleeves. Done deal.

[@rufus_the_cat]

Hi Sir! I would love to see if soaking a record would hydrate the little chucks in the groove and soften them enough so that they would be removed easier.

[@kevinl6231]

Bit the bullet and bought an ultra sonic (wet) cleaning machine for $600 US. Happy as a bee. You could spend that much experimenting with all sorts of brushes.

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

But, my friend, you missed the best way to clean a record: vacuuming. I use both methods in a vinyl washing routine. First, I use an ultrasonic cleaner, and then I vacuum the still-wet record. All dirt is gone. Then, the records pass through an industrial-like anti-static wall blower or the handheld DeStat. For me, this is the best way. Vacuuming is important. I also use a microscope but mainly for checking my styluses.

[@larryhoffman7471]

Can’t remember, but did you try the vacuum type record cleaners? I’m sure many would like to see you compare possibly the newly upgraded Record Doctor to the Degritter.The glue method is one that most of us probably aren’t seriously considering, but vacuum type cleaners like VPI etc have been around for many years, and are used by many audiophiles. So those two would be an interesting comparison.