Record cleaning

As @noromance asked, how dirty are your records?

If you’re in this for the long haul with vinyl playback, I’d strongly recommend investing in an ultrasonic record cleaning machine. Everything else—manual cleaning, vac-based systems, multi-step processes works, but it’s labor-intensive and eventually feels like a chore. Ultrasonic cleaning saves a ton of time, gives far more consistent results, and makes the whole record-care routine something you barely have to think about.

It’s one of the best long-term quality-of-life upgrades you can make for a vinyl collection. I picked one (Degritter) up earlier this year, and I honestly can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner. The convenience and consistency are on a completely different level.

Any one have experience with Record Restore solutions by Secret Chord Analogue? Curious how that might compare with the options being listed. 

Hi,

Regarding "Reading Neil Antin's Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records-3rd Edition - The Vinyl Press is not an easy read but well worth the time!"

I disagree.  Having skimmed most of the document, I agree that a novice can, simultaneously, glean excellent ideas as well as get lost in the forest.  

For me - The bottom line is that the author does a great deal of scientific work, only to undermine this by relying on subjective and relative impressions of the most minor of variations in mythology - especially what water should be used.

That being said, this document can easily make 'believers' out of many...

Again, keep it simple until you find you need to go further - running water (tap) flushes of macro-items, followed by a wash (Spin Clean, Vac Machine, clean sponge etc.), followed by a second running water flush, and finally a 'pure' water rinse (DI or distilled are ~$1.00 to $2.00 per gal. at the grocery store). I found that a second Spin-Clean works well for the final rinse step.

Good luck, and exchange hours of reading for giving your LP collection a good cleaning.

For those who mention rinsing their vinyl with distilled water after an ultrasonic cleaning, how do you protect the center label?  I always feared any water getting on the label could damage it in the long run.  Thanks.

@allenf1963 Protecting the label is covered on page 32 of Neil Antin's book if you are cleaning records manually.  Machines tend to protect in other ways.