These Tools Transformed My Record Cleaning (DIY Pro Approach)

There are many approaches to cleaning vinyl records. Ask ten people the question "How to clean vinyl records," and you'll likely get ten different answers.
I've tested countless record-cleaning kits and many different record-cleaning machines on the market. The process I share in this video is a method that will DIY how some professional record cleaning companies (such as Perfect Vinyl Forever, for example) will deep clean records using a combination of soaking and ultrasonic cleaning.
Product Links:
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Audio Quest Carbon Fiber Record Brush (AAL): geni.us/audio-quest-brush
GrooveWasher Record Cleaning Products (Use code SOUNDMATERS10 for 10% Off): www.groovewasher.com/
HumminGuru Ultrasonic: geni.us/humminguru
Degritter Ultrasonic: www.yoursoundmatters.com/degr...
Partner/Sponsor Discounts:
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GrooveWasher (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off)
www.groovewasher.com/
Twelve Inch (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off)
twelve-inch.com/
VSS Record Sleeves (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10 on checkout):
vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soun...
Soundeck Dampening Products (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10):
soundeck.bigcartel.com
Vinyl Pursuit - Vintage Vinyl Online: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS15):
vinylpursuit.com/
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#vinylrecords #recordplayer #recordcleaning #vinylcommunity #vinyl

[@soundmatters]

Thanks for watching! Do drop your comments and questions below. If you'd like to support the channel, check the video description for many DISCOUNT CODES codes to enjoy money off various products and feed your vinyl habit! (I earn a small commission - no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

[@MarcZogbaum]

I rely on Discofilm for my records, which have become real hardship cases after a wild party. This classic is an absolute must for every record collector. My recommendation: use the Discofilm set and bring your vinyls back to life.

[@johnparks6172]

This is a great video because it offers a great place for beginners to start especially those of us on limited budgets. The use of different cleaning pads in this example is important as well as economical. Staying with the manual process I would suggest considering using the Vinyl Styl RCM (similar to Spin Clean) because it uses replaceable goat hair brushes that get deep into the grooves to dislodge the dirt and contaminants. Following this up with a vacuum RCM will suck off the remaining dirt and contaminants suspended in the cleaning fluid. Followed with a final rinse. If affordability is still an issue wiping away the excess fluid with the pads can substitute for the vacuum RCM. A vinyl maintenance tip. When you remove your LP from the album cover and sleeve, turn the cover with the open end toward a table and gently tap it several times to allow any lose fibers to fall out. Then use a can of compressed air to blow out any remaining fibers while holding the cover with the open end down. Then give it a few extra taps. You should do the same with the sleeve. I suggest doing this each time you take your records out to play or clean them. This keeps the build-up of fine dust particles and fibers from the album cover itself to a minimum. This is especially useful with used records.

[@brunohebert1351]

My hand washing method requires a label saver (one that you attach to it on both sides) so you can hole the record by it, a kitchen sink, a paint edger, some lint free micro fiber towels, a spray bottle with distilled water, a dish rack and a clear simple shampoo+conditioner. This works really well. if your kitchen faucet has a spray function, it's even better. Prep: Well, get everything ready of course. Lay down 2 towels on the counter, one next to the sink where you will work on and one to the side, place the dish rack on top of the second towel. 1. attach the label saver 2. hold the record by the label saver and let the water runs on it, do it side after side, you can use the spray function going in circular motion as if you were following the grooves. 3. lay the record on the towel (as the label saver has handles, the record will not touch the towel) 4. get you paint edger, wet it, apply a moderate/small amount of shampoo/conditioner to it and apply it with your hand evenly across the surface, I like to use the spray on it a little afterwards to get a bit of suds. 5. lay your edger on the surface of the record. WITHOUT APPLYING ANY force, go from starting position to the other side and back 3-4 times, spin the record for that the other half is on top and repeat the process. Once done, flip the record around (using the handle of the label saver) and repeat the process for side 2. 6. let's rinse it... back in the kitchen sink, rinse thoroughly on both sides. 7. double rinse.. since tap water has minerals, etc you want to double rinse with the spray bottle that contains only distilled water. do both sides. shake the excess water off 8. grab a lint free towel and gently remove excess water without wiping the record. Use the towel to hold the record (gently) on the edge so you can remove the label saver 9. place the record on the dish rack. Make sure the rack is soft material not metal as it could scratch the record. 10. let the record air dry some time (just check regularly). I'd say 20-25 minutes A small fan on the lowest setting placed perpendicularly to the rack will speed up the drying process dramatically. with a bit of habit, I'm doing about 8-9 records in about 20 minutes before drying. But with this, you'll get great results already. If you want even better results, skip the drying process and place the record in the ultrasonic cleaner.. You want to go even further, yes you can, do the ultrasonic twice. Once with a cleaning solution added to the tank and 1 with just distilled water. I tried several "machines"/kits and none gave me results as good as my hand method only. Only the ultrasonic cleaner get better (and TBH not by a big margin) Of course, you need clean innersleeves too. Don't put the cleaned record back into it's "original" sleeve. That would be pointless. Sorry, for the ultra-long post, I tried to be thorough...

[@brunohebert1351]

The label saver I use is from Groovmaster but I noticed now tons of Chinese knock off are available so there should be some options available no matter where you are (Groovmaster is based in the US)

[@kylemccourt663]

Great info and process. I would also recommend working Tergikleen in there... If its good enough for the library of congress and their vinyl collection...

[@surf01er66]

Great information again, thank you

[@705johnnyboy]

i bought a vevor ultrasonic machine ,best thing ive bought it totally works and dont get ripped of by those mega expensive machines...

[@floyd101954]

I also bought the Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner with Vinyl Adapter and it is excellent and I clean up to 4 vinyl albums at once, then put them on the included Drying Rack

[@jedi-mic]

Don't clean it more than once per record multiple cleans can damage the records market on the record and write it in the inside record cover what it means put a dot on the label so people know in the future

[@ozeskiman]

I did the same, but I do use a disco stat bath beforehand. It uses fine natural bristles on either side of the album to do the deep clean. Then the ultrasonic. Tremendous results.

[@roig8578]

Thank you. I am going to look into this...

[@kemosabe551]

I do the initial cleaning off the turntable, on a microcloth. I use the micro brush to create a line of dust from the grooves. Then use a can of compressed air to blow the line off. That works better than a vacuum. Compressed air is used to dust off keyboards and printed circuit boards - much more powerful and concentrated than the vacuum.

[@TheJeffPike]

Excellent choice of an album to clean!!! The Minstrel in The Gallery. I spun that and cleaned it just yesterday!! :-)

[@soundmatters]

It's so good! - Enjoy!

[@waynesharaf6369]

Hi Marc, I hope all's well. I enjoy your videos and are well presented and thought out. I am sure you know this 'trick' but should be presented to your viewers. I use 2, 12 " lazy Susans and cover each with a clean microfiber cloth. I use one exclusively for the"dirty" (let's say record side B) side down. I clean side A and use a knob on the label protector to manually turn the record and lazy Susan. It makes the cleaning process easier on my wrist and is less awkward. After record side A is cleaned and dry, I put side A on the unused 2cd lazy Susan (that has a round clean microfiber cloth on it), and then clean and dry side B. The next record to be cleaned, goes on the 1st lazy Susan carousel. And so on and so forth. Works well for multiple record cleaning, saves time and my wrist. BTW, I always rinse my records with distilled water after using any cleaning solution. I also use 2 aerosolizors, one filled with the record cleaning solution, the other with distilled water. It allows for controlled application of the fluids without over spray. The lazy Susan cost around $11 US each. The aerosol pump sprayer (Misto brand at Walmart) are about $10 US. My actual cleaning process is a little more complicated, because I also use a ultrasonic machine.

[@soundmatters]

That's a great tip! Thanks Wayne! Without the addition of a lazy Susan. A second landing towel is definitely a good idea as a bare minimum. Thanks for this: it's great to have additional tips added to the conversation here so that all viewers can benefit from the broader community experience. Thanks for watching and I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying the videos. Happy spinning!

[@waynesharaf6369]

Thank you for responding.

[@paulkent6846]

Thanks for the video. I follow a similar manual process to you, but with a variety of soft cloths instead. However, I do an additional distilled water clean, same method, but removes any trace of the cleaning fluid. That’s tended to help, plus is a very cheap extra step. Thanks. Paul.

[@soundmatters]

An additional distilled water rinse is never a bad idea! It guarantees minimal residual cleaning fluids left behind. Thanks Paul: great addition to the conversation 🎶🎧👌

[@danielschulz8128]

I thought that were supposed to use distilled water in record cleaning machines, like the Record Doctor@@soundmatters

[@jedi-mic]

Use contact eye cleaner but not sailing solution type you want one with peroxide and enzyme cleaner and rinse it in the ionised water not distilled less static buildup and is cleaner get the stuff for lead acid batteries

[@KeithBage]

Thanks for sharing - I also appreciate the Groovewasher discount codes but what a shame they are of no use to us in the UK, or am I missing something?

[@soundmatters]

Sadly the shipping from their website directly isn’t great to the U.K. and I only have codes for that site. You can get GrooveWasher products from Juno Records in the U.K. though. Sorry I can’t supply a U.K. code (yet). Happy listening 🎶

[@roig8578]

Great video and thanks. Question. Would using the Spin-Clean kit first and then using the vacuum record cleaning machine, like the Record Doctor V, equal or surpass your manual process that you described? Thanks.

[@soundmatters]

I’d say use what you have. I own a Pro-Ject VC-E and would use it either the GrooveWasher fluid for the first step, but I just struggle to have the counter space for it. Plus: I wanted to show how you can perform the first step effectively without spending lots of money! Absolutely though, the Record Doctor, if anything, is an advantage as it vacs all the fluid directly off the record surface. Less chance for moving stuff around 👍🎶🎧

[@jedi-mic]

Get the disco antistat better machine about the same price

[@chadwilliams3980]

Use Vacuum first to avoid putting dust deeper in the grooves with the spin clean

[@roig8578]

@@chadwilliams3980 Thanks

[@roig8578]

@@soundmatters Thanks

[@annach.310]

How do you clean the microfiber pad after used it for a few times? I own one and I am still unsure how do I keep it clean to avoid cross-contamination between records? Am I supposed to wash it and let it dry? This means I have to clean only 2 records in a row, stop, clean the cleanind pad, wait to dry, clean the next two records?

[@soundmatters]

You can clean the pad gently with a little G2 fluid and a separate microfiber cloth. For a thorough clean, use distilled water and a little dish soap to clean the pad. Rinse well again with distilled water and allow to air dry overnight. If you use the leading edge of the pad to clean and then rotate the pad to dry a record, you'll get more out of it before it gets saturated and needs to dry/ be lightly cleaned. Alternatively: multiple pads are your friend here. This is all part of the pros and cons between manual record cleaning and adding in record cleaning machines, such as a VCM or Ultrasonic. Does that help? Any other questions, I'm here to help as much as I can. Happy spinning!

[@annach.310]

Thanks a lot for your reply and for the amazing content you are creating :) this helps a lot!

[@soundmatters]

@@annach.310 - my pleasure! Thanks for watching. Happy spinning

[@davidrobinson2312]

I use a Spinclean but the records are still crackly. Would ultrasonic cleaning improve this or are my records damaged or just poor pressings from the 60s, 70s and 80s?

[@soundmatters]

It's hard to tell without hearing the records and seeing them for myself. No amount of cleaning will fix a scratched record or one that has significant groove wear, of course. Try giving it a second clean in your Spinclean and see if that improves things. Very dirty records sometimes need a few attempts to see improvements. It all depends on just how dirty they are and what kind of dirt is on them, if that makes sense? A bit of trial and error is required. But sometimes, there's only so much that can be done. If your stylus is still gathering dust, you definitely need to re-run the cleaning process. Hope this helps! Any other questions: I'm here to help as much as I can.

[@nlionel9625]

So does this mean you're off the VC-E these days for the most part? (I don't know if it's the best, but for me, oh man is it the quickest and easiest😅)

[@soundmatters]

No, not off it. Just struggle to have the space for the Degritter and the VC-E. I still have the VC-E, snd if I can find a spot to have it set up ready to go, I’d use it for step one. 👍🎶🎧

[@EddyTeetree]

:-) If anyone plays records after the first steps with a micro-line type stylus you’ll be changing it sooner as it will be running in moisture in the grooves lower recess. Humming Guru barely does nothing more than any sonic tub from china thats why it relies on internet touts to push it. The best beginning option at present is the Knosti Antistat Ultrasonic which is basically a Degritter without drying option and saves you a couple grand by hand or rack drying the vinyl. Cheers big ears! Ps if you do go with his opt.1 but a vacuum cleaner and rinse first.

[@1Moggi]

I'm disappointed that the Degritter looks like it may allow the fluid to come into contact with the label. 🤔

[@soundmatters]

I get that, but honestly, the Humminguru us the same. The constant rotation of the record means gravity does the hard work!

[@1953beatlefan]

So not to nitpick, but what do you consider a "good few minutes"? TIA!

[@soundmatters]

Nitpick away. Long enough for it to have time to work, but not evaporate-if that makes sense? Let it soak for a while, mop it up, and see how it sounds. Overall: leaving it for a while rather than just spraying and immediately mopping up seems to help the process

[@1953beatlefan]

Thank you, Sir! Always enjoy the posts.@@soundmatters

[@ForTheRecord84]

What happens when you play a record that might be wet or damp?

[@soundmatters]

It's not a good idea for your stylus more than anything

[@gregtapevideo1464]

My process is very close to yours. But I cant afford a machine. Can't afford a spin clean either.😆 When that little bottle of fluid runs out I fill it with distilled water and a few drops of dawn dish liquid (the blue). Any thoughts?

[@chadwilliams3980]

Dawn on records is NOT a good idea I know many KZbin videos say different but NOT GOOD advice ….get simple green wich is meant for vinyl upholstery..mix it 50/50 with DISTILLED water …and also get a 3rd spray bottle for straight DISTILLED water spray with simple green mix first wipe dry then go back and clean all traces with a 2nd clean microfiber cloth …tip get yourself a half dozen microfiber cloths

[@bensondunwoody2425]

I blow on my records to get rid of dust 😁

[@soundmatters]

😂 I like your style

[@gregtapevideo1464]

I power wash mine in the driveway!!😆😆✌

[@jedi-mic]

I like to give them a shake 😉

[@soundmatters]

@@gregtapevideo1464 🤣

[@kemosabe551]

I do the initial cleaning off the turntable, on a microcloth. I use the micro brush to create a line of dust from the grooves. Then use a can of compressed air to blow the line off. That works better than a vacuum. Compressed air is used to dust off keyboards and printed circuit boards - much more powerful and concentrated than the vacuum.

[@cuttinchops]

Moist

[@jedi-mic]

Actually you want to play a record wet much better sounding, lowest the noise floor prevents clicks and Pops. You need to be very careful with Sonic cleaning most Sonic cleaners only clean the surface anyway the best one is a nittygritty, it has multiple frequencies and goes to 120 kHz. But it should only be done once really in the lifetime of the record, experiments have been done out there with Sonic cleaners when they've been clean 6 -7 times and the music starts to sounding dull. I would say to anybody using a sonic cleaner mark it on the label with the dot and wright inside the record cover what the dot indicates for future people don't ruin the records. Best cleaning pad is a goats hair paint pad gets better into the grooves and can reach down to 10 microns. One of these vacuum cleaner attachments is a good option but do it slowly and no more than one revolution to prevent static, always making sure the pads are clean every time rinse them.The oldest and first and probably is the best is the Disco anti-stat record cleaner you can pick them up for about 70 pounds better than the groove washer. It uses goat hair groove washer uses felt. I see you've got an MC PRO now! I was wondering can you run a mm cartridge through it? What's it like you're not going to tell me I know lol let me know you can run an MM should be able to otherwise it might be better to get the mm Pro and a Roswell step up transformer 250£ but more cost I couldn't see if there's an anti gain switch on the MC what should allow you to run mm was it done for the dial right to zero?