These suggestions may be useful to record collectors that know they must clean a new record before they play it, or collectors that find that "special Lp" at a flea market. To get a record really clean there are several steps involved (particularly for used records.)
If you are making audio transfers from record to CD it is very important to assure the record is clean in order to avoid extensive "pop" editing and software filter processing to produce a quiet CD.
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Place a bright light next to your record cleaning machine to illuminate the dust and dirt. Often you will not see the contamination in normal room lighting. |
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Use a Record Brush to pick up the loose dust and record sleeve paper flecks before cleaning the record with wet cleaners or fluids. Preferably a record brush with carbon fibers to disperse any static charge that will firmly hold the dirt and dust particles to the record surface. |
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Buggtussel Vinyl-Zyme is an enzyme for records that neutralizes fungus, bacteria, and "vinyl bugs" that grow in the grooves when a record is in storage in a warm and humid environment.
Spritz several spots of the liquid around the surface of the record with the turntable off.
Start the turntable and spread the liquid with a cheap foam paint brush until the record is evenly coated. Turn off the turntable and let the compound work for 30-45 seconds. Vacuum the record dry with the machine.
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All new records have a coating on the vinyl called "mold release compound." This compound is used in the record pressing plant to separate the metal stampers from the vinyl. Record cleaning fluids will not remove the sticky compound. When the compound dries it will leave a film that produces noise in the playback of the record. Also, small airborn particles in the record factory will stick to the grooves producing a "pop" even on brand new records.
MicroCare Premiere is an HFC substitute for Freon and is ozone safe. Spray the Premier on the record while the turntable is rotating. The liquid gas will evaporate quickly leaving a thin gray coating on the record. This coating is the mold release compound. Do not vacuum the record until after the next step.
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While the turntable is still running spray your favorite record cleaning solution on the surface. The brush supplied with the record cleaning machine is used to spread the solution evenly over the record surface. Let the cleaning fluid do the work. The brush is not intended to get into the grooves. Do not apply pressure that may result in scratching the record or stopping the turntable. Be careful not to wet the paper label, or splash the fluid off the outside rim of the record. Use the brush to give extra attention to the first band of the record where most dirt, fingerprints, and dust collect. |
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Place the vacuum arm on the edge of the record label and start the pump and arm motor. You may have fluid on the lead-out grooves that needs to be vacuumed so that the record is completely dry. |
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When you finish cleaning the first side of the record, hold the record by the center hole and outside rim. Turn the turntable on and brush any dirt or dust that was deposited by the dirty record on the platter. You want to avoid placing the clean record side on a dirty platter while cleaning the other side. |
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If you apply too much cleaning fluid it will often migrate from the outside rim of the record to the rim on the other side of the record. Use a Kleenex tissue to "wick" the excess fluid from the other side by gently placing the tissue under the turning record.
Also, use the tissue to mop up splashes and fluid that is thrown from the record due to the centrifugal force of the rotating turntable.
After you have some experience with your cleaning machine you will know exactly how much cleaning fluid to apply.
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We highly recommend that you discard the paper record sleeves that are shipped with your records and place your records in a quality sleeve to preserve the record. Often you will need to "deep clean" a record only once. If you handle the record carefully, only a light brushing with a record brush is all that is needed for the life of the record. |
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