Yes you have to clean your records.It is a must its like driving a clean car vs. a dirty car the clean one always rides better and the music sounds better.
Is it necessary to clean every record?
I'm constantly buying used records, some of which are in excellent to mint condition. I put them in an ever growing stack of "to be cleaned" records, some of which are now several years old, because I have a rule not to play records that haven't been through the VPI machine. Is it really necessary to clean the ones that appear as if they've never been played? I listen to a Planar 25, Classe integrated, and Spica TC-60's. I'd appreciate your thoughts.