Cleaning vinyl records and phono cartridge stylus - Suggestions from "AudioDoc"
The suggestions and hints that I am about to discuss were taken from several different sources especially from the Internet. Wherever possible, given my somewhat faulty memory, I will include the original source for the information. You might wonder why this section is entitled cleaning records and stylus, but it should be obvious that a dirty stylus can ruin an otherwise clean record as well as a dirty record can play havoc with a clean stylus.
Obviously the best thing you can do for your record collection is to keep them as clean as possible. This includes always putting down the cover of the turntable while playing a record, handling a record only by its edges, and always storing them within their paper jackets and cardboard covers in an area that can be kept dust free.
Cleaning Vinyl Records –
It is probably best to first discuss what not to do to clean your records. You definitely do not want to use any kind of harsh material including any old worn-out T-shirts or rags that you might have lying around your house. Another “no-no" is to use any type of alcohol. Alcohols such as isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and other substances such as lighter fluid or gasoline can actually damage the vinyl, if not immediately, then over time. Commercial surface cleaners or household cleaners are often very harsh and may have ammonia or other nasty chemicals in many of them. Even tap-water has some small contaminants so it should also not be used. Also any kind of water is not good for labels and a wrinkled, faded label will definitely decrease the worth of an old vinyl record. In other words, be as gentle with your records as best as you can.
Just a little dirty-
If a vinyl record is only slightly dirty or dusty, using a quality microfiber cloth or a special record brush is probably the only thing that needs to be done. Whether you use a brush or a microfiber cloth always wipe in a circular motion along the grooves on the record. Another time that one should lightly clean off the surface of any record is when it is brand-new. This should be done in order to get rid of any factory dust or particles. Below is a list of quality record brushes.
For fingerprints, it is best to get these off as soon as possible as, apparently, they can harden into the vinyl (see http://cleaningvinyllps.blogspot.com) I have found that the best way to remove fresh fingerprints is to use a Q-tip with distilled water (again, not tap-water). It is best to warm up the distilled water a little bit, then dip the Q-tip into this warm water and clean off the fingerprint. Finish by drying the area with the other side of the Q-tip.
Much more dirt/grime-
However, if the record is extremely dirty or even has gray mold on it (don't laugh, some records I bought at garage sales had this) it is going to take a much more concerted effort. Although there are several do-it-yourself recipes on the Internet, I don't recommend this approach for the casual audiophile. It seems that, for every one good idea about these home brew cleaning solutions there are 10 to 15 very bad ideas. Whatever you do, however, don't be in a hurry and be gentle.
Probably the quickest way and probably best way to clean a vinyl record is to use a vinyl record vacuum cleaner, especially after treating the record with a cleaner solution. It is definitely not a good idea to take your shop vac hose to your record collection as this will certainly scratch the record surface. If you want to try something that is slightly less risk free one could take a flat cleaning wand and cover it with velvet and hook this up to a lower pressure vacuum (such as a car vacuum). An example of a machine that one could make to do this is on the Internet at -- http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html
The following is a nearly risk-free do-it-yourself method that I have been using for a number of years and is an adaptation combining information from two websites - www.vinylrecordfair.com and http://cleaningvinylLPS.blogspot.com.
What you need:
1. A dry carbon fiber brush (see below) or a cloth that is used for cleaning glasses or cell phones (preferably a new one)
2. A quart size wide bowl such as a cereal bowl.
3. Distilled water, deionized if possible, that is warm to the touch
4. Dawn dish-washing detergent, only the blue liquid that has no perfumes
5. Two small spray bottles that have been rinsed with distilled water.
6. Two soft microfiber cloths
The technique:
1. Clean off any surface dust from the record using the carbon fiber brush or the clean glasses cloth
2. Prepare the cleaning solution by using only three drops of Dawn per cup of the warm distilled water (prepare 1 cup of solution per LP) Put it in one of the spray bottles.
3. Spray a small amount of the detergent solution onto the lower part of the vinyl with the record being held straight up in the bowl, taking care to not spray the paper label.
4. Now taking the soft cloth and gradually moving the record by its edge while it is in the bowl clean the vinyl in the same direction of the grooves first going clockwise. Then re-spray the record and then go counterclockwise with the soft cloth.
5. After the solution runs clear on one side of the record - which might require additional sprayings and cleanings - then it is time to do the other side in the same manner.
6. Finally, again been careful of the label, spray the vinyl with only warm distilled/deionized water and wipe off both sides of the record with the second dry microfiber cloth.
Cleaning the Stylus:
Several ways to clean a stylus have been suggested over the years, some of which are more risky than others. However it is always a good idea to get the best quality stylus that you can afford. Obviously you should get a stylus that is recommended by the manufacturer of the cartridge that you are using. If you're using a crummy stylus then your records might sound less then optimal even when clean.
It wound be okay to clean a stylus with just household alcohol however this is risky if you're records are anywhere nearby where you are cleaning the stylus. Alcohol plus vinyl equals disaster. If you take the necessary precautions then you can clean the stylus with a Q-tip dipped in an 50/50 alcohol and water solution. The trick to this is never go side to side which could bend the stylus, always go slowly back and forth. You could also use a small paint brush, again back and forth (not side to side) but you should be careful not to use too much of the 50-50 mixture (you don't want to get the solution in the cartridge).
However my preferred method that I “stole” from the website www.vinylrecordfair.com, is to use the “Magic Eraser" from Mr. Clean products. Get the one called “Magic Eraser Multipurpose Cleaning Pad" and, very importantly, ignore the instructions on the back, and keep the pads dry.
1. Cut off a small piece of the dry cleaning pad about the size of your thumb.
2. Lift the tone arm on the turntable up (preferably using the lever) and then place the piece of Magic Eraser directly underneath the tone arm with the white side facing up. It is a good idea to put some paper or plastic down over your turntable to protect it since the blue side of the Magic Eraser has some caustic chemicals in it.
3. Now release the lever or gently lower the tone arm down so that the stylus hits the cleaning pad
4. Lift up the tone arm gently either with the lever or by hand and move the cleaning pad slightly over. Avoid scraping the stylus side to side with the pad
5. Finally, lower the tone arm down again (preferably using the lever) and check to see whether there is any more dirt coming off the stylus. If not, then lift the tone arm up and set it on the tone arm rest and remove the Magic Eraser and any protective materials you may have placed on the turntable.
6. Throw away the used Magic Eraser as it is best to use a new small piece for each stylus cleaning.
This is a list of manufacturers of carbon fiber brushes that have been suggested by audiophiles whom I know or from the Internet: (Most are available at Audio stores and through websites for $20-$50.)
AcousTech, AudioQuest, ClearAudio, HuntEDA, MobileFidelity, Pro-Ject, Stanton
For those who want to use professional cleaning solutions the following seem to be the consensus of "experts" who have a following on the Internet. Most of these work best with a vacuum record cleaner.
Disc Doctor's Miracle record cleaning fluid (rinse with distilled water afterwards)
LAST #3 (This is one we use at VinylTaps)
Nitty Gritty VPI/Pure 1 (get the one with no alcohol)
Spin Cleans fluid (the Spin Cleans cleaning machine, however, allegedly has some “issues”)
The Internet consensus for a manual cleaning machine is the Krosti “Disco-Antistat”, but we
at VinylTaps have never seen one in use.
So, now you can use the VinylTaps Box to create wonderful, clear, digital copies of your precious vinyl records knowing that you have done your best at cleaning them to achieve the best copy possible. Although the extensive "digital cleaning" that VinylTaps does to the digital copy, it is much better to have the cleanest original possible. A "Pop" coming from the record might actually obscure a sound that you want to hear and the sound may be deleted along with the "pop" despite our careful "digital cleaning".