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Best Record Cleaning Fluid

Greetings All,

I’ve spend the last few days searching and reading about record cleaning fluids for my cleaning machine (Okki Nikki).  Wow - there are a lot of options out there.  Many more than I originally thought.  Some real esoteric stuff that costs a pretty penny.  I’m currently going through my entire collection, cleaning it, listening to it and adding it to a Discogs DB.  Want to finally know how many I have and have a list of them.  But doing this has resulted in me going through cleaning fluid rather quickly.

So many options, so many perspectives on what are the best fluids.  What do you all say.  I understand that alcohol is a no-no for fluids, but I can’t find out if some of them include alcohol or not.  Currently using up the fluid that came with the machine, but no where can I read it if has bad ingredients.

The 2-stage or 3-stage cleaning systems are not going to happen.  I did get a bottle of Revolv that I was told was good, and use if for new high quality pressings (as opposed to those I bought in high school).

Anyway, would appreciate some perspectives on good quality record cleaning fluids that don’t bust the bank.  Thanks for keeping the sarcasm in check.

Happy Listening,

pgaulke60
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,168 posts
 
Clearthink, I never intended that we should all use brake cleaning fluid to clean our records. I know for a fact that there are no plasticizers on vinyl records. For fun I used the strongest non polar solvent that I knew would not melt the record to see if I could remove anything from the surface of an old Byrds Record (I have a digital copy) that I had never cleaned. I could not and the record was not damaged at all by the process. I performed an experiment for fun. 
Voiceofvinyl, the plasticizer thing is a myth. You can see how records are pressed in a number of videos. Raw PVC pellets are heated to the melting point and shaped into a puck at 300 degrees F. That puck is placed into the center of the press with the labels and several tons of pressure are used to form the record. Nothing is sprayed on the stampers. There is no "mold release" and there are no "plasticisers" added to the PVC. Vinyl has to withstand a huge amount of pressure from the stylus, thousands of pounds per square inch. The last thing you would want to do is soften it. Alcohol and even brake cleaning fluid remove absolutely nothing from records.  
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,168 posts
 
Oh for accuracy's sake there is one additive to the PVC and that is the colorant which usually is carbon black. Unexpanded PVC is clear, expanded PVC is white (plumbing). 
vinylvalet
836 posts
 
I developed a system about 20 years ago using Disc Doctor fluid and brushes coupled with a vacuum type record cleaner like the VPI. Using a USB microscope, I see none of the debris on the stylus that Dr Kirmuss claims you'll always have unless you use his ultra-sonic system.

Thanks for the tip on the antistatic record cleaning arm. In my low humidity, desert environment, especially in the winter, static is a big issue. I had to modify my turntable motor power supply during the driest times since static discharge at the stylus would cause the turntable to change speeds from 33 to 45RPM.
lattimer1
6 posts
 
I couldn’t read all comments but went through enough, and to the original poster ; I have been using homemade solution for years now that really works and I sell it to folks in MN. It is just amazing stuff and pint jar will last you long long time as you should only use few drops of it and scrub the record. You do have to rinse well.  I use the 50$ n under process and my solution by using 1 1/4 shop vac with my own homemade wand and a wooden lazy Susan with dowel rod in the middle for the record and I will say nothing and I mean nothing will beat that setup as I have used multiple systems including spin clean and machines and etc. So if you want to preserve and hear the best from your records then contact me and I will send you some for maybe a trade or work something out. Oh and by the way mofi....poster you should ALWAYS CLEAN your new records as they have pressing dust on them from the factory and static. If anyone wants more information and details contact me.
Take care everyone  !!
craig1512
12 posts
 
I use MelodyMate, Australian made, not sure if available and can be purchased outside Australia. I use MelodyMate in my VPI RCM, replaced the VPI fluid and does as good a job. I apply MelodyMate, use the VPI supplied brush, vacuum, then repeat the process with distilled water for a final rinse and vacuum.
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