The Best Way to Clean Records - And why I don't do it

[@saltech3444]

I use small microfibre cloths, designed for cleaning spectacles, as a kind of glove for handling records. It keeps your hands off the grooves without the gymnastics of trying to hold the damn thing by the edges and label. I am not clumsy, but if you are it's a good alternative. I even carry one in my wallet, so I can inspect records without touching the grooves. It is hard enough drawing the damn thing out of the sleeve and looking at it, without simultaneously juggling it one handed.

[@jamesmilton-willmott7593]

I clean every record I buy, new or secondhand, before playing but only once. I've never had to re-clean a record but the difference after a single clean is massively noticeable. I use a 2 Knosti antistat baths and I have great results. One bath with a mild solution of 'Winyl pro clean 6' diluted in distilled water and the 2nd bath filled only with distilled water for a rinsing stage. I let them dry in a rack naturally and never get residue issues. After they're dry I always put the record into a fresh rice paper sleeve. This has worked flawlessly for me for quite some time now and I would highly recommend it to anyone. If there is anyone out there that disagrees with these bath type cleaning machines (Knosti, Spin Clean etc) then they're obviously just not using them correctly!

[@lsaideOK]

I've been doing the same thing but without the second bath. I'll have to give that a try.

[@davidclemmett9797]

Oh shut up James nobody cares

[@goatree_saluberrimae]

Thank you a ton. Im glad I dig around and didnt follow the cleaning rabbit hole. I just bought a turntable and a few vinyls and Im having a ton of joy playing them. I dont want to stress out everytime and clean record before and after play like a mad man :) your approach makes sense to me and fit my need, thank you again.

[@finmac5548]

Well this was VERY interesting. All these years I have been diligently cleaning my records using various techniques, both wet and dry, with an initial (straight after purchase or if records have not been played in a long time) spin clean type wet “bath” type cleaner and then before playing, using a goat hair brush lightly spray-misted with cleaning solution and also then using a carbon brush for static, yet I always seem to STILL have pops and clicks and static to the degree that sometimes you can actually hear the faint crackling of electricity as you touch the edges of the record and can actually see the dust being pulled from the air onto the surface, like a magnet! So frustrating! 😢 Your method sounds so much like plain old common sense and now I feel I was actually making things worse! I am going to invest in an ultrasonic stylus cleaner and a zerostat gun and see what happens. I will definitely post an update on how it goes! Hopefully after that my record cleaning days are over! Thanks Phil, this video has given me hope!! Cheers mate 😊

[@TonyCottrell-iv2qv]

Thanks Phil, another informative and watchable piece. I am definitely with the minimum cleaning plan. I have never cleaned records which I buy new, and even those dating from the 1970s are still fine. However second hand records are a complete unknown; and I always clean these in a Knosti Disco Antistat before first play. As others have said, don't use the supplied fluid, it leaves a residue. I have a second bath for rinsing after the wash. No residue on the stylus this way!

[@SaoLorenco]

this is by far the most common sense and useful video I've seen about record cleaning. It has certainly dispelled some myths for me!

[@MrWD61]

Helpful and sensible advice-I only use a sonic cleaner, and the results are well worth it.

[@eugeneoneal3034]

Many many years ago, early sixites, I was shown how to handle records. thumb on edge and curved fingers in the centre and put in sleeve as you did. I think it was Emitex I cleaned them with. Dreaded anyone touching them. First record I ever bought was Kyu Sakamoto's Sukiyaki, Still plays well on my Gyrodec (SME 3009 arm). Look after your gear, it'll last years.

[@recordmanjohn]

Ultrasonic ultrasonic ultrasonic! It's revolutionary! (no pun intended) I've had one for 18 months and it absolutely cleans to the bottom of the grooves, and this along with stylus hygiene is what high end audio is all about. Love ya Phil, go get a cheap Vevor (I got the HappyBuy package) and I only use 35° purified water with a touch of surfactant, but I only do one record at a time for up to 2 hours. Granted I haven't slowed the spindle motor down, but this has brought back records set aside for the garbage, others play back like tape. I have waited half my life for an effective cleaning method. Detail retrieval is markedly better. Takes records up a full grade, ie vg to vg+. Take the plunge! (pun intended)

[@recordmanjohn]

Has the added benefit of removing static entirely

[@false_binary]

Humminguru has been a great $500 solution, use Tergikleen surfactant + distilled water on first cycle, then two more fresh distilled water only cycles and the dryer. My understanding that not cleaning a stylus regularly and not cleaning records (new or used) degrades both. There is an audible difference (the amount of crud that comes off of new pressings blows my mind!).

[@VIDSTORAGE]

I dont have a Loricraft but that is my next buy one day hopefully but I only do a major manual cleaning with L Art d Son concentrate mix 1 bottle for a 1 US Gallon measurement to make it stronger ,not 5 liters just 1 time per record and that is it, there is no need to clean it any more ,but I do use 1 or two treatments after that only 1 time that is LAST Record Preservative if the record / lp is in new or very good shape and I'll l play it eventually and add one treatment of Gruv Glide ..When I clean an average shape record ,I will make sure it is dry and do 1 treatment of Gruv Glide on that and the static charge and heavy dust is never much of a problem after and a micro fiber cloth for the light dust will be the only thing left before a play .I know the treatments are safe , I have a 40 year old MSFL album and others I cleaned and treated over 15 years ago that still look and sound new ... I will dot my stylus tip with Stylast for every side to play ,it is for an extended life of the stylus for up to 10,000 x by reducing the tip friction and and allowing a of bit noticeable better sound at the high end .

[@danielstevenson-francis974]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner once when I bring the record home and swap out to an anti static sleeve. After that I just play the records. I’ve found that I rarely have to clean the stylus now. Before just using brushes I had a couple records that would gum up my stylus halfway through one side. I definitely believe less is more as far as cleaning goes.

[@stevesmyth4982]

Ultrasonic cleaners wok well, I bought one a few weeks ago and it can take up to four records at a time. The cleaning solution is approximately 90% deionised water, 10% IPA and a squirt of Fairy liquid plus the requisite amount of Kodak Photo-Flo 200 to assist even drying. Cleaning fluid temperature is 30 Deg. C, and on initial immersion the records warp a bit but return to flat after a couple of minutes as the temperature evens out.

[@antonb348]

I feel ashamed, I have fallen down the cleaning rabbit hole. This video makes so much sense. Thankfully I am new to vinyl and found this video early. Thanks a lot!

[@teaboy6340]

Great video and interesting to hear you support the Roy Gandy approach to record cleaning. Unbelievably I have the Audio Technica stylus cleaner that I bought in the 80s, which I found at the back of the cupboard after buying my Rega P3 in 2020, and it still works great.

[@bacarandii]

Before vinyl record prices exploded (say, pre-2010 or so), my love/lust for LPs was reinvigorated -- not just for my existing lifelong collection of discs that had been sitting in boxes in the garage for a couple decades, but for "pre-owned" records from thrift shops and used record stores. A lot of those records required a good cleaning, so I invested in a somewhat makeshift ultrasonic set-up that does the job splendidly with a jug of distilled water and a couple drops of surfactant. I am amazed at how much debris it can remove from the microgrooves of even a brand new, sealed record (especially if it's been packaged in an old-fashioned paper sleeve). Sometimes it takes a repeat cycle to get the disruptive dirt out, but in most cases I hope to only have to put them through the wash once in their lifetime. I try to use a carbon fiber stylus brush (dry) every few plays or so. (I'd never seen that Audio-Technica electrostatic stylus cleaner before.) I have an extreme dislike of extraneous "impulse noise" (dirt, scratches, static pops) because those unscheduled sounds throw me out of the music -- unless, of course, it's raucous amplified stuff like you'd hear in a club or a rock arena show with a loud audience anyway (and I don't listen to much of that at home). Also, I live with a rather large German Shepherd. She sheds. She brings in amazing amounts of dust and dirt and undercoat (and I am a bad housekeeps), so that I've actually obtained an air purifier to help keep the indoor air contaminants down a bit. I'm not at all obsessive about cleaning my records (I don't actually use a carbon fiber brush before and/or after every time I play a disc unless I see lint or dust on the playing surface), but I am very careful about how I handle and store them, and when there's audible crud in the grooves, I remove it. I like the Zerostat, too.

[@StonefieldJim4]

Really helpful. I've been over-cleaning records (on a budget - no ultrasonic machines for me!) for a long time. My 84-year-old dad said something to me recently that'll ring true for you: "Stop cleaning them! Play them!"

[@Boswd]

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is a great cheap and very effective way to clean your stylus. just lower the stylus on to it a few times and it pullls all sort of build up off.

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

I occasionally use a Disco antistat, all be it with different fluid as recommended by " the audiophile man" works for me. Jim 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙂

[@markcarrington8565]

Completely with you on all of your points, Phil. I clean every record I buy, new or second hand, once and store them in Mo-Fi Archive sleeves. I also shelled out on an Audio Technica 637 and use it to clean my Audio Technica stylus.

[@theheathster2]

When I went from a Rega 2 to a PT Export, fitted with the arm and cart from the Rega, the noise floor just dropped away, leaving me with more music, just as you said. Sadly the PT is long gone and I’m back on a Rega, although it’s a rather fine P6.

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

Hysterical! Roy Gandy would undoubtedly approve.

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

Really good advice

[@vinylrulesok8470]

I clean my records if they need it but mainly to keep the stylus clean. Dust and grime can build up on the stylus and you sure can hear that. The Zerostat is a great invention

[@hoobsgroove]

You can use one of those long electric lighters of course without the gas as anti-static gun just cut an end of a balloon off and stick it over the end as protection If you come in contact with the record

[@gregoryhausinger9072]

Thank you for the video. I use the vinyl styl disc washer(79.99USD) with home made solution (15oz distilled water, 1oz 99.9% pure Isopropyl alcohol and a couple drops of fotoflow) in conjunction with the Vinyl Vac(19.99USD). The vinyl styl has a built in center cover which allows you to rotate the disk without touching it and allows me to hold the record to vacuum it without setting it down. I do this with every record that comes into the house. I then replace inner and outer sleeves with Audio Storage Solutions brand products. The bath totally removes static and I have a small strip of parchment paper discretely taped on the side of a picture frame that I hold each LP up to before putting on my platter. when the strip moves to the album I will give it another bath. A record will go about 3 months or so before building up enough static to move paper strip. I also use the magic eraser method on my stylus (as I saw residue using the Gel Bubble type) before and after each play and my needle and cantilever remain very clean when looked at under magnification. Spin On You Crazy Diamonds!

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

Awesome video! Speaker stands , cleaning records and balance controls. Oy! I say , do it less, do it right, and- yes. Don't do it at all. But you explained this bit very well. Also- I did buy the little toothbrush thingy on your recommendation. It is very effective.

[@750drums]

Thanks, Phil, very informative. Great choice with Dr. Sardonicus there as well !

[@Mark-P]

My records have been in the garage for at least 20 years. I’ve not played them on my P3 yet! I think they will need cleaning.

[@grayareauk]

Had my LP's in storage for about 15 years for various reasons - When I got them out they definitely benefitted form a wet clean, however with anything new, or the ones that I've cleaned don't get washed again, just a gentle brush before playing.

[@sbatty65227]

I've used a Richer Sounds branded carbon fibre brush (same as the Project) for years now. One revolution per side before playing. I also replace any old inner sleeves. That's it.

[@killythebid]

I like to clean my records. All used purchases and new ones get a session on my Project vacumn record cleaner. It does make a difference especially on dirty used records. I do also have a carbon brush but do not always use it but will if the record has dust on it. If there is too much on the record sure the stylus will clean it but can get clogged and that makes a difference to the sound. I clean new records mainly to have a starting point and get rid of the release agents left on the record. I only clean records again if the sound deteriates but it will usually be years between. I use replacement ant-static sleeves and leave the original in the record cover so I can right the cleaning date on it. Recods are only removed from the sleave when they are to be played and replaced as soon as it is finished. The cleaning process does remove stuff and the fluid I get out of the machine after cleaning several records is usually cloudy and discoloured along with some visible particles. I use a distiled water plus surfactent and 1% alcohol with a further rinse with just distilled water. My records are as quiet as they can be. Lowering/eliminating spurious noise is good to allow detail to be heard. We may not hear the pops when the music playing but it is adding the noise floor and so smearing detail. If you do use a carbon fibre brush on the record one way to mitigate static build up is to move the brush when finished towards the centre and touch the centre spindle with the brushes at the same time as the brush is still in contact with the record surface.

[@anthonysaturno8265]

Great video! Looking forward to the record cleaner video. I am looking into getting one of the vacuum machines, VPI or Nessie

[@bongofury3176]

Great info. I Milty the bejasus out of all my vinyl. I am surprised to have not burnt holes through them

[@bw8827]

Totally with you on this one Phil. I still have and sometimes use the original carbon brush cleaner. At every listening session I also still have and use the Zerostat and the ultrasonic AT stylus cleaner. Another great and informative video.

[@captaindebug]

Buying a fluid record cleaner was on my list of things to do - it isn't any longer... A very informative video.

[@gaza4543]

He not saying you don’t need it just do it all the time. I find even with spin clean you still need a micro fiber cloth and spray cleaner to get rid of oily finger prints.

[@GrahamAtDesk]

Nice video. I'm surprised to hear that people don't put the record straight back in the sleeve. I've never had to clean mine either, but every time I put a record on the table it gets a couple of revolutions of the fine bristled carbon fibre record brush (mine doesn't have a felt pad, it's really quite lightweight and I only use it with a light touch). If I detect static, it's zerostat pistol time (I'm still using one my Dad bought about 40 years ago). And everything still plays well. But perhaps I should be visually inspecting a record before deciding whether to get the brush on it…

[@charlescheese3828]

Like you Phil, I've not cleaned records in 35 years of collecting - just green paper and the AT vibrating pad. I always keep the dust cover down though, and only buy used vinyl in very good condition. I don't use expensive MCs though - maybe I'd worry more if I did.

[@blownouttransmission5832]

just for reference , the stylus tip should not touch the bottom of the groove , it should only touch the groove walls , a stylus that hits the bottom of the groove is a worn out stylus . for static issues , place a small bowl of water on top of your central heating radiator . very dry air in centrally heated homes can be the main source of static . for brushes , try the AT 6012 , it absolutely smashes all the carbon fibre brushes as it is designed to lift off the dust rather than push it round the record . 😘

[@Lee-yt1de]

Im so glad i watched your video, ive started using this spray i bought and i keep getting crud on the stylus and ive no idea why. Now i do. I wont be using the spray cleaner now

[@turokforever007]

only use a spray with a vac

[@classicrock7890]

I just pulled a record out not played for years (bought used). Sounded noisy (crackle/rustle). Cleaned it using my Okki Nokki RCM and dead silent backgrounds. Also wet cleaning with an RCM does remove static and stops much of the inevitable dust being attracted to your records. BTW only ever do this once unless a pressing has issues. Nothing here caused by records lying around or mishandling, poor sleeves etc. Also if you buy used records an RCM is essential. Another factor when wet cleaning is the fluid used and the correct technique. Would not recommend the brushes which tend to push dust around or manual wet cleaners like the Disco Antistat. A lot of new records I don't clean BTW but more seem to be obviously dirty out of the factory than in the old days.

[@ralphalder14]

I clean all new records whether brand new or second hand. I have a Moth Pro2 wet/vac machine that does a great job. I have never needed to re clean one that I’ve done. You didn’t mention the Flux Hifi ultrasonic stylus cleaner which is very much like the old and discontinued AT 637 but available new at just over £100. I have one of these too and it does a great job!

[@malcolmherbert5127]

I very rarely clean a record, but I always use a dust bug. I slightly damp the plush roller with Isopropyl Alcohol which seems to keep any small amount of dust adhering to its surface while the fine brush in front seems to do a good job of lifting any particles out of the groove and ready to be collected on the roller. After playback, a quick wipe of the plush removes the, admittedly very small, amount of detritus it’s picked up. A few times in the past I’ve heard it said that the stylus is actually the finest record cleaning device of all.

[@jamesbrotherton5487]

That Spirit album is one of favorites.

[@andyrawlins]

I agree with pretty much all of this. Avoid dirt in the first place! I still have/use my Hunt EDA carbon fibre brush when I need to (the original version of what you showed I think). I use these melamine sponge eraser cleaning pads for cleaning my stylus. My understanding is that they are essentially a microfine emery paper so remove dirt without damaging. And cost almost nothing. Certainly seems to work. There are expensive commercial solutions that appear to be much the same thing. I have one of these Disco Antistat cleaning baths. It certainly leaves a residue but this soon comes off and it will resurrect badly treated second hand purchases which look/sound great after. Only for maltreated records though.

[@CupoSound]

I'll admit this sounded quite crazy in the begining, but when I think about it, that's actually how i do things.. Only exception is to second hand (likely 18th hand in some cases) that definitely need a proper wash because they're not dirty, they actually qualify as filthy.. I've also had a couple of dirty brand new records that improved significantly after a wash, but those are exceptions.

[@mickgrundy4615]

I used permastat on about 20 records , this was 30 years ago . And there is no static or dust anywhere in sight, wonder if they still sell permastat?

[@petercreed2539]

I use the goldring version of the ultra sonic styles cleaner and a tracking carbon fibre arm that has an earthing cable connected to my preamp earning point

[@richardsinger01]

I am with you on how records should be put in the sleeve. Never understood the practice of putting the inner sleeve outside the outer jacket. Silly idea with no benefit as far as I can see.

[@AGCipher]

If you ever still need any other topic suggestions, I would personally love to hear about heave vs light record players Love your in depth and objective view on things :)

[@gaza4543]

As with everything prevention is best. Washing hands to minimise oily fingers is about as much as I do.

[@mr.george7687]

I only clean records if I hear clicks & pops. I also discovered that anti-static brushes cause static! Now I only use goat hair record brushes, No more static!

[@kaustix852]

I kinda agree. I only clean (with liquid) if they are very dirty or noisy. Even then it hardly makes much of a difference.

[@BlytheWorld1972]

Well what do you do when you buy a second hand record and its dusty and has finger marks just leave it ..

[@stephenroe201]

knosti disco antistat is a great budget cleaning method but i don't use the supplied fluid i buy vinyl shelter fluid and use that instead ,and once clean i put in a new anti static sleeve and that's it ,my motto is clean once and keep clean.

[@ReferenceFidelityComponents]

Cleaning properly is essential both to keep the Lp surface nice and silent and to prolong stylus life. In between cleans, like you I do very little except for the odd carbon brush which only meeds the lightest of sweeps once across the LP. Microgroove and line contact stylii run pretty silently if azimuth is correctly set up and a close inspection of your stylus after playing an lp will soon tell you if a clean is overdue. Proof of the pudding is good lp cleaning should allow a dozen or more plays of the same lp before the stylus picks up much crud and it can double the stylus lifespan with disciplined cleaning of the lps. I use a project vacuum lp cleaner and a non alcohol biological (enzime) solution. Static is non existent after cleaning and a usb microscope used to compare before and after groove condition amazed me with how effective proper cleaning was, as well as allowing selection of the most effective solutions. Nerdy? Not really. Do it once, reap the rewards, benefit from silent lps and extend the life of the stylus. Always use anti static covers and don’t go to town on dry dusting with a brush as this builds static.

[@TernaryTrout]

The AT stylus cleaner is magic, but don't forget to turn the volume down on your amp! ( Had mine for decades ! )

[@johngardner9227]

I use a Project vacuum record cleaner and I would love to see a vid showing your recommendation for using a vacuum record cleaner please, I use a DIY solution that a lot of audiophiles use, 20% Iso alcohol, 80 pure distilled water and a few mils of wetting agent

[@colinsmall8170]

For me,all i do is use a Hunts or Audio Technica brush,canned low pressure compressed air,a tiny touch of A.T. stylus fluid,or Vodka (pure spirit,leaves no residue).And dont stand directly over disc,microscopic skin particals and humidity comes from your breath,hell,you may even dribble inadvertantly.

[@pauledmondson5614]

What’s folk’s view on products like the Audio Technica AT617a Polyurethane Gel Stylus Cleaner Gel?

[@barneyrubble9309]

only ever use a carbon brush before dropping the stylus and a vibrating pad for the stylus (that very same Audio Technica one). All my vinyl is repackaged in inner sleeves rather than the paper inner sleeves they came with and i keep fingers on edges only. Never had much of an issue with dust.

[@scrubbyjanitor1704]

Vacuum cleaning and dusting my home helps reducing the dust in circulation

[@astolatpere11]

I'm with the ultrasonic users. I have thousands of lps, most at least 50 years old. Cleaning with an ultrasonic has made a huge difference in listening to lps. The sound isn't just quieter, it's better. I clean lps once and mark the outer sleeve so I know I cleaned it.

[@egomartini]

Hudson Hi-Fi makes a UV stylus cleaner. I see the product on Amazon Canada for $44 CAD

[@boydsargeant7496]

Thanks (is it Paul?), great vid. I’m of the school if it isn’t dirty leave it alone. I will clean in a spin thing if I purchase a dirty 2nd hand record. But then never have to clean again. I do clean my stylus by hand. I do put all my records in anti static sleeves. Ta!

[@planet_oith]

Splendid video. What's your take on "wet play" ? I have an older friend who used to work in a nightclub back in the 70's 80's and said they'd use Ronson lighter fluid as a medium for wet playing records!! which sounded quite alarming for more than one reason. Obviously the element of danger with fire, and also degradation to the vinyl and stylus glue. I know that people use mixtures of alcohol isopropyl etc as they evaporate. Like you say though, with wet cleaning it's important to vacuum away settled dirt. So the purity of a wet medium for playing records must be super high for that reason. Thanks!

[@Ireland-bc2gx]

So putting them in the dishwasher is out 😜,great channel mate 👍

[@1x3dil]

Hi Phil totally agree with you thinking , I would also add that the development of the cartridge and stylus in resent years has definitely made records quieter . I have all my records going back to the late 60s , and they definitely sound better on my modern equipment . I assume that a decent deck and cartridge track deeper in the grove, so avoiding much of dust etc , but I would be interested to know if there is more to it than I’m saying . Obviously my ears are not as sensitive as back in my youth . Kind regards to all 😂👍👍👍

[@brianreynolds8874]

Will playing a surface clean, but still crackly, second hand record damage my Ania on a P8? Or should it keep playing in the hope the stylus cleans the grooves?

[@paulmatthews4293]

I had one of those AT cleaners! The Flux-Sonic Needle Cleaner looks similar - have you tried one?

[@keithwiebe1787]

I think people (especially people in the UK) probably play most LPS at a quieter setting as they are in an apartment. They won't hear the pops and ticks unless you turn up the volume. I've used the original discwasher brush (D4 era in early 80s) and most of my records were certainly playable they did have more pops and ticks than I liked. The audiophile recordings I had were better in this aspect. My first album I bought (Doobie Brothers taking it to the streets in the 70s) was played on my parents console stereo and that's probably where most of the noise came from. I tried washing it in sink, etc. but it only got worse. Finally sold all my records and turntable last week. I didn't want to go down the rabbit hole. Concentrating on cds now. Really, the last LP I bought was in the late 80s before I got my cd player.

[@yorkemar]

Its a real hassle sometimes. I have 500 lps..and some on my old parents bsr..in the 70s although I cleaned from the get go with d4 brush. I had the same noise issue..plus other older records and sh..and having to use headphones..altho never really bad..yeh. I took advantage of Pro Ject dropping their prices of the vacumn vcs 2 cleaner. 450$ aus. Yes I had to buy additional fluid and distilled water (2$ per bottle) but my god. It made all the trouble records pretty good again. the odd crackle but thats it. Sometimes ive had to get the microfibre cloth out and d4 brush for some really subborn marks..but not often.Problem is the normal price is about 800$..but they might do it again July.Keep an eye out. I also have alot of records..so..yeh. IVe heard the spin clean is good... If you use the wet method..like these..it gets rid of the static.

[@alm5693]

I didn't start putting sleeves in with the opening on top until I brought a record over to a collector friend's house in about '74. When I handed him the record, he turned it so that the record rolled out of the sleeve and cover and fell to the floor. He gave me a look that said "Not my fault, your moron". Lesson learned. I used to love my DiscWasher when they had the directional bristles, but I had the experience your skipping friend had when I first tried a different wet cleaner. It left fluid in the bottom of the groove that got dug out by the stylus like a trowel. It didn't skip but it sounded so bad after half the record that I had to stop playing and was horrified by the amount of goo clinging to the needle. Only dry brushes for me now. Mine is a Hunt EDA Mark 6.

[@KM-wl1tp]

So a turntable is actually a record cleaning machine? 🤣 I think everything you said is on point

[@shb8124]

I clean if I feel I need to especially when buying a good bit od second hand but no more than I feel is really worthwhile and I don't have a machine I just do a light wet clean by hand. I *do* dry clean my stylus more often though.

[@CraftyZA]

I buy a lot of records from vinyl fairs and flea markets. I've found some amazing records this way. I love getting my hands on first press editions, and there is a lot of bargains out there. People are lazy, and do not catalog their records on discogs, so have no idea what some records are worth. I recently bought a highly collectable ACDC album for 15USD, then cleaned it up and sold it for 400USD But most of the records you pick up in thrift stores, vinyl fairs, flea markets are filthy. They have to be deep cleaned either by ultrasonic, or a decent RCM.

[@B.B.Amsterdam]

I'm not catalog my records om discogs cause I dont care how much my records are worth, I care about the music thats on it,not the money the album is worth..

[@BlueDodgerman]

@@B.B.Amsterdam Well if something happens to you, and you pass away. Do you not want your family to know the value of your collection that's left behind?

[@mike_burke]

@@BlueDodgerman I agree and that’s the main reason I did it. HOWEVER I also cautioned my wife that I consider the values on Discogs to be purely for insurance purposes, i.e. how much it would likely cost to replace them. If she was going to sell my collection, particularly as a job lot, then she would get a small fraction of those values, and even though my collection is pristine. I find it is important to point this out. I think she would be too busy with other things than trying to sell individual records and get the best prices, not to mention the correspondence, packaging and postage. But yes, you are right, it is a decent guide as to what a collection is truly worth, at least theoretically.

[@turokforever007]

I have been into vinyl for 40+ years and i had to get a cleaner because of used vinyl im buying nowdays.

[@matereo]

I clean dirty grimy used record i buy. Then after i don't. I have a brilliant bit of old tec by the turntable called a vac O rec and a brush arm during play. Nothing else needed.

[@yorkemar]

I agree..the vacumn clean machines work well...but yeh. Expensive...altho the record doctor..you have to manually turn the record..but..is cheap. I was lucky enough to get a Pro ject record cleaning machine. Yeh you have to buy additional fluid and source distilled water (2$ bottle 2l) but my god. Yes I have d4 brush but this vcs has really fixed some really crackly records. Also the old ones which I initially played on my parents bsr in 70s..altho ive cleaned with brush from the get go at least. Pretty much silent. Yeh its not probably as good as the super expensive ultrasonics..but its effective. Ive had to bust out the microfibre cloth and d4 to get rid of some sleeve stains.occasionally...but come good.

[@VinylPro]

the best was the picture on the wall, with the Beatles !

[@mahabkhatib9377]

Good common sense, I agree with the prevention method and brushes. I like your videos, especially the one when you assembled the Nottingham turntable. By the way, what’s the best way to dial in VTA on a Nottingham Spacedeck with 9” Spacearm, upgraded with heavy kit? I tried the method they put in the dealer manual, but still piano sound and harmonica come out too sharp. I wish there’s a video showing how to dial it in right. Do you start with the base of the arm at lowest point and then raise it half a turn each time? The arm being level didn’t help. Thanks, maybe I should email you if I can get your email address.

[@martinbliley2302]

Happy Rega lovers in Meadville Pa. USA

[@johnsmith-i5j7i]

Or just use streaming. No distortion, no dust issues, no wear and tear, replaygain, tagging, higher dynamic range, better channel seperation, multi room, no crackles, no rumble, no boomy bass

[@doctorbritain9632]

Snap, I'm still using my Audiotechnic stylus cleaner.

[@RocknRonni]

I was going to suggest something to the creator of the video but apparently he doesn't read the content here I don't see him answering any of the the comments people take a lot of time to submit.

[@davidsillars3181]

Back towards the 1980s our Gram Library at the Beeb, just before it went totally s...t, had a cleaning machine. I used to enjoy the smell of meths and the apparently revived grooves. Ah, innocent days. The management philistines scrapped grams eventually. Sad 😢

[@danieloherrick6332]

In the 1980's I bought an LP12 and the Linn (US) rep told me to clean vinyl as you described. He gave me a piece of fine grit diamond abrasive paper (pale green) for cleaning the stylus. I had the LP12 inspected before I sold it 30 years later and the original cartridge was still in excellent condition.

[@ionobelisk]

There is a school of thought with exstatic brushes to run them in to the centre to discharge to earth via the spindle

[@Telssa1]

There is some good sense here, but not having tried ultrasonic for records is like not having tried chemotherapy for cancer. Surely you can see how 1 MICRON cavitation bubbles forming and imploding in surfacted water inside a record groove can clean it? Like you, but for different reasons, I question the wisdom of using bristles, camel hair, pads etc to clean apertures smaller than they are

[@hoobsgroove]

There's nothing wrong with wet cleaning even without "vacuuming" but you have to rinse them as well dip them in a Tupperware tub and you have to use deionised water with 99% isopropanol 5%, The question is what is the guy placing the record on when he's cleaning If it isn't a machine, You don't want any towels to be washed in the washing machine, when using a new towel wash and ring it out in AdBlue And Adblue can be used to clean your records, Or Tesco's contact lenses cleaner will remove stubborn dirt. Just rinse it in Tupperware tub by going forward and backwards couple times by holding the record by the edge then shaking and leaving in a rack. This doesn't need to be done all the time usually once is enough If you've got anti-static sleeves. And there's nothing wrong with playing your records wet either actually improves the sound it's commonly used in studios but don't use tap water And I would say or distilled too much impurities.

[@ianhall4964]

I bought that record too Phil :)

[@paulmcloughlin9913]

Your not being controversial your just being normal, I do a manual wet clean once when I get a new record an that's it I remove any dust if any every now an then I don't go for record cleaning machines or anything like that an I've never had any problems with new or very old records

[@danmartinez5502]

No paper Inner sleeve replace with MOFI inner sleeve. Second hand records are usually not very clean and most likely will damage your needle. That's why there second hand just saying.

[@matthewtaylor7355]

Picked my super extatic cleaner (minus the name) from aliexpress for 6.42 gbp. They have gone up to8.50 GBP. 25 GBP... mark up in the UK laffable

[@davidchingching167]

I hate vinyl I'm not ashamed to say. But my question is we used to use all sorts of amazing record cleaning brushes but it seems that every time you used one unless you cleaned it afterwards you were just putting dust back into the grooves. Why don't the vinyl fanatics use a simple air brush or air in a can? Makes more sense than transferring the dust back into the grooves.

[@josephfuller7008]

This was really. Phil you have so much experience and to convey in a way that’s easy to understand is educating. I’m sticking with you and Kelvin from Stereo ReviewX. You both have a lot of experience and common sense 👍

[@TheMOOXTER]

Had to laugh whilst watching this video on the bus home, agreeing in the main, but also knowing that a record still sits on my turntable from earlier. Oops

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

A normal Nitty Gritty record vacuum cleaning machine makes a hugh difference. MRA gone for a start. Just play them? You only got 10 bro.

[@gargunza4141]

This may sound daft, but talking while handling a record will result in minute drops of spittle landing on the surface. It then dries and causes clicks and pops. You could also wear a mask (we're used to that!) All I use is a zerostat and a dust bug. In the 50s and 60s EMItex was the way to go. I have one of those AT 637 stylus cleaners, I don't use it any more, it removed the cantilever on my 40 year old Technics cartridge which was on my SL7 player.

[@richardcrowther4050]

Buy a Degritter and you will not regret it.

[@The_Original_Geoff_B]

If you are having issues with static, then a cheap way to reduce it is to have a sharpened pencil (in the 'B' hardness range rather than 'H'), and move it back & forth about 5mm above the record surface as it spins before lowering tour tone arm. It may not remove 100% of the static, but it is surprising how effective this can be.

[@swimmad456]

I like your less is more approach Phil. One thing you could have mentioned is playing the record with the turntable lid DOWN while playing the LP. This helps keep circulating dust in the air off the record and (contrary what some audiophiles may state) has no impact on the sound on my Technics turntable.

[@Lee-yt1de]

I just take mine through a car wash