Keep It Simple

The approach

There are many ways you can tackle this. The simplest being the "spray-and-wipe" technique. Many of us started out this way. We bought a kit that included a spray bottle filled with some unknown formula, and either a brush or cloth to wipe the formula away with. It was then left to dry with a promise that the liquid would evaporate without leaving any residue behind. It was easy and seemed safe. But, if there are chemicals involved, there is a very good chance there will be traces left behind.

This is not the "Keep It Simple" approach I recommend.

What you need

The only thing you will need to buy is a Spin-Clean. Yes, that yellow basin within which you manually spin a record so the two side-brushes inside can wipe the surface clean. I swear by the Spin-Clean as a starter method. If you want to save yourself a little frustration and time, I'd even recommend buying two of them, but one will do.

The steps

Spin-Clean does provide their own formula which can be used. For years I used Tergikleen which contains a mix of Tergitol chemical compounds. You can even make your own (see "My Routine" for the proper Tergitol mix).

Step 1: Fill the reservoir. Step 2: Place the record on the two rollers and between the brushes. Step 3: Manually spin the record 10-20 times in one direction, and 10-20 times in the opposite direction. Step 4: Remove the record, gently wipe dry with a clean microfibre cloth, and set it aside. Step 5: Drain the basin (you can place it in another container if you wish to reuse it) and refill it with distilled water. Step 6: Repeat Steps 2 & 3. Step 7: Gently wipe dry with a different clean microfibre cloth than the one used in Step 4, and place in a rack to complete drying.

If you have the means and desire to purchase a second Spin-Clean, you can skip Step 5 and keep the second one filled and ready with distilled water for the rinse. I would recommend changing the distilled water every couple of records to avoid contamination.

Who this is for

This is for the enthusiast who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on expensive record machines, and wants to ensure that the record comes out of the cleaning process clean and free from residue.

This was my routine for years.