Can anyone recommend a good vinyl record cleaner?

[Cyberrich57!!]

I'd like to buy a record cleaner but I'm wondering what your experiences have been. My vinyl collection is pretty clean but some need a light clean to eradicate dust and particles that have built up in the grooves. A couple of albums skipped today and when I gently wiped them with a cloth they played ok again. I'm not sure my vinyl is bad enough to be immersed in anything, and I'm not sure I'd be too happy doing that, but I used to have a hand held velvet brush that didn't seem too bad. What do you all use? Any recommendations? Thanks.

 

[nads]

I use an OKKI NOKKI RCM.

 

[Al ears]

I have a Knosti Disco Antistat but it is a fluid based cleaning system, also a carbon fibre bush if its simply dust.
Depends on your budget really.
Note: without wet cleaning it is impossible to clean even new discs thoroughly.....

 

[nickcornwall]

I’ve bought an Okki Nokki recently - it’s transformed my vinyl listening - would thoroughly recommend if you have the budget.

 

[Rui]

i´m also tryting to find a good record cleaner but yet to find a real good one ,the best i could see was the combination of two wich are expensive, the project cleaner (maybe the only thing they built that is almost good) and a ultrasonic cleaner ,wich is good but not perfect and expensive

 

[camcroft]

I think that it's all down to the condition of the record in the first place. I have a friend that has the Project machine and an ultrasonic machine he says on their own they both do different things but he uses both together in his cleaning procedure and says anything that doesn't get cleaned that way is on it's way to the charity shop so it just goes to show nothing will bring back life to a record that is in bad condition.

 

[Rui]

I think you´ve refered to that earlier or at least i read it anywhere but my opinion too .Also in my country there were people still in the 80´s using old type needle that destroy´s vinil sound in one passage ,other is thinking that the needle that came with the turntable in 76 or 79 is still good in late 90´s ,that´s why 2nd hand records in portugal are a gamble ,one could find a good record and also win the euromillions or the lottery, it´s as easy as finding a good 2nd hand record, so cleaning is if one finds good but dirty records and other exceptions. I ordered a 2nd hand doble lp live, from germany released in mid 80´s and it sounds better than today´s new vinil

 

[Clarkey_71]

I use this cleaner.

VC-E – Pro-Ject Audio Systems

www.project-audio.com

Does a great job.

 

[Crusoe]

I'd like to buy a record cleaner but I'm wondering what your experiences have been. My vinyl collection is pretty clean but some need a light clean to eradicate dust and particles that have built up in the grooves. A couple of albums skipped today and when I gently wiped them with a cloth they played ok again. I'm not sure my vinyl is bad enough to be immersed in anything, and I'm not sure I'd be too happy doing that, but I used to have a hand held velvet brush that didn't seem too bad. What do you all use? Any recommendations? Thanks.

Please do not use any commercial record cleaner. Use double distilled water or medical grade water and a very fine microfibre cloth. Hold the record properly and pass the dry fibre cloth along the outer edge in the clockwise direction going upto the last song. Both sides. Now moisten another small piece, and do the same, in such a way that you feel mild groove resistance. In the end use the moist cloth to wipe the centre label and outer jacket to clean it. This will prevent the cover dust from travelling to the record by your hand. The first song touches the fingers more and is more dirty. Discard both the pieces of cloth and use fresh. Microfibre cloth of good quality and very thin is a must.
If you do it properly, you will not hear a squeak!

 

[camcroft]

Please do not use any commercial record cleaner. Use double distilled water or medical grade water and a very fine microfibre cloth. Hold the record properly and pass the dry fibre cloth along the outer edge in the clockwise direction going upto the last song. Both sides. Now moisten another small piece, and do the same, in such a way that you feel mild groove resistance. In the end use the moist cloth to wipe the centre label and outer jacket to clean it. This will prevent the cover dust from travelling to the record by your hand. The first song touches the fingers more and is more dirty. Discard both the pieces of cloth and use fresh. Microfibre cloth of good quality and very thin is a must.
If you do it properly, you will not hear a squeak!

you will not hear a squeak!...You will if it's a worn record! Anyone who knows how to handle a vinyl record would never touch the surface with his fingers.

 

[Al ears]

Anyone who suggests using any water near the central label is best ignored, in my opinion.

 

[Crusoe]

Anyone who suggests using any water near the central label is best ignored, in my opinion.

Ah? So what is sacrosanct about the area near the label? And most using a turntable know how to hold a record. But over repeated playings of a record you are bound to touch it inadvertantly and these are places which get the most groove jumping problems. Commercial record cleaners do not say what they are using . Anything which leaves a residue after drying is bad for the record.

 

[Al ears]

Ah? So what is sacrosanct about the area near the label? And most using a turntable know how to hold a record. But over repeated playings of a record you are bound to touch it inadvertantly and these are places which get the most groove jumping problems. Commercial record cleaners do not say what they are using . Anything which leaves a residue after drying is bad for the record.

I am not disagreeing with you I simply suggest you don't get water anywhere near the labels as they be damaged . There should be no need to clean a paper label....

 

[MrTeroo]

I use an Ultrasonic bath with a motor kit to rotate two albums at once.
Got the kit off ebay.
Ignore the poster who is telling you to avoid record cleaning machines.

 

[Al ears]

I use an Ultrasonic bath with a motor kit to rotate two albums at once.
Got the kit off ebay.
Ignore the poster who is telling you to avoid record cleaning machines.

Is that a name change I see before me??
However, yes I would agree.

 

[MrTeroo]

No?

 

[rayolight]

I use the knosti cleaner also,but don't use their fluid. I use a solution of distilled water with a few drops of Finish dishwasher fluid. Does a superb job ,never had any residue issues, I buy quite a lot of second hand records and they clean a treat. There will be those who frown but it works fine for me and costs very little. Static is completely erradicated.

 

[MrTeroo]

I use a mix of distilled water / 99.9% IPA / Ilford Ilfotol

 

[DiggyGun]

Okki Nokki

 

[MrTeroo]

You could always build your own.
I posted these on the original forum some years ago. Built from car boot bargains and bits and bobs lying around.

It cost peanuts.
Now I clean using my ultrasonic and use the one I built just to vacuum off at the end.

Images of my RCM