Can I RENT a record cleaning machine?

If you have a small collection clean them by hand like I do.

Good suggestions, thanks everyone. I'll ask my dealer about a loaner if possible. If not, I see a used VPI 16.5 for $400.

I agree with Johnbrown. Buy a used VPI cleaner for $350-400 and sell it when you're done. These things sell within a day or two. This will probably be the easiest and cheapest solution.

For what it's worth, DIY record cleaners are simple to make. I know this isn't what you're looking for, but thought I'd toss it out there for others who might be reading. There's no rocket science inside a cleaner. The basic ingredients are a direct drive turntable and a small shop vacuum. Of course, you'll need a brush and cleaning fluid. Teres has instructions on their site to build one for $50:

http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html

Best of luck!

There is more than one way to clean records.

Check out the thread on steam cleaning records. I had a VPI 16.5 and sold it. My records looked clean but still had surface noise.

The $30 steam cleaner, $5 microfiber cloth and $0.99 distilled water works wonders. I am doing a once over on my records and putting them in sleeves. They are now very quiet or silent.

The $5 (for three)microfiber cloth takes the place of the cleaning machine and dries the records with one wipe so that they are ready for the TT. I hand wash the cloths after doing a bunch of records.

Tigerwoodkhorns

Can you tell us what and were you bought the microfiber cloth. What steam machine are you using?