Record cleaning - what's your method?

Melt Face Molly Drop said:
@Mather I thought you had a post somewhere comparing units you've used/recommend so far, have that handy by chance? I'm done doing these tiresome, manual cleaning processes and don't mind dropping coin on something that is quick, easy, and fool-proof.
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I'm not sure that was me as I've only used the Okki Nokki and now the Degritter MKII. I suspect in terms of ease of use the Humminguru would make the most sense depending on how much you want to spend and how many records you plan to clean. The Guru by all accounts does a great job however it seems to have a bit of issues with longevity. Seems like it tends to break down after a while, but repairs seem to be fairly simple and not particularly expensive in most cases.

My old Okki Nokki does a very good job but you still have to have two different brushes, two different cleaning solutions, have to leave it to dry etc. So it's work. The Guru and Degritter are varying levels of set it and forget it.
 
Mather said:
I'm not sure that was me as I've only used the Okki Nokki and now the Degritter MKII. I suspect in terms of ease of use the Humminguru would make the most sense depending on how much you want to spend and how many records you plan to clean. The Guru by all accounts does a great job however it seems to have a bit of issues with longevity. Seems like it tends to break down after a while, but repairs seem to be fairly simple and not particularly expensive in most cases.

My old Okki Nokki does a very good job but you still have to have two different brushes, two different cleaning solutions, have to leave it to dry etc. So it's work. The Guru and Degritter are varying levels of set it and forget it.
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Ah got it. My memory was likely the fact that you had the 2 I was eyeing, the Okki and Degritter. I'll start with the Degritter and work backwards from there, thanks.
 
Melt Face Molly Drop said:
Ah got it. My memory was likely the fact that you had the 2 I was eyeing, the Okki and Degritter. I'll start with the Degritter and work backwards from there, thanks.
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I mean the Degritter is pretty much the gold standard. It pumps the water itself, does everything, you just set it and forget it. But it's very expensive. The Guru does everything except doesn't pump the water itself, you have to do that manually.
 
Mather said:
I mean the Degritter is pretty much the gold standard. It pumps the water itself, does everything, you just set it and forget it. But it's very expensive. The Guru does everything except doesn't pump the water itself, you have to do that manually.
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Just start saving for a KLAudio ultrasonic cleaner. Then when you get about halfway there, settle for the well-respected Degritter. You'll feel like you've made a prudent and frugal purchase. Perspective's a beautiful thing.
 
budley007 said:
Just start saving for a KLAudio ultrasonic cleaner. Then when you get about halfway there, settle for the well-respected Degritter. You'll feel like you've made a prudent and frugal purchase. Perspective's a beautiful thing.
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Check out the Degritter Facebook page if you haven’t. Much to be learned there.
 
I hosted an audio meet this weekend, and one of the guys brought over the cleanest records I have ever seen done by a vacuum cleaner. I followed up with him and he was kind enough to give me the whole detailed process, but I figured I'd share the cliffnotes:

VPI HW-17
Audio Intelligent Premium One Step Formula #6
Scrub for 30 seconds in each direction.
Let it sit for 2 minutes
scrub again for 30 seconds in each direction
let it sit for 2 more minutes
scrub a third time for 30 seconds in each direction
vacuum for 3 revolutions

More effort than I normally take, but the results were undeniable!
 
displayname said:
I hosted an audio meet this weekend, and one of the guys brought over the cleanest records I have ever seen done by a vacuum cleaner. I followed up with him and he was kind enough to give me the whole detailed process, but I figured I'd share the cliffnotes:

VPI HW-17
Audio Intelligent Premium One Step Formula #6
Scrub for 30 seconds in each direction.
Let it sit for 2 minutes
scrub again for 30 seconds in each direction
let it sit for 2 more minutes
scrub a third time for 30 seconds in each direction
vacuum for 3 revolutions

More effort than I normally take, but the results were undeniable!
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With my Okki I would do five revolutions clockwise brushed with Chisto, then 5 counter clockwise. Then vacuum two revolutions. Then 5 clockwise with distilled water and a second clean brush, and 5 counter clockwise, then vacuum 2 revolutions and let dry. Honestly it was damn close to the Degritter in terms of clarity and cleanliness.
 
Mather said:
With my Okki I would do five revolutions clockwise brushed with Chisto, then 5 counter clockwise. Then vacuum two revolutions. Then 5 clockwise with distilled water and a second clean brush, and 5 counter clockwise, then vacuum 2 revolutions and let dry. Honestly it was damn close to the Degritter in terms of clarity and cleanliness.
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As a fellow Chisto user I just spread it on and vacuum it off. Are you mainly cleaning new or older records?
 
Although I should clarify, when I say "brush for five revolutions clockwise and then counter" I was literally just holding the brush against the vinyl as it turned, I wasn't actually actively brushing it.
 
displayname said:
I hosted an audio meet this weekend, and one of the guys brought over the cleanest records I have ever seen done by a vacuum cleaner. I followed up with him and he was kind enough to give me the whole detailed process, but I figured I'd share the cliffnotes:

VPI HW-17
Audio Intelligent Premium One Step Formula #6
Scrub for 30 seconds in each direction.
Let it sit for 2 minutes
scrub again for 30 seconds in each direction
let it sit for 2 more minutes
scrub a third time for 30 seconds in each direction
vacuum for 3 revolutions

More effort than I normally take, but the results were undeniable!
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This isn't far from what I do (minus the sitting) with my 16.5.

For used records, my process is:

- MoFi Super Record Wash first pass for ~30 seconds and the VPI brush with somewhat firm pressure
- Vacuum for ~2 revolutions
- AI #6 with scrubbing with VPI brush for ~30 seconds back and forth, followed by ~30 seconds of somewhat firm pressure
- Vacuum for 2-2.5 revolutions
- Distilled Water rinse with MoFi brush (velvet pads) for ~30 seconds with firm pressure
- Vacuum for 2.5 revolutions

Sometimes I have to go back for another pass to keep it dry but that's made all my records sound great without inviting too much static

For new records I usually just skip the Super Record Wash step (and I'm only really using it to get rid of it, I'd probably use an enzymatic cleaner or another distilled water pre-rinse here)
 
kvetcha said:
Thunderon brush.
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kvetcha said:
The brush rocks.
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I concur - the best brush I've ever had.

I picked it up as it looked similar to a camera lens brush I used to use, but was just too small. This one is double in width, so it works a lot better. That camera brush was always better than the usual "record brushes" you can get, so I figured it was worth a shot.

I've had mine for probably 10 years...maybe longer.
 
Gonna ask here because it's the best place I can think of: what do you do with non-generic sleeves if you replace them with MoFi inners or some other inner swap? Like if you have a printed sleeve or a cardboard inner that's got some kind of design to it, do you just keep it in the record or store it somewhere else? Seems like if I try to stuff a printed inner and MoFi into the same sleeve it's usually too tight.
 
ngower said:
Gonna ask here because it's the best place I can think of: what do you do with non-generic sleeves if you replace them with MoFi inners or some other inner swap? Like if you have a printed sleeve or a cardboard inner that's got some kind of design to it, do you just keep it in the record or store it somewhere else? Seems like if I try to stuff a printed inner and MoFi into the same sleeve it's usually too tight.
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If it's a gatefold I'll usually put the printed sleeve in the middle, otherwise if it's too tight I put it behind the jacket in the outer.
 
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