Record cleaning - what's your method?

[Thackeraye]

TL;DR - how do I get the damp smell out of records that have been stored in a garage?

Backstory - I'm borrowing my neighbour's garage to store boxes before we get them shipped. This was recently made watertight. In the garage was a box of records owned by their son. The box had disintegrated, so they weren't being stored well. I had to stage an intervention and re-box them, and in doing so I've found a few decent records that I might see if I can swipe (Talking Heads Stop Making Sense, Hats by The Blue Nile, The Cure's Pornography among others).

The vinyl looks in OK shape, and the covers don't appear water damaged, but some are slightly bent through poor storage. There is a distinct "garage" smell though; a kind of stale dampness. It isn't overpowering, but I can definitely smell it. I can give the vinyl a clean through the Pro-Ject, but is there is there something I can do with the covers to try and get rid of the smell.

I may not even get to keep these records: they've been left there for 2.5 years, but me trying to pinch some might get him to decide to keep them, but I'd like to save them.

 

[HiFi Guy]

TL;DR - how do I get the damp smell out of records that have been stored in a garage?

Backstory - I'm borrowing my neighbour's garage to store boxes before we get them shipped. This was recently made watertight. In the garage was a box of records owned by their son. The box had disintegrated, so they weren't being stored well. I had to stage an intervention and re-box them, and in doing so I've found a few decent records that I might see if I can swipe (Talking Heads Stop Making Sense, Hats by The Blue Nile, The Cure's Pornography among others).

The vinyl looks in OK shape, and the covers don't appear water damaged, but some are slightly bent through poor storage. There is a distinct "garage" smell though; a kind of stale dampness. It isn't overpowering, but I can definitely smell it. I can give the vinyl a clean through the Pro-Ject, but is there is there something I can do with the covers to try and get rid of the smell.

I may not even get to keep these records: they've been left there for 2.5 years, but me trying to pinch some might get him to decide to keep them, but I'd like to save them.

Here’s where I’m going to say a strong isopropyl alcohol solution may work best. Let the solution sit on the record after spreading. You might have to do this 2-3 times. Then replace the inners.

 

[Thackeraye]

Here’s where I’m going to say a strong isopropyl alcohol solution may work best. Let the solution sit on the record after spreading. You might have to do this 2-3 times. Then replace the inners.

Grand, thanks. Any thoughts on the main jacket and/or printed inners? Are they always going to hum a bit?

 

[ZiggsMBK]

So, after working at re-cleaning the record collection with the Squeaky Clean for the past year, I‘ve just about burned through my litre of Disc Doctor fluid. Went to order some more from SRC and they apparently do not carry it any more as Acoustic Sounds bought out the brand and cut its distribution through other retailers. Now all I can find at Canadian retailers is MoFi or Groovewasher fluids. Spoiled for choice.

Anyone have any experience with MoFi or Groovewasher? Or have knowledge of Canadian shops with a better cleaning fluid selection than the aforementioned? Or am I just going to have to start sacrificing limbs to FedEx to bring in stuff from the US or elsewhere?

 

[Russ I]

So, after working at re-cleaning the record collection with the Squeaky Clean for the past year, I‘ve just about burned through my litre of Disc Doctor fluid. Went to order some more from SRC and they apparently do not carry it any more as Acoustic Sounds bought out the brand and cut its distribution through other retailers. Now all I can find at Canadian retailers is MoFi or Groovewasher fluids. Spoiled for choice.

Anyone have any experience with MoFi or Groovewasher? Or have knowledge of Canadian shops with a better cleaning fluid selection than the aforementioned? Or am I just going to have to start sacrificing limbs to FedEx to bring in stuff from the US or elsewhere?

Can't say whether you'll be able to find this locally, but to give you another option, check out L'Art Du Son Record Cleaning Fluid.

 

[ZiggsMBK]

Can't say whether you'll be able to find this locally, but to give you another option, check out L'Art Du Son Record Cleaning Fluid.

I’ll see what I can turn up online. Cheers!

 

[HiFi Guy]

So, after working at re-cleaning the record collection with the Squeaky Clean for the past year, I‘ve just about burned through my litre of Disc Doctor fluid. Went to order some more from SRC and they apparently do not carry it any more as Acoustic Sounds bought out the brand and cut its distribution through other retailers. Now all I can find at Canadian retailers is MoFi or Groovewasher fluids. Spoiled for choice.

Anyone have any experience with MoFi or Groovewasher? Or have knowledge of Canadian shops with a better cleaning fluid selection than the aforementioned? Or am I just going to have to start sacrificing limbs to FedEx to bring in stuff from the US or elsewhere?

MoFi is ok. Groovewasher isn’t for vacuum machines.

 

[HiFi Guy]

Grand, thanks. Any thoughts on the main jacket and/or printed inners? Are they always going to hum a bit?

Yes, the jackets will always have some odor.

 

[Thackeraye]

Yes, the jackets will always have some odor.

I had to give the records back anyway, so it's not a big deal! Thanks.

 

[Angsty]

Here’s where I’m going to say a strong isopropyl alcohol solution may work best. Let the solution sit on the record after spreading. You might have to do this 2-3 times. Then replace the inners.

I’ve always heard that isopropyl should be avoided with vinyl records. Anyone else know of caveats with alcohols?

 

[HiFi Guy]

I’ve always heard that isopropyl should be avoided with vinyl records. Anyone else know of caveats with alcohols?

There’s lots of controversy on this one.

My view is not to use anything stronger than necessary. I avoid alcohol. That said, I’ve got records that were cleaned with alcohol, and I’ve got no issues.

Alcohol should never be used on shellac though.

 

[Angsty]

So, after working at re-cleaning the record collection with the Squeaky Clean for the past year, I‘ve just about burned through my litre of Disc Doctor fluid. Went to order some more from SRC and they apparently do not carry it any more as Acoustic Sounds bought out the brand and cut its distribution through other retailers. Now all I can find at Canadian retailers is MoFi or Groovewasher fluids. Spoiled for choice.

Anyone have any experience with MoFi or Groovewasher? Or have knowledge of Canadian shops with a better cleaning fluid selection than the aforementioned? Or am I just going to have to start sacrificing limbs to FedEx to bring in stuff from the US or elsewhere?

I’m skeptical of commercial record washing fluids. This really is something that you should be able to get good results from home-brew. There are innumerable formulas on the Internet. I’ve used a few commercial fluids without more success than my own home-brew.

My home-brew consists of 40 ml of Method all-purpose spray cleaner, 10 ml of Jet Dry, mixed into 1 gallon of distilled water from grocery store. Works for me with my Record Doctor vacuum; works as well as their proprietary concentrate. No additional alcohols.

Since I use both Method and Jet Dry within the house regularly, it’s quite convenient. I use a more concentrated solution for stubborn areas that I have to scrub with the record brush or microfiber towel.

Some people are more persnickety than I am, so your mileage may vary.

*Edited* - corrected formula amounts from my original posting. My amount per memory were way off.

 

[SixthDeadlyVenom]

I've had a spin clean for years, but stopped using it a year or so ago under suspicion that it was not effective without a rinse cycle. I now have a buildup of uncleaned (mostly new) records and am looking for a solution to get them turntable-ready. Is the Squeaky Clean good for someone who primarily purchases new records, or is something this serious made more for pre-owned dirty records?

Thanks for any input, I'm open to suggestions other than the Squeaky Clean as well.

 

[Russ I]

I've had a spin clean for years, but stopped using it a year or so ago under suspicion that it was not effective without a rinse cycle. I now have a buildup of uncleaned (mostly new) records and am looking for a solution to get them turntable-ready. Is the Squeaky Clean good for someone who primarily purchases new records, or is something this serious made more for pre-owned dirty records?

Thanks for any input, I'm open to suggestions other than the Squeaky Clean as well.

The squeaky clean is good for any kind of cleaning and highly recommended. The only difference in the process for an older record is that I might use a different brush (so as not to put extra dirt on the one I use for new records), scrub a bit more, and let the solution sit a bit longer before vacuuming.

 

[SixthDeadlyVenom]

The squeaky clean is good for any kind of cleaning and highly recommended. The only difference in the process for an older record is that I might use a different brush (so as not to put extra dirt on the one I use for new records), scrub a bit more, and let the solution sit a bit longer before vacuuming.

Well, I took the dive and got the orange one. Thanks for the recommendation! Looks nice and sturdy in his video.

 

[Russ I]

Well, I took the dive and got the orange one. Thanks for the recommendation! Looks nice and sturdy in his video.

That’s great. I think you’ll be pleased with it. For me, it took a few times before I developed a rhythm with my cleaning process and since then I’ve been a big fan.

 

[Angsty]

I've had a spin clean for years, but stopped using it a year or so ago under suspicion that it was not effective without a rinse cycle. I now have a buildup of uncleaned (mostly new) records and am looking for a solution to get them turntable-ready. Is the Squeaky Clean good for someone who primarily purchases new records, or is something this serious made more for pre-owned dirty records?

Thanks for any input, I'm open to suggestions other than the Squeaky Clean as well.

I’ve heard of other spin clean users who buy two units. The first one is for cleaning and the second is for a distilled water rinse.

I’m surprised that you’d be concerned about the results in cleaning mostly new records.

 

[jamieanderson1968]

I have had my Squeaky Clean for just over a year now and like it. Majority of my cleaning is new vinyl. It does a good job on used vinyl, but you are not going to make it sound like it was never played.

You definitely have to get a rhythm/style with it. I use the London Jazz Collectors recipe, since the guy sends you a bottle of Ilford wetting agent and have been happy. I usually wait until I have about 6-8 records to clean and do the batch. Takes about 30min

 

[ZiggsMBK]

Well, I took the dive and got the orange one. Thanks for the recommendation! Looks nice and sturdy in his video

It’s a great bit of kit. Unlike the all-in-one machines there’s nothing to break down except your shop vac of choice—get a quality unit—and when that burns out it’s a $50 replacement and not a new, expensive machine or costly repairs. Easy to get rid of waste fluid. Easy to pack up and stow out of sight. The cleaning fluid you use will make a difference. I recently switched from Disc Doctor to the London Jazz Collectors formula and had better results. Play around with what‘s available in your area.

I’m skeptical of commercial record washing fluids. This really is something that you should be able to get good results from home-brew. There are innumerable formulas on the Internet. I’ve used a few commercial fluids without more success than my own home-brew.

My home-brew consists of 40 ml of Method all-purpose spray cleaner, 10 ml of Jet Dry, mixed into 1 gallon of distilled water from grocery store. Works for me with my Record Doctor vacuum; works as well as their proprietary concentrate. No additional alcohols.

Since I use both Method and Jet Dry within the house regularly, it’s quite convenient. I use a more concentrated solution for stubborn areas that I have to scrub with the record brush or microfiber towel.

Some people are more persnickety than I am, so your mileage may vary.

*Edited* - corrected formula amounts from my original posting. My amount per memory were way off.

Thank you for the formulation. I will keep it in my back pocket as I have had no luck finding anything commercially, however I have had very positive results using the Science-Wifey approved London Jazz Collectors formulation.

 

[kvetcha]

Love my Squeaky Clean. I've got a Humminguru coming at some point later this year, cuz ultrasonic is the holy grail, but the SqC has been a champ the whole time I've owned it.