Hi,
IMNSHO, record cleaning is a no-brainer. I've been collecting vinyl for over 35 years and see/hear no evidence that record cleaning machines damage the software. On the contrary, failure to do so will embed debris into the vinyl permanently. Remember, the solvents used in commercial and home brew cleaners contact the recording for a very short duration and by design are compatible with vinyl, leaving no residue. Following machine cleaning place the disks in polyethylene sleeves and use a carbon fiber brush before and after each play. Clean your stylus often with a brush and periodically with a commercial cleaner. Replace your cartridge before the stylus is worn to a point of damaging the vinyl.
I recommend a vacuum record cleaning machine although it matters little if the cleaning is done automatically or not. So, your choice of machine should be determined by your budget, the volume of work to be done and the level of labor you are willing to invest with each disk. The basic Nitty Gritty and Disk Doctor machines are likely 99% as effective as the most expensive machines. DIY plans are available online. If you are handy and buy the vacuum source at a yard sale you can build a great cleaner for less than $20.
Using a commercial vinyl lubricant (Gruv Glide) or a vinyl preservative (Last) is a personal decision that, IMO, will not damage the recording and will most likely add to its life expectancy.
Develop a routine of proper handling and storage of your music and your great grand children will be enjoying your library long after your passing.
Others may take issue with my suggestion for polyethylene sleeves saying that rice paper is preferred. I'm the only person I know that has done a burn test on every available sleeve that I could find. Even the outlets that advertize rice sleeves are actually supplying polyethylene. Sleeves available for as little as 7 cents each (Sleeve City) are chemically identical to VPI sleeves at nearly 50 cents each. Rice paper sleeves were manufactured long ago and, to the best of my knowledge, are no longer available. They can be identified by folded and glued edges and crack with age.
These are just the opinions of an old fart that still enjoys my oldest recordings as much as the newest. Still, they are worth exactly what you paid for them.
Enjoy,
Patrick
IMNSHO, record cleaning is a no-brainer. I've been collecting vinyl for over 35 years and see/hear no evidence that record cleaning machines damage the software. On the contrary, failure to do so will embed debris into the vinyl permanently. Remember, the solvents used in commercial and home brew cleaners contact the recording for a very short duration and by design are compatible with vinyl, leaving no residue. Following machine cleaning place the disks in polyethylene sleeves and use a carbon fiber brush before and after each play. Clean your stylus often with a brush and periodically with a commercial cleaner. Replace your cartridge before the stylus is worn to a point of damaging the vinyl.
I recommend a vacuum record cleaning machine although it matters little if the cleaning is done automatically or not. So, your choice of machine should be determined by your budget, the volume of work to be done and the level of labor you are willing to invest with each disk. The basic Nitty Gritty and Disk Doctor machines are likely 99% as effective as the most expensive machines. DIY plans are available online. If you are handy and buy the vacuum source at a yard sale you can build a great cleaner for less than $20.
Using a commercial vinyl lubricant (Gruv Glide) or a vinyl preservative (Last) is a personal decision that, IMO, will not damage the recording and will most likely add to its life expectancy.
Develop a routine of proper handling and storage of your music and your great grand children will be enjoying your library long after your passing.
Others may take issue with my suggestion for polyethylene sleeves saying that rice paper is preferred. I'm the only person I know that has done a burn test on every available sleeve that I could find. Even the outlets that advertize rice sleeves are actually supplying polyethylene. Sleeves available for as little as 7 cents each (Sleeve City) are chemically identical to VPI sleeves at nearly 50 cents each. Rice paper sleeves were manufactured long ago and, to the best of my knowledge, are no longer available. They can be identified by folded and glued edges and crack with age.
These are just the opinions of an old fart that still enjoys my oldest recordings as much as the newest. Still, they are worth exactly what you paid for them.
Enjoy,
Patrick