My method
How I Clean My Records
The complete 11-Step process, from the first wash to a fresh inner sleeve. It tackles fingerprints, skin oils, cigarette smoke tar, old sprays, hard water spots, and dried salts.
- 01
Liquinox Manual Wash
- 02
Vacuum
- 03
Citranox Manual Wash
- 04
Vacuum
- 05
Tergitol 15-S-9 Ultrasonic Clean
- 06
Vacuum
- 07
Distilled-Water Ultrasonic Rinse
- 08
Vacuum
- 09
Distilled-Water Ultrasonic Rinse
- 10
Vacuum
- 11
Fresh Inner Sleeve
Liquinox Manual Wash
A hands-on cleaning stage.
Solution
10mL per 1 Liter distilled water
What I do
Spread the Liquinox mix evenly over both sides with slight agitation.
Why I do it
Liquinox is a blend of anionic and nonionic surfactants. It cuts into oily and organic films as well as any old record sprays left behind.
Equipment I use
Dedicated Record Doctor Clean Sweep brush; Squirt bottle for solution
Can you skip it?
Yes
Vacuum
The first vacuum stage.
What I do
Remove the Liquinox wash and dislodged particulates/oils.
Why I do it
To prepare for Step 3.
Equipment I use
Record Doctor X (or later models)
Can you skip it?
Not if Step 1 is performed.
Citranox Manual Wash
A hands-on cleaning stage.
Solution
15mL per 1 Liter distilled water
What I do
Spread the Citranox mix evenly over both sides with slight agitation.
Why I do it
Citranox is a blend of organic acids, anionic and nonionic surfactants, and alkanolamines. It dissolves mineral based contaminants that Liquinox fails to remove.
Equipment I use
Dedicated Record Doctor Clean Sweep brush; Squirt bottle for solution
Can you skip it?
Yes
Vacuum
The second vacuum stage.
What I do
Remove the Citranox wash and dissolved particulates.
Why I do it
To prepare for Step 5
Equipment I use
Record Doctor X (or later models)
Can you skip it?
Not if Step 3 is performed.
Tergitol 15-S-9 Ultrasonic Clean
The first ultrasonic stage.
Solution
0.01% per 1 liter of distilled water
What I do
Mix solution in a separate container and fill a dedicated Degritter tank for a 2-rotation wash cycle.
Why I do it
Tergitol breaks the surface tension and allows the cavitation bubbles to scrub inside the groove.
Equipment I use
Degritter
Can you skip it?
No
Vacuum
The third vacuum stage.
What I do
Remove the Tergitol wash and dissolved particulates.
Why I do it
To prepare for Step 7
Equipment I use
Record Doctor X (or later models)
Can you skip it?
No
Distilled-Water Ultrasonic Rinse
The first ultrasonic rinse.
Solution
Pure distilled water
What I do
Run a 2-rotation rinse cycle using a dedicated Degritter tank.
Why I do it
To remove any of the surfactants used in previous steps.
Equipment I use
Degritter
Can you skip it?
No
Vacuum
The fourth vacuum stage.
What I do
Remove the rinse cycle wash and any remaining surfactants.
Why I do it
To prepare for Step 9
Equipment I use
Record Doctor X (or later models)
Can you skip it?
No
Distilled-Water Ultrasonic Rinse
The second ultrasonic rinse.
What I do
Remove any remaining remnants of previous cycle washes.
Why I do it
Ensures that the records surace is free of contaminants.
Equipment I use
Degritter
Can you skip it?
Yes
Vacuum
The final vacuum stage.
What I do
Remove the rinse cycle wash and any remaining contaminants.
Why I do it
To Prepare for Step 11
Equipment I use
Record Doctor X (or later models)
Can you skip it?
Not if Step 9 is performed.
Fresh Inner Sleeve
What I do
Store cleaned record in an anti-static high density polyethelene sleeve.
Why I do it
Ensures the surface of the record remains free of contaminants.
Can you skip it?
No
Do you need to do all of this?
Probably not.
This is the routine I use for my own collection. I’ll explain what each step accomplishes and which parts I think most collectors can safely skip.