Stylus cleaners

DS Audio ST-50.

FYI on the alleged controversy with Onzow.  Old news but news travels slow here, opinions reign supreme.

The advice in the article should be followed no matter the brand of "gel" cleaner used.

Keep the lid on it.

Do not heat

Keep out of sunlight (no D3 needed)

Clean with water only and let dry for 30 min. 

 https://trackingangle.com/features/the-onzow-zerodust-controversy-concludes-here

I've been around the block a few times with different stylus cleaning approaches, having used ME (dunk), Onzow, Blu-stuff and various dry brushes. I have not used an ultrasonic (electronic) type. When I had Lyras, I used their fluid. 

I never found the Onzow any more effective than dry brushing. Have not tried the DS.

I eventually stopped any "dunk 'em" out of fear of torquing the cantilever. 

My current method is a long bristle stylus brush and back to ME, but using the "scrape" method. I use the latter only for deep cleaning, not routine cleaning. I also have a bottle of Jim Pendleton's AIVS stylus fluid which he claims will not damage the adhesives used.

I never encountered any damage with the "dunk 'ems"--only my paranoia given the high cost of top tier phono cartridges today.

I inspect routinely with a modest magnifying illuminated headset, and when I want a  closer inspection, use a high quality jeweler's loupe (the one I use now set me back 40 or 50 bucks a decade ago) with good optics. Getting much over 10X leads to distortions and doesn't really seem necessary. If you cut the ME in a pretty thin splinter, the amount of risk is lowered substantially in the "scrape" mode. Jim's "juice" will also leave the stylus sparkling but I'm always reluctant to apply liquid to the stylus tip-- and do so very sparingly and infrequently. 

Brushing is essential after any use of ME. 

But, like everything else in this hobby, opinions vary. 

@foggyus91 I stopped using Onzo when the article came out. 
 

I also called Musical Surroundings and they confirmed the MoFi LP9 is safe to use on Hana cartridges including the Umami series. 
I’m still interested in trying LAST and might do that. Undecided on DS Audio ST-50. I think a dry brush is nearly as effective. 

@audphile1  
Are all gels the same?

DS Audio are having a laugh with the price. All the monies going into making the box the gel sits in.  The “box” is over engineered for its job.. It is just audio candy. A box (or tins) function is normally just to tell the buyer what the stuff inside does. Think about it!  There are many more reasonably priced and cost effective competitors out there.
 

As a last resort for stubborn welded on particles….. The Green Stuff sand paper.