My experience is that any wet cleaning method with proper rinsing with distilled water leaves a clean record. Any surface noise that remains is permanent. No added cleaning with any machine or process at any price will not reduce it further. Unless you use methods that change the pvc structure, like lighter fluid, window cleaners or petroleum distillates, but these methods leaves a shiny record with no life as the surface is already micro melted, hence the shiny surface
Awesome video. Thank you Nadine, Steve and Paul for making this highly informative and helpful video from all of your knowledge and experiences. On my analogue source journey, the realization I have found is the additional equipment and accessories required to get the best out of your TT set-up and vinyl playback and enjoyment of listening to your records can be a lot more money than the TT set-up itself ! However, if you are wiling to invest the money and spend the time and have the passion to get the best out of your records, it is well worth it !
Absolutely yes vacuum plus ultrasonic plus brush absolutely needed annual here in immediate improvement and audio my keeping up with maintenance on your vinyl especially when you’re paying the price for audio file LP’s $150 absolutely you want to keep your records clean and maintained just like you do your performance automobile. Remember just the hobby though guys it’s not life for death, keep listening
This stream was very helpful as I continue researching cleaning machines and processes Nadine. The Degritter is out of my price range, but I was convinced that I do need to get the best ultrasonic I can afford at some point. I had not heard about PVF until your stream, while watching I started checking his site for pricing on his cleaning service for my Led Zeppelin II RL pressing, right before he mentioned that!
I have been using a belt sander followed up with a 50/50 acetone MEK mixture and steel wool to remove any surface residue. When I finish, I promise you that there is no shine left on the surface. I now have a completely dull surface after exposing the original vinyl material. I have cleaned over 1000 records using my belt sander and steel wool with the exact same results. I can’t wait to buy a turn table someday and listen to my virgin vinyl records. LOL, sorry everyone, I just couldn’t resist.
Such a great subject as there are so many ways to clean a record. Some deserve the "Urban Legend" moniker. Steve, explained the science involved to clean a record and best practices. Paul, you had many useful tips as well in cleaning records, and enjoyed looking at the records behind you. Thank you, Nadine, for putting this together, as I know have a better direction to take in developing my cleaning protocols.
Thanks a lot Daniel! I wanted mostly to present people the path I went on and what my experience was. Is a journey, is a process and it involves lots of questions and answers when so many variables are involved. We all hope this helped viewers gain some more insights if they never walked the ultrasonic cleaning path, what to expect and maybe some dos and don’ts 😎 Thanks! Cheers!
Forgot to mention in my original comment / message folks, that your video may have now helped me in deciding which path to take regarding the purchasing of my first Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Machine (URCM). Currently I clean my records with my faithful original Keith Monks Classic Record Cleaning Machine (that the BBC Archive Dept used to use) where I undertake a thorough pre-clean and main clean using the Keith Monks Discovery Record Cleaning Fluid and the Keith Monks Cleaning Brushes to fully agitate the cleaning fluid into the record grooves and after vacuuming this cleaning fluid off undertake a full rinse with distilled water applied with a Mofi flat velvet record brush and then vacuuming this rinse fluid off. However, even with this thorough professional cleaning regime, I still could hear pops and crackles and record surface noise (I am critical listener i.e. listen mainly with my TOTL Headphone System). Therefore with thinking that Ultrasonic Cleaning will remove these remaining noise nuisances I can hear, I am trying to decide whether to go down the DIY path (with an Elma Elmasonic P120H dual frequency - 35 & 80kHz bottom mounted Transducers Ultrasonic Cleaning Bath (designed to clean metal parts, jewellry dental & medical tools etc. in a basket) fitted with the Kuzma RD Ultrasonic Spinner Kit to clean 5 LPs at the same time but have to naturally dry the cleaned LPs by evaporation) or buy the very expensive KLaudio KD-CLN-LP-200T UCM (that runs at 40kHz ultrasonic frequency with side mounted Transducers - and you can also purchase an automated 5 LP Loader and a Acoustic Silencer cabin for it) or the Degritter MK2 (that runs at 120kHz ultrasonic frequency also with side mounted Transducrers). From your video as Steve mentioned, as I already pre-wash and main wash with my Keith Monks RCM, the Degritter MK2 may be more beneficial to me with the higher ultrasonic frequency than the KLaudio and the Elma Elmasonic P120H (unless I look for a commercial Ultrasonic Cleaning Bath that has say 40, 80, 120 & 200+ kHz frequencies !. Your thoughts, knowledge and experience on my dilemma of which UCM to purchase would be greatly appreciated.
I use two recording cleaning machines but for stubborn pops and clicks my Sweat Vinyl sugar cube does wounders without any loss of sound. I could no longer live without it!
Hi Steve, Do you know if there are any differences with the ultrasonic cleaning efficiency and effectiveness on cleaning the record grooves with using an Ultrasonic Cleaning Bath (i.e. an Elma Elmasonic P120H) that has bottom positioned Transducers firing upwards past records that are stacked vertically i.e. installed in a Kuzma RD Ultrasonic Cleaning Kit Spinner holding say 5 LPs that are being ultrasonically cleaned at the same time with approx. 25 to 50mm spacings between each LP as opposed to a dedicated Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Machine with side mounted Transducers firing directly at the sides of one record being cleaned ? Assuming that they all are operating at the same ultrasonic frequency and have the same power and all have just distilled water in them (but noting that the Elmasonic Ultrasonic Cleaning Bath has a much larger volume of water in it than the dedicated record cleaning machines have) ?
Good video! I think people get carried away with buying machines for thousands of dollars to clean their records I clean mine with a brush and wipe them and that works well for me I feel a lot of these expensive machines are unnecessary!
For my nice records that are mint or already clean, I brush with an anti-static brush or dry lightly with a fresh, clean microfiber cloth and if there remain any visible particles of dust, I use a hand held vacuum cleaner (designed to vacuum the insides of computers). I make sure my needles (on my stereo and mono cartridges) are always kept clean. If a mint or NM record looks like it needs liquid cleaning (very rarely), I use Mobile Fidelity Record Wash very lightly and then lightly dilute with distilled water spray before drying lightly with a clean, fresh microfiber cloth. Now the shocking, highly controversial method I personally use for old, dirty records. It's OK if everyone gasps in horror and never tries this, but it works very well for me... I use a makeup remover pad (buy a brand that has the fewest ingredients, no alcohol, and claims 'leaves no residue'). First, before using the pad, brush or vacuum dust particles off. Wipe both sides of the record lightly and carefully with a fresh makeup remover pad until it looks clean and like a new record. Do not press down hard, just press enough to clean the gooves. Dilute the surfaces of both sides by spraying distilled water. Dry both sides with a fresh, dry microfiber cloth. When completely dry and beautiful, place in protective sleeve (no paper sleeves). I do not use any record cleaning machines at all. None of them. Why does a makeup remover pad work? It is designed to clean the skin pores, removing any makeup residue and microscopic debris from skin pores, without having any alcohol or harsh chemicals involved. No one believes me. So, you can try it on a cheap, old, dirty, used record and see and hear the results for yourself! The proof that it works really well is in trying it for yourself. I buy cheap, thrift store records because of nostalgia and enjoyment, not for investment purposes. They always need cleaning. I buy used records through Discogs that are VG+, NM, or Mint. I always clean the VG+ records, with stunningly beautiful results. The NM and Mint records normally don't need cleaning, in my opinion. Just get any dust off.
Steve said to remove shrink. BUT is it ok to leave shrink on if you store your inner sleeve with record(s) outside the jacket in the back of the outer sleeve??? So many these days store their records this way but I always wonder if it’s safe -as long as they are sleeved and vertical stored and not packed in?
@jdthompson5778 Thanks for watching! As far as I understood it is that the shrink will keep on shrink it won't harm the record as you put it outside, but it might start to bend your cover.
PVC outgassing sucks, straight up destroys the records if you pack loads of PVC sleeves together. Glassjaw released an LP with a clear cover with a PVC sheet inside against the record, destroyed them all. The Discogs reviews it's just people saying their got trashed, I got luck and swaped the sleeve out on release.
👍 I like to think of records as artworks. Keep them in a dust free, humidity and temperature controlled environment. Keep records out of direct sunlight - all the same things art lovers do for paintings. I’m suspicious of the Mofi plastic inner and outer sleeves as they could trap moisture against the record and cause MOLD. A breathable paper designed not to scratch covers and vinyl might be safer. Paper inner sleeves are generally looked down on, however, archival supply companies like University Products (USA) sell archival, acid free - buffered paper sleeves for 7”, 10” and 12” records. Great comments on cleaning! I’m using a SME Loricraft machine for first cleaning of records and then with each play a microfiber cloth misted with distilled water to lift dust off the surface. So far so good.
I'm more of a record collector than an audiophile, but I also hate shrink and will not pay a premium for a 30-40 year old record in shrink, because there is no guarantee that it won't be warped. I do like having a pristine cover and record, so it's not that I mind shrinkwrapped dead stock, if it is known that other copies are flat. I just don't fetishize it, nor pay extra for it. And ripping nasty old shrink off is one of life's small pleasures! Paul has a good point, but the warp fear is also justified, I think.
My experience has been all manual cleaning is a waste of time and money. I spent $500 on humming guru and have been very happy. If you have the money a de-gritter or kaludio is better. You will spend far more on records than a humming guru. Records are dirty from the factory.
Good cleaning records video I also have record cleaning machine they are 2 spin clean record washer, vinyl styl record washer, digital ultrasonic cleaner, humminguru ultrasonic record cleaner machine and record doctor VI vacuum machine and for solutions I use are tergikleen, kodak photo flo, groovewasher g-sonic ultrasonic record wash concentrate, the groovinator, Spin Clean washer fluid and the record doctor cleaning solution and the all do a great job cleaning and vacuum my records making them shining and records sounds good and also have a vinyl flat does a good job flattening my records and the label saver to clean your records these are good methods to clean my records.
Nadine is very inspired wow thumbs up 😉👍
This is probably the best TH-cam video on cleaning records that I have seen so far. Thank you!
Thank you so much 😊
My experience is that any wet cleaning method with proper rinsing with distilled water leaves a clean record. Any surface noise that remains is permanent. No added cleaning with any machine or process at any price will not reduce it further. Unless you use methods that change the pvc structure, like lighter fluid, window cleaners or petroleum distillates, but these methods leaves a shiny record with no life as the surface is already micro melted, hence the shiny surface
Awesome video. Thank you Nadine, Steve and Paul for making this highly informative and helpful video from all of your knowledge and experiences.
On my analogue source journey, the realization I have found is the additional equipment and accessories required to get the best out of your TT set-up and vinyl playback and enjoyment of listening to your records can be a lot more money than the TT set-up itself ! However, if you are wiling to invest the money and spend the time and have the passion to get the best out of your records, it is well worth it !
Thank You for this!!! So much good information here, I'm going to have to watch it a couple times.
Thanks for watching
Absolutely yes vacuum plus ultrasonic plus brush absolutely needed annual here in immediate improvement and audio my keeping up with maintenance on your vinyl especially when you’re paying the price for audio file LP’s $150 absolutely you want to keep your records clean and maintained just like you do your performance automobile. Remember just the hobby though guys it’s not life for death, keep listening
This stream was very helpful as I continue researching cleaning machines and processes Nadine. The Degritter is out of my price range, but I was convinced that I do need to get the best ultrasonic I can afford at some point. I had not heard about PVF until your stream, while watching I started checking his site for pricing on his cleaning service for my Led Zeppelin II RL pressing, right before he mentioned that!
@rawheadjim Thanks for watching!
I have been using a belt sander followed up with a 50/50 acetone MEK mixture and steel wool to remove any surface residue. When I finish, I promise you that there is no shine left on the surface. I now have a completely dull surface after exposing the original vinyl material. I have cleaned over 1000 records using my belt sander and steel wool with the exact same results. I can’t wait to buy a turn table someday and listen to my virgin vinyl records. LOL, sorry everyone, I just couldn’t resist.
@bmoran2994 Thanks for watching!😂
Thanks Nadine for another great video! It was very nice of Steve to share a lot of his experience and knowledge.
Hey Angelo, thanks for watching. Yes, Steve is great.
Great stream, Nadine. Very informative and interesting.
@fourteenmonthsmile Thanks for watching!
Such a great subject as there are so many ways to clean a record. Some deserve the "Urban Legend" moniker. Steve, explained the science involved to clean a record and best practices. Paul, you had many useful tips as well in cleaning records, and enjoyed looking at the records behind you. Thank you, Nadine, for putting this together, as I know have a better direction to take in developing my cleaning protocols.
Thanks a lot Daniel! I wanted mostly to present people the path I went on and what my experience was. Is a journey, is a process and it involves lots of questions and answers when so many variables are involved. We all hope this helped viewers gain some more insights if they never walked the ultrasonic cleaning path, what to expect and maybe some dos and don’ts 😎 Thanks! Cheers!
Forgot to mention in my original comment / message folks, that your video may have now helped me in deciding which path to take regarding the purchasing of my first Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Machine (URCM).
Currently I clean my records with my faithful original Keith Monks Classic Record Cleaning Machine (that the BBC Archive Dept used to use) where I undertake a thorough pre-clean and main clean using the Keith Monks Discovery Record Cleaning Fluid and the Keith Monks Cleaning Brushes to fully agitate the cleaning fluid into the record grooves and after vacuuming this cleaning fluid off undertake a full rinse with distilled water applied with a Mofi flat velvet record brush and then vacuuming this rinse fluid off. However, even with this thorough professional cleaning regime, I still could hear pops and crackles and record surface noise (I am critical listener i.e. listen mainly with my TOTL Headphone System). Therefore with thinking that Ultrasonic Cleaning will remove these remaining noise nuisances I can hear, I am trying to decide whether to go down the DIY path (with an Elma Elmasonic P120H dual frequency - 35 & 80kHz bottom mounted Transducers Ultrasonic Cleaning Bath (designed to clean metal parts, jewellry dental & medical tools etc. in a basket) fitted with the Kuzma RD Ultrasonic Spinner Kit to clean 5 LPs at the same time but have to naturally dry the cleaned LPs by evaporation) or buy the very expensive KLaudio KD-CLN-LP-200T UCM (that runs at 40kHz ultrasonic frequency with side mounted Transducers - and you can also purchase an automated 5 LP Loader and a Acoustic Silencer cabin for it) or the Degritter MK2 (that runs at 120kHz ultrasonic frequency also with side mounted Transducrers). From your video as Steve mentioned, as I already pre-wash and main wash with my Keith Monks RCM, the Degritter MK2 may be more beneficial to me with the higher ultrasonic frequency than the KLaudio and the Elma Elmasonic P120H (unless I look for a commercial Ultrasonic Cleaning Bath that has say 40, 80, 120 & 200+ kHz frequencies !.
Your thoughts, knowledge and experience on my dilemma of which UCM to purchase would be greatly appreciated.
I use two recording cleaning machines but for stubborn pops and clicks my Sweat Vinyl sugar cube does wounders without any loss of sound. I could no longer live without it!
I use a Waton's cleaning machine and using L'art du son as liquid. It improse the sound of my records very well.
26:00 What is the name of the product (label cover) to be found on Amazon? Link Please?
Hi Steve, Do you know if there are any differences with the ultrasonic cleaning efficiency and effectiveness on cleaning the record grooves with using an Ultrasonic Cleaning Bath (i.e. an Elma Elmasonic P120H) that has bottom positioned Transducers firing upwards past records that are stacked vertically i.e. installed in a Kuzma RD Ultrasonic Cleaning Kit Spinner holding say 5 LPs that are being ultrasonically cleaned at the same time with approx. 25 to 50mm spacings between each LP as opposed to a dedicated Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Machine with side mounted Transducers firing directly at the sides of one record being cleaned ? Assuming that they all are operating at the same ultrasonic frequency and have the same power and all have just distilled water in them (but noting that the Elmasonic Ultrasonic Cleaning Bath has a much larger volume of water in it than the dedicated record cleaning machines have) ?
They don’t need to if they take good Care of them. But it does help when you buy used records
Good video! I think people get carried away with buying machines for thousands of dollars to clean their records I clean mine with a brush and wipe them and that works well for me I feel a lot of these expensive machines are unnecessary!
@davepounds8924 Thanks for watching!
For my nice records that are mint or already clean, I brush with an anti-static brush or dry lightly with a fresh, clean microfiber cloth and if there remain any visible particles of dust, I use a hand held vacuum cleaner (designed to vacuum the insides of computers). I make sure my needles (on my stereo and mono cartridges) are always kept clean. If a mint or NM record looks like it needs liquid cleaning (very rarely), I use Mobile Fidelity Record Wash very lightly and then lightly dilute with distilled water spray before drying lightly with a clean, fresh microfiber cloth.
Now the shocking, highly controversial method I personally use for old, dirty records. It's OK if everyone gasps in horror and never tries this, but it works very well for me... I use a makeup remover pad (buy a brand that has the fewest ingredients, no alcohol, and claims 'leaves no residue'). First, before using the pad, brush or vacuum dust particles off. Wipe both sides of the record lightly and carefully with a fresh makeup remover pad until it looks clean and like a new record. Do not press down hard, just press enough to clean the gooves. Dilute the surfaces of both sides by spraying distilled water. Dry both sides with a fresh, dry microfiber cloth. When completely dry and beautiful, place in protective sleeve (no paper sleeves). I do not use any record cleaning machines at all. None of them.
Why does a makeup remover pad work? It is designed to clean the skin pores, removing any makeup residue and microscopic debris from skin pores, without having any alcohol or harsh chemicals involved. No one believes me. So, you can try it on a cheap, old, dirty, used record and see and hear the results for yourself! The proof that it works really well is in trying it for yourself. I buy cheap, thrift store records because of nostalgia and enjoyment, not for investment purposes. They always need cleaning. I buy used records through Discogs that are VG+, NM, or Mint. I always clean the VG+ records, with stunningly beautiful results. The NM and Mint records normally don't need cleaning, in my opinion. Just get any dust off.
In the first sentence, I meant to say 'wipe lightly,' not 'dry lightly.' It isn't wet, so it's already dry.
Steve said to remove shrink. BUT is it ok to leave shrink on if you store your inner sleeve with record(s) outside the jacket in the back of the outer sleeve??? So many these days store their records this way but I always wonder if it’s safe -as long as they are sleeved and vertical stored and not packed in?
@jdthompson5778 Thanks for watching! As far as I understood it is that the shrink will keep on shrink it won't harm the record as you put it outside, but it might start to bend your cover.
PVC outgassing sucks, straight up destroys the records if you pack loads of PVC sleeves together. Glassjaw released an LP with a clear cover with a PVC sheet inside against the record, destroyed them all. The Discogs reviews it's just people saying their got trashed, I got luck and swaped the sleeve out on release.
👍 I like to think of records as artworks.
Keep them in a dust free, humidity and temperature controlled environment. Keep records out of direct sunlight - all the same things art lovers do for paintings.
I’m suspicious of the Mofi plastic inner and outer sleeves as they could trap moisture against the record and cause MOLD.
A breathable paper designed not to scratch covers and vinyl might be safer. Paper inner sleeves are generally looked down on, however, archival supply companies like University Products (USA) sell archival, acid free - buffered paper sleeves for 7”, 10” and 12” records.
Great comments on cleaning!
I’m using a SME Loricraft machine for first cleaning of records and then with each play a microfiber cloth misted with distilled water to lift dust off the surface. So far so good.
Thanks for pointing this out 👍
Isonic takes ten records. Is ultrasonic really possible in that machine?
If you don’t clean the factory residue before playing the record, is it then too late to remove the residue by ultrasonic method after playing it?
@mliu472 Thanks for watching! You can rid of it also after playing
I'm more of a record collector than an audiophile, but I also hate shrink and will not pay a premium for a 30-40 year old record in shrink, because there is no guarantee that it won't be warped. I do like having a pristine cover and record, so it's not that I mind shrinkwrapped dead stock, if it is known that other copies are flat. I just don't fetishize it, nor pay extra for it. And ripping nasty old shrink off is one of life's small pleasures! Paul has a good point, but the warp fear is also justified, I think.
Clean your records. Your ears and stylus will thank you. 👍🏻
Thanks for watching
Do we need to clean ourselves?
Hey, can you specify your question?
My experience has been all manual cleaning is a waste of time and money. I spent $500 on humming guru and have been very happy. If you have the money a de-gritter or kaludio is better. You will spend far more on records than a humming guru. Records are dirty from the factory.
@alanabentrod3963 Thanks for watching!
Good cleaning records video I also have record cleaning machine they are 2 spin clean record washer, vinyl styl record washer, digital ultrasonic cleaner, humminguru ultrasonic record cleaner machine and record doctor VI vacuum machine and for solutions I use are tergikleen, kodak photo flo, groovewasher g-sonic ultrasonic record wash concentrate, the groovinator, Spin Clean washer fluid and the record doctor cleaning solution and the all do a great job cleaning and vacuum my records making them shining and records sounds good and also have a vinyl flat does a good job flattening my records and the label saver to clean your records these are good methods to clean my records.
Thanks for watching
Is it possible to damage the grooves with a very high frequency? 🤔
Oh, only 2 hours. :-) BTW Alcohol works against the softening agents in the vinyl. The record will harden out and will break more probably.
@hansosanchez Thanks for watching!