Vinyl Record Cleaning - STOP NOW!!!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 มิ.ย. 2024
- We pick apart numerous TH-cam videos that can actually HARM your vinyl records, then we share the proper vinyl cleaning recipe for making your own Record Cleaner.
Timecodes
0:00 Introduction
0:18 @DeafManVinyl
1:07 @Amoeba
1:45 @Discogs
2:28 @VHFSE Vintage HiFi Stereo Equipment
3:17 @Vinyl Eyezz
3:25 D4 Discwasher
3:30 Record Cleaning Recipe
4:43 Audio Technica
4:52 Big Fudge
5:03 Boundless
5:17 Lasermedia
5:21 Opula
5:26 Phoenix
5:30 Record Happy
5:43 REVOLV
5:49 Spin-Clean
5:55 Ulloo
6:00 MoFi
6:34 Recommendation
6:42 Conclusion - บันเทิง
This is good advice, the goal is to clean records without damaging / scratching them and without leaving any residue behind. The combination of products he shares are perfect for this and way cheaper than any off the shelf product. Nice job 👍
Thanks
You're right! I did not notice :) thanks again @@scientificaudiophile
Reason: If they told you what the ingredients are you would realize you could buy the ingredient(s) much cheaper without their label on it.
I get the part where you say "Don't trust a product that doesn't tell you, what's in it".
But honestly, I'm a broke kid who just wants his records to live a little longer and listen to them every once in a while.
I'm just trying to figure out the basics, on how to keep my records clean.
But after watching this video, I became very reluctant to even try it out of fear to "destroy" my records
(how exactly? mechaninal damage to the grooves, damage to the chemical composition of the vinyl ?)
But I guess not cleaning my records is the abolute worst possible cleaning advice I could follow.
Also, WHY am I to use 99% pure alcohol, WHY is Isopropol not enough?
As a channel who has the word "scientific" in the channel's name, you leave a lot to be desired in terms of the "science".
No explanation, no reasoning, only "don't do this, this is wrong" and "onyl do that, that is the onyl wright way to do it"
WHERE'S YOUR EVIDENCE?
Why should I believe YOU instead of someone else, who makes a similar video with the same type of arguments, but with opposite opninions?
Lastly, there are ways to adress and deal with false advice, misinformation and the like.
Hostility i.e. the way you're doing it ISN'T one of them.
Directly calling out the people themselves instead of only adressing the things they say is a major red flag.
(Not even a single mention of how you don't intend to target anyone directly)
Congrats, you made me avoid your channel alltogether and I doubt I will be the only one.
I'm young as well and in the last half year I've been digitizing my collection with the Vinyl Vac. You would buy a 40-60 dollar shop vac and hook it up to this, altogether roughly 100 dollars. And let me tell you it has been the best cleaning setup I've ever had, I used to use the glue method and it worked but the vac sucks up everything so you should have a perfectly clean record when all said and done. I also use alcohol along with the Vinyl Vac solution on the records. I think if you just keep the amount of alcohol down you should be fine, and your vinyl will be preserved. I have also heard good things about enzymatic solutions instead of using alcohol if your worried.
Nailed it!
He was trying to help. I agree he did seem to attack, but it was also informative. Although why this and not that he did not explain, it should be obvious. If it is not regulated or explained what is in a product, don't use it. It's snake oil or worse.
US tap water at least has all sorts of chemicals in it, drugs, etc. Probably worst of all, hard water depending where you are at. Distilled on the other hand should not. The one thing I would have liked him to explain was why 99% alcohol. But I digress.
He is also probably thinking long term, like his children or grand children and great grand children inheriting his records. Not the common person who, as a child, I never remember a record ever being cleaned. Maybe a light dusting of a feather duster and just because it happened to be in the way. Haha!
As someone who has been buying and listening to vinyl for over 40 years, my advice would be don't worry about it. Just play your records and enjoy them. All these youtube videos have turned people into OCD lunatics. Your records will be fine and will likely outlive you.
I will say that I try this combination and it's actually pretty cheap. Most expensive thing is a 99% alcohol but then everything else is just a few bucks. I recommend it because you can actually save a lot of money and you do know exactly what you're using. It's been working really well for me. Also think the microfiber cloth is pretty crucial instead of just some brush.
Hi, glad I found this video and channel today! Totally agree about the quality control of going the DIY route. But do we need to rinse this solution, or just wiping it up is fine? Thnx
I just put my records in the cat's litter box. Right after I put a fresh load of litter in there, I wait until there are at least three cat turds and then I know the process is complete. They come out like new, and sound amazing!
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
It's because the cats are cleaning the records for you😸
How many cats do i need to buy?
Retard???😮
If I had a $50,000 sound system with a stylus that cost $500 I might be as fussy as this guy is about cleaning my records. But I don't. I agree that records should be handled carefully and cleaned if they can be improved by doing so. But, in my opinion, there is such a thing as overkill. I'm not saying that what this guy is telling you is wrong. He hits on some very good points. I just don't think that the average collector has to be this cautious. My method works fine for me and probably does for most collectors. I don't use distilled water. I use tap water. And the water in my area is pretty hard. The trick is not to let it dry on the record. And I only clean the record once. Just once. Maybe if I cleaned them 50 times they could accumulate enough minerals to cause damage to the grooves and the stylus playing them. I use a sponge dipped in a bowl filled with tap water and a couple of drops of unscented Dawn dish washing fluid. If it's safe enough to clean oil covered birds then it's safe enough to put on my records! I carefully rinse them off by spinning them under running water without getting the labels wet. Then I immediately pat them dry with a soft, lint free towel. If I have a very dirty record I will use a soft toothbrush on the bad spots. You know what I mean. The spots that people leave on them after touching them with chicken wing sauce on their fingers! After I clean them the grooves are amazingly quiet. Good enough, I say. If had to clean hundreds of records regularly (like dealers do) then I would buy an ultrasonic system. I buy mostly used records that have been enjoyed by previous owners. I'm not afraid to run my $40 stylus over a few light scratches. If I'm playing a very old record from the '50's or 60's I kind of enjoy a few pops and clicks. The secret to a happy life is to eliminate as much stress as possible. So do yourself a favor and just chill out and enjoy the music! Your opinions are welcome! Your personal insults are not. LOL.
I have another question. I am planning on buying the mofi super record wash. But i dont have a record cleaning machine
Would you suggest me using it for a manual hand cleaning system? Using the groovewasher brush I have mentioned before?
Nothing wrong with either, or a clean microfiber cloth. Good luck.
Hi, thanks for posting this video. I was using the spin clean on new records and am getting lots of static. Would you recommend using the homemade liquid on new records?
No. New records just need to be dusted with a microfiber cloth.
I use washingmachine soap and an old Knosti device and after 20 turns i clean it with the knosti filled with normal water..make the record a little dry .than i put the record on a paper and make it dry with soft toiletpaper >>> than i use a anti-static fibre recordcleaner and i'm satisfied with the endresult.
I have a question, records are loosened from the motherrecord by using grease or oil..in the beginning the substance is thin but after years /decades it gets thicker almost solid or even solid with dirt in it?. After i started playing records again i noticed my old records had more clicks and thicks than i can remember from the old days. Am i right?
So, to clarify, I can use the Super Record Wash on both vinyl and my 78s? Besides apparently alcohol, what are other do-nots for 78s that might be acceptable for vinyl?
yes, 78s have an oil in the vintl that will be removed by the alcohol making it brittle
The last one D4 record cleaning fluid has been around since the 60's and was the go to cleaning fluid of the 60- 90's and did a pretty decent job with the velour brush that came with the fluid. It will NOT hurt your records .
This is a slight misconception.
The brush you're thinking is the *original* dishwasher brush that actually *was* from the pre 2000s. They made the brush and cleaner in a completely different way that no company since has replicated. They went out of business in the early 2000s (guess why?), but had their brand name bought by someone else. What you see in this video is that new stuff. The brush and cleaner are completely different and kinda garbage.
I recommend looking up a video of the Original Discwasher D4 System. It's pretty cool! I love mine.
...but it doesn't get them clean enough either
My thought is that the Original discwasher co. went out of business when records started being overtaken by CD's, sales went way down since the seventies so they sold the name for big money
@@tomhill4003 it was never designed for deep cleaning, even though it's all most of us had available at the time.
The brush just redeposits the dirt from one record onto the next unless you thoroughly wash it which would probably destroy it in short order. The D4 fluid has changed over time and some variations left a milky residue.
Very enlightening! Enough to make me subscribe, as I'm about to buy a new turntable and want to clean up my old records. Thanks!
I've found many microfiber cloths are NOT lint-free and will leave your record dirtier than it was before you cleaned it. Any recommendations on specific microfiber cloths to use?
Thanks for your video and insight! Would you be able to share the ratios you normally use when mixing distilled water, Isopropyl alcohol and Ilfotol? I want to give it a go.
It's in the timeline. I think 2:53
Very interesting. I am sold on this but have question. At approx. the 2:48 mark, you list the required ingredients and the volumes. Do you simply mix these ingredients all together and apply with a typical home sprayer?
That is correct
I thank you for the video, and your speedy reply. Best regards.
dish soap and warm water will not ruin records (it hasn't ruined mine). After the 'deep clean' I spray with distilled water, isopropanol & surfactant with micro fibre cloths. The first round gets the bad stuff out. The second treatment I use every time before I play the record. Full agreement with your recommendation: Either it states what's in the cleaning solution, then you decide. Or it doesn't, and you make your own.
You're ruining your labels
@@PeacefulPariah Use a label clamp when cleaning so no moisture gets on them.
I too have been using mild, unscented dish soap and tepid tapwater to clean records for years and have had NO ILL effects whatsoever. I own about 1500 records and have never had a problem with my cleaning method.
Also, I clean my records without submerging them and I do not saturate the labels, so calm down about "ruining" the labels. But for what it is worth, most labels can take a lot of water exposure with no problem. They do not disbond, do not discolor and will usually be just fine unless the labels are the mattte types of the 1950s and early 60s.
When I get a used record and it appears filthy dirty, I use cool soapy water and a cheap unused brush (such as a chefs basting brush). I brush a generous amount of the soapy water on the playing surface in a circular motion back and forth a couple of times. Try not to get the record label seriously soaked. After that, I rinse the record with cold water. I dry the record with a regular clean towel (or one of the many good microfibre towels) and let it air dry the rest of the way. So far, I’ve had great success with this method. I rest my case.
@@PeacefulPariahI never ruined any of mine. But, I try to avoid letting the label get seriously soaked.
What are your thoughts on the spinclean? And I saw the big fudge record friend which is a bit cheaper and comes with a drying rack, thoughts?
I don’t really care for them unless you’re in need to clean dozens of albums regularly. You need to change the solution regularly or you’ll be giving a dirty bath to the latter records you put into it.
@scientificaudiophile appreciate the response. I'm trying to clean some old records and this seems like a good way to do it. Otherwise I just plan on using a brush before playing
490ml distilled water
5ml ilford ilfotol
5ml 99% ISO alcohol
You do not need much alcohol. You will likely not hear a difference between a 25% and a .5% solution.
Thank you.
Question, do you add in the reagents and then use a vortex mixer or use a magnetic stirrer and continually blend them? (I'm not being serious)
how do you feel about the vinyl vaccuum
Thank you for the informative video. I recently bought a water distiller so I can make large quantities of my own pure water which has been distilled at least three times. I never start with plain tap water, it’s either demineralised or multi stage filtered to reduce scale buildup in the distiller.
My wife is going out for the day, so this will be an ideal time to try out my new cleaning system for the first time using the Pro-ject VC-S2 and a cheap ultrasonic cleaner from Vevor.
The cleaning formula I intend to use is triple distilled water, 1% IPA (99.8% pure), and 0.1% surfactant (Triton X-100 lab grade). Then rinsed in a clean bath of triple distilled water in my Spin Clean without the brushes then drip dry and a final wipe with a clean micro fibre cloth. The manual handling of the vinyl will be done using powder free food grade rubber gloves. The liquids will be measured using digital scales and decanted into a new spritzer bottle.
What’s sad is he doesn’t even know you’re being sarcastic
HaHaHa.)))
Thankk you sir. Can you please give me the ratio of water to Isopropal? I assume you only use about a teasoon o the photo agent?
It's in the video.
Would you still recommend to mix 99%isopropol alcohol with the Mobile Fidelity - Super Deep Cleaner(16oz) ? PLease let me know, thanks
😎 why not
You said something about making your own cleaner. Do you have a video on that? Or one that you would recommend? I looked on your page and didn’t see one?
The recipe is at 3:30 in the video. Thanks.
I’m glad I found this vid.
Thanks!
What do you think about tergikleen? I’m doing budget cleaning. I have an old, unused turntable, so I bought a vinyl vac and I’m combining it with a 1.75 hp shop vac, and just to be careful, I’m using the second smallest suction reducer that comes with the vinyl vac. I plan on going a tergikleen cycle, and then a distilled water cycle. I’m using the mofi wet cleaning brush, which I’ve had good experiences with in the past. I’m also cleaning the platter with one of those sticky blue rollers in between cleans, and brushing the velvet strip with the brush the vinyl vac comes with. I know I probably sound insane, I’m just trying to be safe and effective.
Never heard of it. Good luck.
What do you think about a Humin Guru? Is a device like this with the appropriate liquid like in the video recommended?
Unfortunately I’ve never heard of it.
Fantastic advice….very thorough, thank you 👍
Could you use the alcohol/wetting agent/distilled water mix in an ultrasonic cleaner?
Yes
Sigh. This must be one of the main things killing the vinyl hobby. Everyone on the internet saying a different thing, everyone acting like the one and only who knows. I've been OCD:ing over my wet cleaning option for a while, and I just said fuck it and ordered the GrooveWasher G2. I know, "it leaves crud and a film on your records, the sponge is shit, don't ever use it, you should listen to Guy #145" - at this point I'm not going to trust any one party on the internet, I want to start listening to the goddamn records...
He’s a audio file he cares all about the quality of the music so he’s obviously gonna be complaining about the solutions which isn’t his own I don’t really care about solutions it’s just about how you like to music and that’s what vinyl is about listening to music your way
Same as you, I ended up with the G2 also. Starting to think Vinyl is more stress than worthwhile for someone prone to OCD and anxiety 😁
Is that what OCD will do to you?
...
Damn...
PursuitPerfectSystem channel made a video much better than this one with microscope check before and after with various techniques.
This one is clickb*it.
I'm having a full on anxiety attack about it. I use the spincare set and I was happy but now everyone is telling me I wasn't eben supposed to use a microfiber cloth... I can't afford a cleaning machine now...
Will filtering water or boiling it and allowing it to cool make the tap water safe for cleaning a record?
Boiling won't filter out the minerals or contaminants. Honestly, the real issue with tap water is how often you use it. If you play a record once a year, even three times a year, it probably won't build up any residue. Distilled water is always best, but you would need dozens of washings with tap water to build up any deposits.
Dude...im old enough I grew up when records were common. We stacked em, we pulled em off turn tables and set them aside. I played Moving Pictures and 2112 everyday for roughly 2 yrs along with many others. We never washed em , bagged em and most of us never dreamed of having high dollar extreme stereo turn tables. Amazing the 2 I mentioned (and most others) still play ok to fine. I take better care now than then but still......really??
Yeah, same here im 63 and maybe we could have done a better job then but one thing ive learned over the years is theres TONS of snake oil record products of all kinds, I could speak for hours on the many ludicrously overpriced record accessories that exist moreso today than ever.
@jetyler3400 I'm new to this, how'd you clean yours then?
Sounds about right. My collection has been sitting for a very long time. Cleaning is a good thing but DO NOT USE any chemicals. I invested on an ultrasonic washer. 6L washer with record attachment that has a motor. Filtered city tab water is all you need. No cocktails of 2-5 different additives and crap people put in the washer as they don't know how the ultrasonic washer works. My 40 year old collections is like new. Plus if you wash new records like this you get lot more sound from them. Records always have veering amount of stuff left behind from the manufacturing process as much as it can hide lot of sound and even instruments that you didn't even know were in there.
Hey... my Moving Pictures record brought me to this video! I came back to this LP last week. I bought it in 1984, and must have mistreated it, touched the groves, and played it on poor equipment 300 times. I'm not using good equipment (vintage) and I'm amazed at how good this record sounds. Yeah yeah, it's Moving Pictures, but still. But there were pops and skips that I want to fix.
But I do believe the groves would be gunked up after 40 years like anything else, and that it lowers sound quality. IDK how noticable it would be.
@@aphelps9196 Don't. Just play them regularly, store them properly and occasionally give your stylus a clean with a stylus brush a d that should be enough. 40 plus years of listening to vinyl, I'm speaking from experience!
This custom recipe with distilled water, 99% alcohol and wetting agent could work for clean the stylus ??? Thanks
So I made your solution, and it seems as though there is a bit of residue after letting them dry; however, it if there is, it is very minimal. Should I be using pure distilled AFTER the solution as well?
No. If you’re using 99% isopropyl alcohol, a photo quality wetting agent and distilled water, the only issue could be the water. You may need to het triple or better distilled water. Good luck.
@@scientificaudiophile thank you for the reply. I will do another test and see. Your videos are the best. Please keep doing what you do :)
Hello my friend, how are you?
I hope that you can help me. I live on a smaller city and this is a place where i dont know another collector to exchance expiriences. I need to clean some of my old 50's cover discs that are to much dirty, like Nat King Cole and George Shearing , King Creole from Elvis and others. Could you help me with this? Sorry about my poor english, but i live in Brazil and i have learned from discs and video games. Thank you so much!
I've found that many microfiber cloths are NOT lint-free and will leave your records dirtier than they were before you cleaned them. Any advice on which microfiber cloths to use?
I’ve found these to be great, but be aware the gray ones will darken the sound a bit. Blue is better. Puomue 8 Pack Microfiber Glass Cleaning Cloth, 12 Inch X 16 Inch, Lint Free Quickly Clean Window, Glasses, Windshields, Mirrors, and Stainless Steel, Blue a.co/d/dCWNXWX
Whats the porpotion you use to make the solution ? Thank you
At 3:40 is the recipe/ratios. Thanks for the view.
Would you recommend using this mixture in a "brush and bath" style cleaner like the spin clean?
Yes, if you don't reuse the liquid more than four or five times.
@@scientificaudiophile 4 or 5 records? thats like 100ml per record. Spin clean recommends replacing their own solution after 50 records. I guess your recommendation is on the safe side?
@@joost3732 If your records are clean, 50 is ok, but if you just went to a used record shop or worse, a garage sale, 4 to 5 would be my max.
I use Kodak Photo-flo or FPP Foto Flow which is the same thing in a smaller bottle. So basically I use what you use. Now, if I’m dealing with a very dirty old 78, it’s gotta be something more potent like plain Dawn dish washing liquid or something similar. Distilled water is a must of course. Very good video and it’s good to call out these misleading channels.
I have just repair an Audio Desk vinyl cleaner and I am in love with that machine, it cleans excellent
Good to know!
Do you use a specific ratio for your homemade solution?
490ml distilled water
5ml ilford ilfotol
5ml 99% ISO alcohol
You do not need much alcohol. You will likely not hear a difference between a 25% and a .5% solution. I use the HDPE squeeze bottles that are 500ml. With the curved straw that goes to the bottom of the bottle.
A few weeks ago I got a hold of 3 records for €3 each. They were filthy. I tried the tap water + dish soap + dunk in the sink but instead of a brush like he had I used a soft-bristle toothbrush. This method worked mint for me.. It did remove a lot of the cracks & pops it had before.. A few weeks later the record is still fine with no apparent side effects to it or the stylus.
TY but I tried brand new Micro fiber cloths and part of the material from the cloth came off onto the record. I have had bad luck with this. A thick clean cotton towel seems to work well for me
You have to wash them well. There's no way a clean microfiber will leave more behind that terry cloth.
Or why not then just a clean paper towel?
Wait. Would you recommend the Groovewasher Walnut Record Cleaning Kit?
I've heard very good things about this kit and the bottle that comes with the kit tells you what is in it. It is 100% distilled water with no iso alchohol.
Reading their website it says “Laboratory grade, double deionized, carbon filtered & UV treated water”. I would definitely feel comfortable using this product. Thanks for letting me know it exists.
@@scientificaudiophile wow thanks for the quick response!
So I did an experiment. I live in a dusty environment. I have to clean my records quite often. So I made a solution of distilled water with 70% alcohol. And I noticed after wiping with a microfiber cloth Mike once clean Records now had the bacon sizzling sound. I suppose the contaminants in the 70% alcohol caused scratches and contamination to the records. Then I tried 91% alcohol and distilled water and a microfiber cloth and it made a huge difference in the surface noise. so I agree with you the higher percentage alcohol you use the less contaminants will be on your records and please use vinyl gloves when cleaning. The only problem with 99% alcohol is that it smells awful and I feel so toxic when I use it from smelling it. But it does do a good job. I guess I'll wear a facemask as well.
What sort of cloth should I use to clean my wave files,
should it be dry, should it be wet, maybe somewhere
in the middle ??
I'm really confused, help please. The sooner the better.
I’m glad you reached out. Cleaning wave files with the wrong cleaners can turn them into mp3 files, significantly reducing their resolution. Wave files must only be cleaned using Star Brite and a carnuba cloth. a.co/d/eSGkNlp
@@scientificaudiophile Many thanks S.A... I shall try this out later on....
Always vaccinate your wave files against viruses. Apart from that, give your computer or phone (wherever you store your wave files) a good soak in the ocean every full moon.
What is your take on Tergikleen one product you didn’t mention in this video.
Never heard of it. Sorry.
Its is used by the USA Library of congress/ preservation of vinyl records in their archives, sold on Amazon one bottle yields 30 gallons ten to 20 drops per gallon of distilled water or RODI WATER. must must must rinse with fresh distilled water of after a cleaning with the solution. Posting a video only one the difference not my process.
What do you think of the Kirmuss process for deep cleaning.
I have no direct knowledge of the Kirmuss cleaning system. I will say, that I haven't seen a manual system outperformed, though if deep cleaning many albums, a automated system will save you a lot of time.
Thanks for the ingredient list. What is the ratio for the solution?
At the 3:56 mark the ingredients and ratios are detailed.
@@scientificaudiophile Thanks man. I usually miss the things right in front of my face, SMH. Appreciate the video.
Hello,
So I was surfing thru various vids re: vinyl cleaning, products, how-to, etc, and found yours to be helpful, talking about the various cleaning fluids out there and that simply using distilled water, 99% isopropyl alcohol and wetting agent seems to be the best and safest way to go. What I wanted to know though, is your thoughts on how to safely use this mixture and how to apply and clean vinyl. I’ve seen various vids of the “vinyl vac” and though it seems effective with its vacuum method, it also seems a little cumbersome and I’m not totally sure I would feel safe and confident using such method, so let me know your thoughts on this and again what you suggest. Thanks
I squirt a little on a dry microfiber cloth and apply in a circular motion. Using a vinyl cleaning brush works as well. Dries very quickly, no need to dry afterwards.
@@scientificaudiophile much appreciated!
What kind of brush can you use
I like microfiber. So a microfiber brush would be good.
Can you demonstrate how you do it. The ratio of the water and alcohol?
Ratio is in the timeline. Around the 2:30 second mark if I remember correctly.
Would you recommend adding 99+% in the right proportion to the Super Record Wash to bring it up to your spec? Tx
Absolutely, but not for 78 records where alcohol can damage them.
What about Groovewasher G2 Fluid?
The water where I live has very little chloride so I do clean records under lukewarm tap water with a clean microfiber spunge. Use regular soap for cleaning plates and spoons Etc. Hold the record with a glove so I can touch all areas. Clean thoroughly. Dunce off all soap then dry with clean micro fiber cloth before letting it air dry another 5 minutes. Then I play record and bever clean it ever again.
Its not just chlorine thats a concern but mainly a buildup of hard minerals from tap water, in some parts of the country tap water has such a high content of hard minerals and purifying chemicals it can harden like concrete in the grooves and grind away at your stylus - its the same reason they use distilled water in eye drops and such, so you dont get mineral deposits scratching at your eyes every time you blink.
Microfibre cloths can leave microfibres/lints in the grooves.
A graphic came up appears to be a ratio Distilled water, 160 ml, 99% pure alcohol, 1 ml ilford ilfotol wetting agent
Do you go into deeper on making and storing this. Is this the same mixture you would recomend using with my ultra sound spin machine? Please go into deeper...Thanks Super helpful so far
That's about it. Make as much as you want with the 3 ingredients - and yes, you can use it anywhere, even a spin machine.
So I'm kind of new to vinyl. I did just buy a cleaning brush and Record Care Solution from Audio Technica. So because it just says "water" , are we assuming it is from a tap ? I haven't received them yet. Is Audio Technica not a good company for records ? Should I not use the brush ?
Distilled water is just water minus any minerals/contaminants. If they say water on the label they likely mean distilled. Both safe to use.
Wear can I get the microfiber cloths at?
How necessary is the Wetting agent? Could it be remove without any attectation to my LPs?
The wetting agent allows the solution to get into the grooves, so it is quite important especially if the record is dirty.
Thanks so much!! already have isopropyl 99.7% and destilled water.. @@scientificaudiophile
The wetting agent is critical. What it does is chemically break the surface tension in the liquids so that the liquids relax and will spread out and form a thin coating that will penetrate into the grooves and actually wet them. An example of surface tension is the beading of a liquid on a surface. It just sits on top of the surface. The wetting agent "breaks" this tension allowing it to spread out. There are terms such as wetting angle that define how well a liquid will be able to spread onto a hydrophobic surface.
is water/iso alcohol ok for removing dust n stuff
Not really because you’re adding minerals from the water onto the record. For dust, just use a clean microfiber cloth, nothing else.
@@scientificaudiophile If I was going to use your ingredients list in a spin clean bath, what would you recommend as the mix? Thanks for your time.
@@scotslater Go to the 3:42 mark in the video. There I list the ingredients and ratios. Thanks for watching.
Vinyl is an incredibly delicate material. It's not like they made siding for houses from it, or something.
I sprayed distilled water, not 4x distilled, onto the vinyl siding of my parents house, 3x a day for 3 months. My Dad is repairing the damage now.
@@scientificaudiophile your reply here implies distilled water is NOT good for vinyl, yet it's the main ingredient in your vinyl cleaning solution. I'm confused by your response.
The vinyl siding on a house is not the same as for a record and the siding does not have thousands of microscopic grooves that come into contact with another object to re-create sound.
@@dbsean he's saying he used distilled water, but not water that has been distilled 4 times as many spirits are. Its a bit of an tongue in cheek comment
Question: I’m noticing that after cleaning with the homemade solution, my records are sounding more crackley than before. 1) Does the mixed solution a have a degradation point where it should be tossed and a new batch made (I did try this and it didn’t sound like it made any difference.) 2) in the video you don’t mention cleaning method. There are all sorts of chuckleheads who want you to scrub for 5-10 minutes and let the records air dry for a couple hours. Not really practical in my view. Any advice will be appreciated.
No degradation should be noticed even after years of the solution being shelved. I'd suggest getting some new cleaning towels and possibly taking a look at the needle on your cartridge to be sure it doesn't have dust on it.
@@scientificaudiophile I have a big box of towels - I grab a new one every 2nd or 3rd cleaning session. The stylus is 3 months old and gets cleaned after every play. I ran a test with a clean older album that I didn't mind trashing (who listens to Ted Nugent anymore?), playing the first 10-15 seconds of a side before treating it, and the same section after treating it. Looking at the wave forms side by side, the number and intensity of the clicks and pops increased. I can send you audio and visual proof if you are curious.
@@JimCooperVO I use the three ingredients this and many other videos recommend. I have had results that you witness, but I found out what went wrong. The water. You probably do not have distilled water. Also mixing the right amount is crucial of each part. Spray it on - lots of it. Distribute it out with clean finger tips. I clean it with my fingertips going in circles - you can feel the debris coming out. Do it gently. Do not rub. Then use the microfiber cloth in the end (remember to wash your cloths in 60 degrees first, and let them dry over night before using them). Do only 4 rounds with the microfiber cloth. I repeat this two times for each side. Let records dry for 24 hours.
Can you use a drop or 2 of dawn dish soap
I strongly recommend against that. Dawn has lots of chemicals and items that may get stuck in the grooves of the record.
What about tergikleen w/distilled water?
No idea but if it's free of particulates I say it's fine.
I do not doubt your cleaning recipe works but it is possible your own recipe might damage records. I am just getting back into vinyl after losing my entire record collection last year and since I am literally starting over I wanted to do a better job protecting my vinyl so I have been researching cleaning fluids and techniques. One thing that has come up more than once in my reading is Isopropyl alcohol decreases a records shine i.e. increases microporosity which can accelerate wear. I have no idea if methanol or ethanol have this same effect on records. I have not read anything about glycols harming records. You are technically correct since glycols contain an “OH” group they are considered alcohols in organic chemistry nomenclature. However to a non chemist consumer alcohol means at most ethanol, isopropyl, and to a very few methanol. If your average consumer is looking for an alcohol free cleaner they are probably looking for a cleaner without ethanol, isopropyl, and/or methanol. Consequently I think you might be miss understanding why a manufacturer says their fluid is alcohol free when it contains a glycol.
Distilled/di-ionized water is definitely preferred over plain water but not every company lists the water they used as distilled even when that is what they are using. Some manufactures that do not list distilled water on their ingredients also sell concentrated versions of their cleaners, and the instructions for their concentrates explicitly say to mix the concentrate with distilled water.
I definitely understand your frustration with the lack of ingredients being listed. After all there are probably still companies that still sell PVC record sleeves as a way to protect your records. If you buy these mystery ingredient record cleaners you are basically trusting that the company you are buying it from has truly studied the effects of their product. I’m having a hard time trusting any of these companies. It seems all of the truly old companies were sold years ago and underwent recipe changes after they changed hands. I keep reading the original formula worked great but this newer recipe does not work.
By modern standards hand washing records with dish soap is not considered the best cleaning method but it will not ruin your records if you use good technique and choose a good soap without lotions and perfumes. Dawn Ultra or Dawn regular (blue colored) are good choices but I would probably avoid the Platinum version since it has water softeners in it. I may end up adopting this method. There are plenty of people that have been doing this for decades with good results so at least we know what the long term effects are on the vinyl.
Happy Listening and enjoy your vinyl!
I have been using distilled water and 99% alcohol.
What percentage of these combined with a wetting agent do you recommend? What’s the breakdown?
Timecodes are in the description. 3:30 for the ratios.
@@scientificaudiophile Oh I see. Hard to see on a phone. Thanks.
What is the name of the wetting agent?
Originally, the photography dark room wetting agent that vinyl collectors started using in the 70s and 80s was a Kodak chemical called Photo-Flo. Ilford, a Kodak competitor, also makes Ilfotol, which is a similar wetting agent. Both of these products should still be available today.
Did I miss the measurement of the three products or are they all used separately?
3:40 second mark is the measurements. Thanks for watching.
@@scientificaudiophile Thanks for the reply and the information.
I do clean my records with distilled water and alcohol ( not 99% but I will get it and the wetting agent) after the initial cleaning do you recommend a rinse with distilled water only or is it necessary?
You shouldn’t have to rinse because 99% alcohol evaporates within a few seconds.
how many cleanings is the solution for?
Depends on the size of your spraybottle. I use a 40ml bottle. Mix 25% of the solution with 99% iso, and 5% of it with water agent. This cleans about 4-5 records. Let dry over night.
thanks for your advice! People like you are the real friends of Vinyl
The great thing about MOFI products is how transparent and honest they are.
🤣
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I make my own with t e r g i t o l and distilled water. Still at the mercy of the manufacturers of t e r g i t o l and distilled water. When purchased, no way of telling what it really is without a Mass gas chromatography Spectrum analyzer!
As transparent as distilled water.
😄
I bought records that are all in great shape, in boxes and in their own jackets. However they do have a little fuzzy hair here and there across the surface. I played it first without realizing they were supposed to be cleaned often. I did not hear any pops or crackling, but did notice the dust afterwards. Could just a dry wipe down be all I need? And just a microfiber towel or a clean cotton t-shirt? No stores around me sell the microfiber carbon brushes and I am not one to buy online. Went to Walmart, a record store and even called Guitar Center who says they carry them, but rarely.
Dry wipe, but with a microfiber towel, not cotton. Cotton my just push everything in deeper. Also, do not press hard, just lightly wipe. Using distilled water will also help, but make sure you let it dry completely before playing.
@@scientificaudiophile thank you for the quick reply. What about microfiber applicator pads? Oh and is all microfiber material created equal? Like is there stuff too cheap that could actually damage the record, that is still called microfiber? But also not wanting to spend a lot for a towel either. I see stuff at Walmart in the car section. But not sure those are the same kind of microfiber towels or applicators I need. Dollar stores have them as well.
Record pressing plants are absolutely filthy places. Unless you get a nice audiophile pressing that comes in a poly inner liner, the record will not be cleaned before packaging.
As a rule, any new, never-unopened record I buy that comes in a paper inner sleeve, the sleeve gets chucked immediately, the record wiped gently with a dry microfiber cloth that is CLEAN, then washed (Tergikleen, like the Library of Congress archivists use on their vinyl) on a vacuum cleaning machine, then a second distilled water rinse on the same machine, and finally into a Mobile Fidelity Inner Sleeve. They're anti-static and made of a poly material that won't shed fibers onto the record. This is the way!
Quality pressings, which have become a lot more common these days, will ship in a poly inner sleeve and you'll see immediately that all the pressing plant schmutz, including record plant dust and the release agent that is applied to the stamper to get the record to release, will all have been washed off already. Those are good to go.
I've been collecting new and used records for 30 years and I've never gone wrong with the system above. For a seriously grungy used record, I'll add a step after the microfiber cloth and before the Tergikleen wash where I'll run isopropyl to get caked on skunge off. The Tergikleen wash cycle will ensure any alcohol that hasn't evaporated is removed. I've saved some seriously unloved records this way.
Best of luck! Happy vinyl collecting.
@@gregalee I've received brand new records with nice polyline inner were the records were filthy and dirty. It's from the factory, not the inner sleeve. Even received very warped records using both kind of inner sleeves. Most warps came delivered especially in the covid period. I have a brand new record just now that I have to clean. Full of fingerprints from the dude at the factory. Horrible
thank you for this!
There was a fluid spray sold on Amazon a few years back that left a sheen on the Records that made them shine, and I swear it had some kind of lubricant in it. After a while, it turned to cook on my records, and when I wipe them off with alcohol and water. All of this brown residue came off. I forgot what it was called, slick or slide some thing in a tiny orange spray can? You're right, sir I agree with you all D's cleaning fluids that you can buy are awful and a waste of money.
I user 70% isopropyl alcohol not 90% in my ultrasonic machine. Will that not be safer?
Yes, if you’re confident the manufacturer used distilled water.
I have to say the guy dunking his record in the sink made me laugh, I hope it was just a joke! It reminded me of a video some of my photography friends sent me a couple years ago of a great way to clean your camera, pull off the lens, dunk your camera in water, scrub the sensor with whatever and rinse with a water hose 😁 If someone has to be told NOT to do these types of things they most likely have more important things to worry about than simply running a record. Having said that…please DONT wash your records in the sink!
I use Fairy Liquid and warm water, the discs sound great when dried, no idea why you'd use distilled water
I've been collecting Jamaican singles for 30 years and some of us including myself use an ultrasonic cleaner, it's absolutely the best way to clean vinyl . Period.
A couple of drops of dish soap in lukewarm water slowly rotate by hand up to the label, you can see the dirt lift from the grooves even super dirty records. Then rinse in a separate bowl of the same temp distilled water. Shake, dry the label off with paper towel, set on a coffee cup or glass to dry and it will play as good as brand new I guarantee you. I've cleaned records 30 years ago this way and they still play perfect.✌ edit to add this is the only way that doesn't "wipe" the record which is simply pushing impurities into the groove and dragging them. Ultrasonic Cleaner vibrates the dirt loose and into suspension.
Thumbs up for this video. This guy knows what he's talking about. I've been using these exact ingredients for many years. There are a few YT videos that offer this same method, but not many - because as this guy says in this video - these other people do not have the knowledge. Distilled water with 99% Isopropanol (20% mixed of desired volume), Ilford agent (5% mixed of the desired volume).
I appreciate that!
Why do you recommend Super Record Wash from all the others? If there is an explanation for the bad there has to be one for what's good.
I don't think it could have been any clearer. Go back to 6:20 in the video.
How do you feel about wood glue?
Terrible idea. You would need a high powered microscope to compare before and after. The eye test looks cool on video but the reality is residue is left on the surface. Plus the time to clean just one record wouldn’t make it worth it compared to so many other options.
The Art Of Mixing Vinyl has multiple vids on using wood glue. There’s a process to do it correctly. It can even improve the sound quality of crackling vin, depending on the press.
I've use at least 10 cleaning solutions over the years. Many differences, many similarities but always based on distilled water. For me the key is rinsing. I don't care if the product used says it needn't be rinsed. All do in my experience. I use a Degritter for my last step. In my view it is a brilliant way of rinsing. I can take an LP that was thoroughly cleaned on another machine, which does a good job with a quality fluid, play it, then come back later and run it on a pure distilled water rinse and it sounds better. Some solution are VERY difficult to thoroughly rinse. My last rinse is lab grade I pure water. Distilled water still has a fair amount of particulate matter in it. A small amount follows a distilled water rinse. That's as good as I've come up with using many products, both solutions and machines, including Kirmuss VPI, Pro-Ject, and Degritter, not to mention various brushes. When a record is properly cleaned and rinsed with the pure water at the end there is very little drying needed. It's almost completely dry by the end.
How do you rinse?
@@CookieCurls It depends on the type of music and how far I'm willing to go for a specific album. At a minimum a distilled water rinse in the Degritter. On prized stuff and in particular classical, where there are so many very quiet passages, I do a final rinse on my vacuum machine with laboratory grade Type I ultra pure water. I do the rinse, vacuum and then place in the Degritter for about 30 seconds (1 revolution) on a low fan speed to insure it's totally dry before putting it into a new sleeve.
If only I had a spare $3500 laying around.
I just tried the cleaning very crackly 1970s Twiggy album with a few drops of dish soap (in about 250 ml of luke warm water) and record cleaning brush, and it's actually very good.
But then I tried it on a crackly Genesis album, and it made no difference.
You never mentioned if you dilute the 90% alcohol with any distilled water?
I give the ratios. See the timestamps.
As I clean 50-100 records, almost daily at my store, I've been thinking of making a similar video. While I agree with most of what you've said here, it seems to be as much of an assumption on your part, as to the quality or poor sourcing of the water and or chemicals used in various products, as it is to assume otherwise. Also, most cleaners are concentrated, and only require a few drops or capful in bottle or basin of water. That said, a final rinse with true distilled or lab grade water is always best.
There are cities and towns with shockingly hard water - people need water softeners installed at the intake to keep their faucets from clogging after only a year or so of unfiltered water. To put that level of mineral content onto such fine grooves, and do it over and over again, doesn't seem a risk I think anyone should take when distilled water is so cheap and plentiful (and can even be made at home). That's my 2¢. Thanks for the comment.
@@scientificaudiophile true, it's easy enough, and cheap, but were talking a few drops in maybe a gallon of water. I was literally a water processing technician for Culligan for a decade. That would likely be an actually unmeasurable amount of mineral content if added to otherwise pure water. You're here to dispel other people's BS, and there's plenty of it around this topic on TH-cam, but you don't need to add more.
I always used vehicle traffic film remover neat, and a bit of sandpaper.
Great great! I’m ok with this video. I think it’s all very good, but I have two simple questions.
What is that photography cleaning stuff? I don’t think it was specifically named. A searchable generic name for what it is will do fine. I’m sorry if I missed it, but I don’t think I did.
How do you clean those brushes? I can’t imagine only using them once, though I understand the idea that dirt on the brush gets into the records.
Should I not be using those brushes? Maybe that was the point.
Ok, ended up being three. I’d appreciate any guidance from anyone who thinks they can help. Thank you
I use the brand “Ilford” . As for brushes, no I don’t use them. A new cloth is inexpensive and clean. It can be used multiple times if your albums are just dusty. If they are dirty, use it just once and then use it for dusting around the house and get a new cloth for your albums.
Using the recommended record solution would you recommend adding a small bit of 99% alcohol yourself?
Yes, for dirty records (e.g. something you got from a garage sale). Not necessary for new records where the goal is just to remove dust.
Not sure I agree in this point. New records are usually supercharged with static. I always wash new records, using a recipe very similar to the one you describe in your video.
What about ultrasonic cleaning?
It works. Expensive.
Thank you !
You're welcome!
ive seen a lot of vinyl oldheads/elders do the wash in the sink thing. perfectly fine for really dirty records imo. for the record i use 99% iso and distilled water for my solution.. but vinyl is tough, it wont be damaged so easily as you claim
First of all, thank you for taking the time to do the research and putting together this video. You already knew the haters and the doubters were gonna jump all over you and you posted it anyways so hats off to you. Second of all you are questioning the industry that provides their magical tonics in a bottle and majority without explanation. This is absolutely unprofessional and frustrating when we eventually find out that not only were we not cleaning the record, we were making it worse. I think your solution is sound and makes complete sense. Plus, you have no motivation for deception except to uncover one. Could you have been more diplomatic and pass less judgement on those who are only assuming the industry is doing right is completely up for debate. I personally do not care so long as the ending justifies the concerns you identified. Also there are those who are watching this video who remember a time before the internet where knowledge of record care was word of mouth. Now, we all have the chance to share knowledge via this amazing platform and it has helped some of is fast forward are knowledge and debunk myths. This is another video that weighs in on the proper way to take of vinyl and the best on to date to my knowledge. Thanks again for your contribution!
Well others found it off putting. He could have done better I regards to that. In fact he could have skipped that whole segment of calling people out and just said what to use, what not to use and why. Won and done. So if he has haters, there might be a real reason for that. Although it helped me.
However, they said on game cartridges not to use alcohol, now all the retro stores use it to clean their old games. Just a drop or two, slightly moist, not soaking wet on a q-tip, a little rub in the prongs and the game will play.
I think that we must be careful of saying that you will ruin a record because most of these records have been around longer than some people have been alive and they are passed on and sold to the next generation some are ruined, but others are perfectly fine, they just need some cleaning. Having said that some of the solutions that you can buy, I agree that they don’t tell you what’s in them. I probably wouldn’t buy them because you are probably paying for the same tap water that is in your home and they could be just putting it in a fancy bottle and charging you for the privilege.
As far as dishwashing soap, it will not ruin a record, especially Dawn even though it may have other ingredients in there, I have records that I have had that are 10-20 years old some older than me and this is with me being the second, third or fourth owner. What is important about using something like Dawn is to rinse this stuff off thoroughly from your record, so as to not leave soap residue, which can create static, which will draw dust back into the groove. I will sometimes soak records that I use Dawn on in a sink of water, with plastic handheld 2-piece screw-down labels protectors, and I have done this overnight, and never have I gotten a label wet.
Dunking your whole record into the sink isn’t something that I would do without a hand-held screw-down 2-piece label protector because some labels don’t handle water well at all due to the paper used on the label and Bluenote for one, especially their older more collectible stuff from the 50s and 60s will be ruined.
I have accidentally gotten the labels wet before I owned a label protector, or vacuum machines, like the Project VCS, VPI 16.5, and my Ultrasonic, and they (Bluenote) were ruined, but some of the other labels just dry without harm, but I wouldn’t take chances this, especially on collectible vinyl or records that are personal to you. The Ultrasonic machine was the last record machine purchased and the VPI 16.5 was the first. The Project VCS allows me to dry both sides at nearly the same time due to the turntable size being slightly larger than the record label. I don’t use Microfiber anything or towels for drying records as I have found even the brand new and expensive Microfiber towels still leave lint. I play-test all of the records that I clean and watch the stylus and I was getting lint from microfiber clothes, and expensive ones that the lint ended up in my stylus.
I go from wet/sink to vacuum after a pre-wash and vacuum to Ultrasonic and then vacuum again as a last drying. Sometimes I will use Music Direct Superwash and I make my own enzyme cleaner using fruits that have natural enzyme properties, Triton X100-as a surfactant, 90 percent Alcohol, and distilled water and I bottle it. I learned this from a channel called Kookkatjazz and it works beautifully.
I get no static, no lint or gunk in my grooves, and this is after washing them with Dawn in a sink with a hand label protector I use both a corner paint applicator, which has soft bristles, and a handle, along with vacuum cleaners, and Ultrasonic cleaning. The reason that manufacturers say to use distilled water and I do in my Ultrasonic as the last step cleaning step and then vacuum it, is because a lot of people sometimes have hard water, which could leave a calcium deposit on the record or even on your dishes. If your water coming out of the tap is filtered or not harsh, this is less likely to happen.
I spray them in the sink with the sprayer that I clean off and sometimes dip them in a sink full of water, but with the plastic, two-piece screw-down label protector and water never touch the labels. This gets the stubborn 40-year gunk out of the record for preparation of the other stuff that I do. I have gone back and did a before and after with a magnifying glass at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years for selected records and I haven’t seen any grooves on records ruined with Dishwashing soap, it is just static electricity that will attract dust from the air that will get into your grooves if you don’t get the soap off or vacuum the vinyl to long, which can in itself create static electricity which can cause the stylus to bump up against the grooves, widen them, or the dust can produce skips due to dust being wedged in the record grooves.
Our records are precious, but we can be as elaborate or as simple as we want and even Steve Guttenberg the Audiophilliac said he doesn’t use a vacuum because of a bad experience, he just washes them in the sink with a label protector and he calls it a day. If records were being ruined all the time, there would be nothing to collect. Records are more durable than we think and they will outlast people, so let’s be sensible, but still have an open mind about learning new methods to hone your skills, become more efficient, and more importantly, just have fun and enjoy the music because the only person that has to enjoy your record collection is you!!!
Nobody is going to read all that ☝️
@@crazyprayingmantis5596 Actually, no one said that you had to. To Assume, no one will do something, implies that you know everyone, which neither you nor I can say that we know everyone or know what everyone will or won't do. Sometimes in life, all messages aren't meant for all people. Knowledge doesn't come in a 10 second sound bite, knowledge is acquired over time and excepted by those that are truly ready for it!!!
@@sidvicious3129
You should write a book, your talent for writing is wasted in the TH-cam comments
@@crazyprayingmantis5596- I read it.
One thing some people do, which I don't feel is necessary, and that is wet clean brand new records before they even listen to them. Fair enough if a new record looks dirty as some do, but if a record has no surface noise when you play it then best left well alone. Just make sure you take care with handling and use a carbon fibre brush to remove any dust while the record is spinning.
Next time when you get a new record play it and then ultrasonic wash it. Often the difference is huge. Sometimes there are lot of stuff left behind from the pressing. And if you have a good stylus you will hear the change like night and day. Sometimes even so well that you hear instruments that you didn't even know were there. Only thing you need is 6L industrial ultrasonic cleaner and attachment for records motor that spins. About $300 all up. Clean filtered city tab water works just as well. No need for distilled water and no solutions or cocktails or rubbish in the water. ONLY WATER. Hard well water is a different thing. That I can't recommend using.
some people just enjoy playing records to play records, and might think tracking dirt into them is much worse than rubbing it with soft fabric brushes, or, god forbid, water that might leave some scaling after a few thousand washes.
I’ve honestly had no issue with hot soapy water. It does the job and you can hear it.
Mistake #1...believing a label that says it's using quadruple distilled water.
I’m making my own! I’ve got that surfactant and 99% pure isopropyl from a photography store! Just need my distilled water and I will be ready to clean!
Good luck!
3:30 I'm with Moleman on this - you need scientifically approved methods to get scientifically approved results.
Everything said is true! Please tell me how many milliliters of Ilfotol are needed to wash 5 records in an ultrasonic bath with a capacity of 5 liters?
When i was a kid in the 80s i loved music and loved collecting old records i loved boney M but in the 80s the group in the UK went out of fashion a DJ Shop opened in my town and i would go often to buy old singles and 12 inch singles i was only around 12 the guy liked me and would keep stuff for me i went in one day with a record cleaning kit i got from Woolworths and told showed him he said that is rubbish it will leave a residue on the records and when i went home i did clean some records and no matter how well a used the cloth you got with it the record had smudges before i left the shop he said the best way to clean your records is slightly warm water and washing up liquid he said that is what he did and so did i now i have a album from 1985 that i cleaned that way all the way through the 80s 90s and 2000s the record is still minty still plays no reduced sound qaulity so it cant be bad and trust me if it did make the record worse i would know i have great hearing anyway i only ever clean records as deeply as that if there dirty dusty with grit and finger smudges on them iv collected records all my life and cleaned them with the way the DJ told me in the 80s .. i still have that old 85 album and it still plays like a dream.