What is your record cleaning regimen?


I am just getting into vinyl, and inheriting records, buying some used and most recently a few new. 

I have only a few hundred records so far, but I have invested in cleaning supplies.

Specifically, I have various pre-set solutions (groovewasher, Tergikleen, distilled water, simple green), a goat hair brush, micro fiber cloths, a baby scalp scrubber and a DeGritter machine (extravagant at this stage, but a huge time saver).

Here is my regime at this point. For any new record, whether inherited or bought, used or new, I wipe it with a dry cloth or the goat hair brush to remove any initial dust. Then I cover the label and spray some solution on it and use the baby scrubber to distribute the liquid around to cover the surface. Then I use a padded microfiber to wipe it off. Then I Degrit.

Btw, I tried WD-40 once, which does work to remove crackles, but subsequent cleanings cause those crackles to come right back, which to me indicates that WD-40 is leaving a residue on the record which I suspect is not helpful in the long run.

Likewise, the goat hair brush is so far disappointing as it seems to shed hair on the record which somewhat defeats its purpose.

Interested in other people's processes and I have a question. I have some older records that have persistent crackles. Will cleaning ultimately make those go away or do I just need to get over it?

I have ordered a record label protector that will allow me to wash in the sink with soap and water in the hopes of getting the ultimate clean.

Any thoughts from the analog folks here would be great.

saulh

Started with a VPI 16.5 for 25+ yrs finally the motor gave out (as did my ears)

 Bought a Kirmuss US and while it did a great job cleaning it was a PITA to use with its 20 step process. As a result it sat unused for 3 months then sold it. Now use a Keith Monks Prodigy rcm its simple quick and quiet. Love it. Plus his fluid is wonderful.

I've been using a Nitty Gritty for 40 years; some time ago I got an identical new one on a special offer thinking that sooner or later the old record washer would leave me but I never used it because everything still works perfectly never a problem... .. I washed about 6-7000 vinyls.

@best-groove  Yeah! It was a Nitty Gritty that I had, Enjoyed it a bunch, especially when I switched on the vacuum. A mighty 'wooossshhh' would fill the room and the record would start to rotate more slowly. Mine, though, eventually went belly up and it was just too much of a hassle to get it fixed. ...Another stereo component I ended up abandoning at a local thrift shop.

Many here have written exhaustively about this subject. Please research. 😉