Di I really need to clean my LP's?

Listen to one, clean it and compare. If you don’t hear an improvement, why bother?

Cleaning your records may or may not reduce surface noise, but I’m confident it won’t add any if done properly. I’m also confident it will protect and extend the life of your stylus. I’d suggest cleaning all your records (and any futures) with the Spin Clean, replacing any paper sleeves and then using a record brush before play.

My own personal record cleaning experience started with a Discwasher w/D4 fluid (pad system). It cleaned the dust off but didn’t clean the surface very well if at all. It didn’t add or remove static. It didn’t improve the record’s sound. I used it before every play. I went through a couple over about 20 years. At the time, it was one of just a few ways available to treat a record.

As I moved up the analog food chain, I went to a VPI HW16.5 cleaner. The records came out dust free and spotless. It didn’t remove static but sometimes it added it. Occasionally it improved the record’s sound, but not drastically. I used it with the VPI cleaning solution and had it for about 20 years. I was happy with it and recommend it to friends. I used it before every play.

For the past several years I’ve had an AudioDesk Systeme ultrasonic cleaner, used with distilled water and the company’s surfactant. It removes dust, static, fingerprints, stuff I can’t see but shows up on the filter, and the records look pristine. It doesn’t work miracles, old or used records will probably still have some surface noise after a run through (or two), but they can be anywhere from slightly to greatly improved. I’ve compared new records before and after, and they always sound better after a cleaning. I seldom clean a record a second time, but I use a brush before it’s played. The unit is as expensive as a component, which is what I consider it and it would be hard to be without it.

Good luck figuring it all out and have fun along the way.

@o_holter …seriously? A stylist breaking off because of a dirty record? What… one with glued sand on it. That sounds like a real stretch. My last stylist lasted much longer than 2,000 hours (Van den Hull Frog) with no damage from dust or lack of maintenance. I did little.

I found that sometimes cleaning an brand new album makes a difference, sometimes not. The albums I buy used have no fingerprints and look nearly pristine. Usually cleaning removes a bit of surface noise.

However, for a couple decades I just tried not to let my records be exposed and never did more cleaning than a dust brush with a small amount of Discwasher fluid and enjoyed my vinyl albums greatly without negative consequences.

I am currently listening to a late 1950’s Patty Page album that was very dusty… I ran it through my Nessie disk washer… sounds great. It depends… but the world will not end if you are not a clean fanatic… if the noise on the album is bothering you… clean it… if not, don’t.

OP do you take a shower even though you don't smell?

Yes, properly clean all your records (including new ones).

"I didn't get to where I am today by NOT properly cleaning my records."

DeKay (rich, famous and extremely sexy)

@o_holter I made the statement ’ It depends on how much value is placed on the caring for the stylus ’.

I own a Cartridge that is a Model to be used as a Donor for a rebuild.

It is a Cartridge, that if a Search is carried out about the condition I bought the Cartridge with, there are reports found throughout the Globe about the Stylus detaching from the Cantilever, which is the same condition I bought mine with.

The Vendor reassured me the Cart’ was with used less than an expected usage life and was approx’ 300 - 400 Hours used, for me that ticks boxes as a Donor Model.

The description they had received when inquiring about how the Stylus was able to detach, was that impact from particle in the Groove can cause the Bonding Substance to fracture and then lead to a catastrophic failure ’in relation to a Cart’.

I see no reason to question this, it was still ticking boxes as a Donor Cart’, as the negotiated price was to my favour.

As a Conjecture, the Company producing the Cartridge, may have chosen as part of the design parameters a specific weight of bonding material to be added at the Styli/Cantilever Interface, where during internal testing on pristine condition Vinyl, the bonding method presented no concerns for reliability, but when transferred into real world, encountering every day types of usage, a chink in the design was found. Hence, the broadly spread reporting on the condition.

Hence, my statement made at the beginning of this post, I certainly like to feel, I have created an interface for the Stylus on my Vinyl LP’s, that is beneficial for the function of the Stylus in the Grooves Environment.

The Cartridge when in the Groove, can be further impacted on by Metallic Particulate being present and attaching to the coils, this has been known to cause various issues with the Coils if can become attached to them, this can mean a unclean LP,  is not just limited to being a concern for the Stylus.