I am currently cleaning all the records that I have collected over a 50 year period and its going well. I am putting the styrene records to one side because I don't know which method is best to clean them.

Is any one method better than others and is there a commercially available product that I should be buying?

Many thanks in anticipation.

  On 04/08/2024 at 16:02, Kindred Mole said:

I am currently cleaning all the records that I have collected over a 50 year period and its going well. I am putting the styrene records to one side because I don't know which method is best to clean them.

Is any one method better than others and is there a commercially available product that I should be buying?

Many thanks in anticipation.

Mr Sheen spray is good for cleaning styrene records - use a soft record cleaning cloth.

Whatever you do, never put lighter fluid on styrene as removes the gloss and discolours it

  On 04/08/2024 at 17:03, Frankie Crocker said:

Mr Sheen spray is good for cleaning styrene records - use a soft record cleaning cloth.

Whatever you do, never put lighter fluid on styrene as removes the gloss and discolours it

Doesn't wax or silicone bread cleaners like Mr sheen leave a waxy coating? I've read this method is best avoided. 

I can’t believe the **** that people write about cleaning records.

I’ve even fallen for some of it, and actually tried some of these ludicrous methods myself.

Neadless to say, I’ve never repeated it.

Hot water, fairy liquid and Plenty kitchen towel.

That’s it.

  On 06/08/2024 at 10:27, Geeselad said:

Doesn't wax or silicone bread cleaners like Mr sheen leave a waxy coating? I've read this method is best avoided. 

Not if the residue is removed by a soft cloth! Never read anything on the topic - information came from discussions with record collectors. I’ve heard that Mr Sheen residue on rough records deadens the snap, crackle and pop. Any residue in the grooves is soon removed by the stylus in a spin or two - this eliminates the very fine dust that accumulates on mint store-stock. I’ve cleaned over 10,000 records with Mr Sheen without any problems.

 

 

 

 

 

  On 06/08/2024 at 17:44, Quinvy said:

I can’t believe the **** that people write about cleaning records.

I’ve even fallen for some of it, and actually tried some of these ludicrous methods myself.

Neadless to say, I’ve never repeated it.

Hot water, fairy liquid and Plenty kitchen towel.

That’s it.

Ditto ! Every time. 

That works for me. That said the wood glue on vinyl trick does work very well, especially on lps, other than that soap and water every time

I can't believe the *** that people write about cleaing records either 😉

Ordinary kitchen towels, e.g. cotton, can leave fibre residue in the grooves. Hot water can harm your vinyl. Use microfibre towels and warm water instead.

I get pretty good results in cleaning vinyl and styrene from using a hand-operated record washing machine like Pro-Ject Spin. But setting it up makes sense only when you got more than a handful of records to clean.

You can easily mix the cleaning fluid that comes with these machines yourself. 70% distilled water, 30% pure isopropanol and 2-3 drops of dishwashing liquid. Pour a bit on your record, spread it evenly. Clean the record using a microfibre towel. put the record aside for a couple of minutes to let the cleaning fluid evaporate. Done.

  On 07/08/2024 at 07:31, Benji said:

I can't believe the *** that people write about cleaing records either 😉

Ordinary kitchen towels, e.g. cotton, can leave fibre residue in the grooves. Hot water can harm your vinyl. Use microfibre towels and warm water instead.

I get pretty good results in cleaning vinyl and styrene from using a hand-operated record washing machine like Pro-Ject Spin. But setting it up makes sense only when you got more than a handful of records to clean.

You can easily mix the cleaning fluid that comes with these machines yourself. 70% distilled water, 30% pure isopropanol and 2-3 drops of dishwashing liquid. Pour a bit on your record, spread it evenly. Clean the record using a microfibre towel. put the record aside for a couple of minutes to let the cleaning fluid evaporate. Done.

How can hot water harm your vinyl? Hot water removes far more than cold water, and dries quicker.

 Never mentioned using cotton towels, I specified Plenty paper towel, which is superb for the job. And dries the record thoroughly.

I said "ordinary kitchen towels, e.g. cotton". Paper towels are just as bad. They also can leave tiny little bits of fibre residue in the grooves.

  On 07/08/2024 at 08:09, Quinvy said:

How can hot water harm your vinyl? Hot water removes far more than cold water, and dries quicker.

 Never mentioned using cotton towels, I specified Plenty paper towel, which is superb for the job. And dries the record thoroughly.

Water, regardless of temperature, could damage paper labels on styrene records. I would have thought paper towels would be rather scratchy - a special record cleaning cloth might be better for cleaning those Shrine issues.

  On 07/08/2024 at 18:02, Frankie Crocker said:

Water, regardless of temperature, could damage paper labels on styrene records. I would have thought paper towels would be rather scratchy - a special record cleaning cloth might be better for cleaning those Shrine issues.

I wasn’t talking about washing the labels mate, and the kitchen towel is used to dry the disc, not polish it.

I may just make a YouTube video on the subject.