Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records

@robjordan 

Rob,

Yes, the Dehypon is ok to use as wetting agent in this mix.

As far as the crystalline citric acid, this is where I stop.  I am not getting into the formulating of products.  The DWV + some drops of a nonionic surfactant wetting agent is as far as I go.  5% DWV is not the same as 5% citric acid, the citric acid is a stronger acid so you use less.  Exactly how much less, can be calculated and then you into weight measurement which then further complicates the process - all more than I am willing to do.  You could pose the problem at some chemistry forums and see what they would recommend to equal the acidity of 5% DWV and then dilute as specified.

Neil

“Ethanol” is ethanol or ethyl alcohol, a 2-carbon alcohol, not”denatured alcohol likely with isopropanol “. Propanol and isopropanol are two different isomeric 3-carbon alcohols. Not that it matters much. I would not recommend denatured alcohol for cleaning LPs, however.

pH 8.6 I would say is at least mildly alkaline, probably OK. Most soaps are.

@robjordan I am based in the UK and have adopted the Manual Cleaning Method, using the solutions recommended.

To produce the correct mixture ratio's I purchased a weighing scale that is capable of showing a increment of 0.01g.

I also bought a Pump Up Pressurised Bottle, to pressure rinse the LP with a distilled water, I like to see this used as a rinse method, it certainly will wash of the  residuals, where as the mist bottle as a rinse, was a little too static when applied.   

There are other threads on here covering this same cleaning procedure during the time the PACVR Document was  Rev-02    

@lewm 

The company site lists denatured alcohol Denatured alcohol - Wikipedia while the SDS just lists ethanol.  Here is an example of denatured alcohol - Microsoft Word - 6210GHS (chemtel.net) and this a safe solvent, but this is also denatured alcohol \\TAHOE\APPS\MIRS\REPORTS\MSWRPTM.FRX (mscdirect.com) and this is not safe for the record.  But, the detergent is diluted 100:1 so even if 5%, in-use it would only be 0.05% - essentially inconsequential.

Industrial cleaning generally accepts pH 6-8 as 'neutral', and Ecover diluted 100:1 should be right in that zone, the ingredients do not include any pH stabilizing (buffering) products like phosphates and silicates.  However, the record is pretty immune to alkaline cleaners up to about pH 12.  The problem with the high alkaline cleaners is they can be a bear to rinse and residue will dry to 'rocks'.

@lewm, denatured ethanol has something like 5% methanol to make it POISONOUS so it can not be consumed, thus it is de-natured.  It is a great polar solvent and could be used for cleaning records in that it will not damage the record but it might damage the label. It is the primary solvent for Shellac and doing a French Polish requires expertise in the use of denatured alcohol. This results in a spectacular finish but given the man-hours involved is rarely done any more.