How To Clean Old 45 Rpm Records

Here is the formula which I have used already for many years:

2 liter distilled water
ane liter industrial alcohol (ethanol)
0.25 to 0.v liter isopropyl booze
30 drops of liquid detergent and a few drops of wetting agent

The number of drops of detergent and/or wetting agent depends on the effectivity of the product.
Some washing detergents have lower values for ionic and non-ionic tensides. So some experimenting is necessary.
Wetting agents are manufactured by diverse companies:

Photo-Flo by Kodak, Mirasol 2000 by Tetenal, Ilfotol by Ilford.

Ask your camera shop.

You lot volition become experience when you are cleaning many recods and y'all may accommodate, or change the formula of the cleaning liquid.

Another composition of the liquid which I use already since x years at present is the liquid formula advised by Keith Monks initially in the 1970s. He advised to take equal parts of alcohol and distilled water. I add a few drops of washing detergent and the liquid is very effective and is less complex.

The booze should exist of the industrial kind without any condiment. This alcohol is cheaper than the medicinal type bought in the pharmacy which contains a small percentage of fatty and is called 'spiritus ketonatus fortior'. Permit yourself exist advised by experts from the art supply store or the pigment shop. Take intendance because the isopropyl is very poisonous; y'all need ventilation.
And ventilation will also exist to the satisfaction of friends who bring their records for cleaning.

If you cannot find the fat free alcohol, you may use the 'spiritus ketonatus fortior' blazon which is ever less greasy than some commercial record cleaners with greasing additives. The improver of isopropyl is specifically brash if you cannot discover the fatty free alcohol. Be certain that the distilled water is really distilled water, the blazon yous purchase at the pharmacy, not the demineralized water!
Never use a glass cleaner or other aggressive product.

Use a large plastic container that is big enough to agree 4 to 5 liter. Get-go put in the contents of 2 bottles (two liters) of distilled water and add together the drops of detergent. Shake very well. Than add together ane liter of the alcohol and if you wish a petty bit of the isopropyl alcohol. And once again shake very, very well. Past shaking the container, the liquids will mix well and the detergent will foam. After you have stopped shaking the foam will go away afterwards about v to 10 seconds. If information technology goes away immediately you lot probably accept not added plenty detergent. You lot will notice this when you put the liquid on the spinning record on the cleaning auto: the liquid does non spread evenly. So, add a few more drops more and milk shake over again. Just be conscientious non to put besides much detergent.

Many formulas piece of work with the Keith Monks machine. You can try whatever combination of ingredients and eventually adjust the formula according to your experience and the audible results you obtain. You can leave out the isopropyl altogether if you wish.
In general ane wash will be sufficient to clean a tape side. The upshot depends besides on the time you leave the record spinning under the brushes. If you lot use a Keith Monks or Loricraft, the time of the brushing of a record side should be about the same every bit the time it takes to dry one side.

If you employ a different machine do take some time to brush the record. Do not forget to go on the record wet all the time while cleaning!

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It is possible to play records wet with distilled water. It will lower surface dissonance during play. At the same time however the motion of the tip is somewhat reduced also. But that does non impair the sound likewise much.

What is important still if y'all play records wet, it is necessary to dry the record before putting information technology back into the sleeve and encompass. It is better to clean the record afterwards wet play. So that is where your vacuum cleaning auto comes in handy.

Playing wet is quite a hassle. Playing records using a special liquid like Lenco Make clean (cleaning solution) is even more complicated and because of the viscosity of the liquid will impair the transient in the signal. There will be a reduced attack in the drum, the cymbal, the piano and other percussion instruments. I strongly suggest against the use of Lenco Clean or like product. In that location are other solutions to make it at a reduced noise floor and a more controlled signal. Effort a Tape Stabilizer Weight or a Stabilizing Band.

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The Use of Turpentine and Sticker Remover: Stickers, Glue, Dirt.

Exercise not believe the and so chosen expert who advises you to apply a window or glass cleaner, or a bathtub product to remove clay from the record'south surface. Never use these products. Likewise do not use solvents, thinners, etc. for removing paint, gum or whatsoever is sticking to the vinyl.

At that place are only a few liquids that you can safely utilise: industrial booze, methylated spirit and turpentine.
Peculiarly turpentine is useful for removing stickers (if you do not utilize a commercial sticker remover from the pharmacy), and for dissolving and removing glue or a drop of paint stuck to the precious record.
What to exercise?
Get to the art supply shop and buy a brush. I apply the Royal Talens 6 - 350. It is a relatively soft brush, but the hairs are sturdy enough to rub against whatsoever glue or drop of paint, or whatever is on the vinyl and needs to be dissolved and removed.

For removing stickers: dip the brush in turpentine, press the hairs against the bottle's opening to remove excess liquid and moisture the sticker on the record cover with the brush. Leave information technology for several minutes. Then you tin try to pull at a corner of the sticker and see if it detaches. If not, apply some turpentine again and permit the sticker soak. It may exist necessary to employ but a little bit of forcefulness. Only be careful! If the sticker can be taken off, the cover will show some residue. But castor that spot once more and then utilize a paper tissue to wipe off the rest of the turpentine, sticker and glue. If a stickers is put over another sticker, you volition accept to echo the procedure for each sticker. Turpentine should non be used on the jewel boxes of CDs!

There are stickers that do not soak upwards the turpentine considering the surface is not porous, every bit is the case with "golden" stickers. These cannot be removed with any liquid and need some warm air from a hair dryer or should exist held advisedly over an open fire (stove). If it does not work, exit the sticker on.
Likewise be careful if you desire to use turpentine on very old printed cardboard/Kraft covers, because it may dissolve and smear the old printing ink.

Turpentine tin exist safely used on laminated covers and actually nigh modern covers. If some of the turpentine is soaked upwardly by the Kraft, cardboard or paper, just leave it, it will somewhen vaporize. Turntable tin can of form exist used on vinyl also. It is however greasy and you should clean the tape very thoroughly again after serpentine has been applied.
I recently acquired a few first pressings of a vintage label. They had been advertised every bit being unplayed and unopened. Nonetheless three of the five albums had been opened and glue of the sticker was smeared on the vinyl over a wide area. There turpentine perhaps could help.

I soaked the castor in the turpentine and gently moved the brush over the large spot and allow information technology soak. After a while I moved the brush once more over the area, always parallel to the groove, waited again and repeated the activeness. The glue was dissolving gradually and nicely, and I could wipe it off with a tissue. Afterwards that of course I practical turpentine once once again. All residue had to exist dissolved and removed. This has to be washed carefully and with patience. But the reward can exist that the record surface volition be neat and the groove can be played again, but of form after a few cleanings on the machine.

Some other disc had a sort of debris in circles stuck to a wide area. I was non sure whether this could exist removed or if it was not vinyl grain and the groove was really damaged by playing information technology with a worn needle. The only fashion to be sure was to apply turpentine with the brush. Once again I moved the brush in circles. Very gently. Than waited some time and with the brush I could take off the residue of the pressing which was fabricated 50 years ago. And finally I could use the tissue to soak up the rest of the turpentine. Afterwards that the disc needed two cleanings on the machine. Surfaces of the other discs were also showing some rest -they were first pressings that never had been played- and before cleaning the record on the motorcar it was the turpentine that helped.
That is why I by and large exercise non purchase manufactory sealed records. I but purchase them if I know I can trust the seller and the record can exist returned. 'Mill sealed' is definitely no guarantee that they are MINT. Actually they can exist less than pristine. In some cases even the seller may shrink-wrap the item.

Ever think: Before cleaning a record on the cleaning motorcar, in the basin, or by mitt, practice ever clean the record with a carbon fiber brush and if necessary with a soft velvet record brush before wetting and/or spinning the tape. Get rid of all the grit and debris without applying force. And if this communication and these methods are new to you and yous want to exist sure that they work, try it first on an 'former' record. Once you have learned what yous tin and what you lot cannot exercise, yous can beginning treating your precious discs.

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Removing Stickers from Labels and Albums.

If at that place are stickers on the tape label, I would advise you to leave them there and not to manipulate them, because the state of affairs only can get worse. Simply if y'all insist...
Removing stickers tin be done by using a special sticker remover, a solution which can be found in the drugstore or a specialized shop with office or fine art materials. You better try the effectiveness of this liquid on a dispensable record/record cover. Sometimes a label is hands damaged. Apply the liquid and allow the sticker soak for some time. Then carefully endeavour to lift the sticker at a corner. If it is not detachable, do use some more liquid and have more fourth dimension.

You can combine this method with the utilise of a hairdryer if information technology concerns a encompass. The hot air will more often than not soften the glue so the sticker may come off easier. If information technology is a sticker on a label you can try the aforementioned liquid. Sometimes labels are made of difficult plastic or gold. Those stickers may take a difficult upper layer which makes soaking difficult. Then the hairdryer comes in handy. Place a paper-thin roll (the basis of a wide packaging tape) on the label, around the sticker. Do not position the roll over the dead wax or over the groove. Now hold the hairdryer in the opening of the roll and accident hot air for a few seconds within the gyre. Bank check if the sticker tin can be lifted at the edge. Do this advisedly. Practise non use strength. And so blow again for 5 seconds. Effort to remove the sticker a bit more than. And so on and so forth. You probably tin can also endeavour the hairdryer method without the use of the sticker remover solution if the remover does damage the color of the characterization. Just that can be a dangerous affair.

The special sticker remover liquid tin probably also be used for removing ink. Endeavor once more on a disposable record. I can not give you a brand name of the sticker remover as every land has a different brand proper name and probably a different composition of the liquid.

The use of a hair dryer is not necessary if lighter fluid is applied. Dan Prothero from San Francisco wrote:

"I apply Ronsonol brand fluid and it quickly unseats almost any sticker from any surface including vinyl LP labels. Just a few drops onto the sticker, wait 30 seconds, and it peels off neatly. Any residue is easily removed by wiping with a cloth that contains another few drops of fluid. 50 ighter fluid works on uncoated stickers the best, but information technology's worked for me on nigh every sticker. If the sticker is metallic and then the fluid obviously wont penetrate it from above, but it's probable you tin can get at it from below.... soak the sticker edges outset, expect, then re-soak and start peeling towards the eye. repeat the process until it'southward all off. don't rush it or yous can pull up the paper with un-loosened adhesive. My dad collects stamps and he uses lighter fluid on his stamps to verify watermarks. Information technology evaporates without a trace in about a minute. information technology has never damaged his stamps, and so information technology should be considered safe on LP labels too."

Always think that I am not responsible for whatever accident or impairment of a record or characterization if you experiment. Always permit the record absurd down gradually, never put a "hot" record or record label under the cold tap. Y'all can apply this method beginning with an onetime record that y'all would dispose of anyway. Do non do it on a collectible item without having feel and without knowing what the result will be. In most cases it is improve to leave the sticker on the label. The success of this method also depends on the sort of newspaper used for a characterization.

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Does Cleaning Harm The Vinyl?

Some people merits that cleaning a vinyl tape will impairment the groove. Somebody wrote in a forum that he had talked to people from a record company and these people said that a record should never be cleaned with liquids, even if these liquids have been specifically designed for vinyl record cleaning. But what if you have a really dirty record that yous want to play and you lot do not want to impairment the fine, polished diamond tip? Some people fence that these record producers want vinyl records to sound mediocre, so the CD will exist more than appreciated and the new SACD will count on new enthusiasts who have enough of bad sounding, romantically crackling records.

At that place is much turbulence going on when a stylus follows the groove. A record can collect small particles of dust and will get dirty in time. Before playing a record it needs to be wiped gently with a soft velvet brush or with one of these special carbon cobweb brushes. Naturally these brushes are simply effective if the record'southward surface is relatively make clean.

A few months back there was a guy on the market who was selling a lot of former records. I overheard him advising a client. He said that the record should exist cleaned with window cleaner. I corrected him and from now on he no longer advises his clients to employ window/glass cleaner. Using glass cleaner definitely will ruin the vinyl. Never employ that stuff, information technology takes of the shiny glow of the vinyl and gives persistent hiss and background noise. You hands tin distinguish such a disc from a copy not existence cleaned with aggressive glass cleaner.

And there is some other possibility that a groove may be damaged. Just that is during the cleaning process and you do not dust the record's surface with a carbon castor and go rid of dust and debris first earlier applying the liquid. Many people just put the record on the cleaning machine and start cleaning,. They forget that the dust and particles will be accumulated by the cleaning castor and will ride over the vinyl and in the groove, round after round. Y'all can imagine what the result is.

Cleaning a worn record volition prove a bad groove to reward. But playing the tape after the cleaning procedure, and so cleaning it over again, may actually meliorate the groove. Only of course if the groove suffered from dust and clay. Not if it has been damaged by a worn stylus tip. Then a record can non exist bettered.

The climate in the listening room has its influence likewise. Heavy smokers should not exist invited. Heavy smoking is not advised. The record can collect greasy particles which bladder in the air.
Non carefully slipping the record in its sleeve afterward play will increment the possibility that it collects dust and gets dirty.
And as said earlier: the utilise of grease/oil during the pressing process in the factory is a necessity so the matrix and the vinyl record can exist separated easily. Only the fat or oil hardens when the record cools off. This hardened grease can give a ticking audio or a sound as if at that place is a bump or other unevenness in the vinyl. Especially in the xix seventies the application of the pressing oil or fat was not always washed carefully. Many buyers and likewise the personal in the record shop thought that the records were damaged and traded them in and they were sent back to the factory.

If a record sounds bad even afterwards cleaning, the groove must have been damaged by playing on a bad turntable. Or the plastic of an erstwhile inner sleeve may take been in contact with the vinyl over decades. Another possibiliy is that the tape can never be improved considering the vinyl is of bad quality and is not pure plenty and contains a high percentage of filler fabric. Such a record can hardly be improved.

And terminal but not to the lowest degree, sometimes when pressing 180 gr. records, the matrices and the vinyl have not been heated enough and the vinyl did not "flow" during the pressing procedure. Then the surface has a "crash-land" or can have "loose particles" which will be transported by the cleaning brush of the machine; especially if it is a sturdy nylon castor.

The but remedy to restore the betoken of a dirty record is cleaning the tape with cleaning solutions. And these should be safe! The cleaning solutions advised on this page will help y'all to restore the quality of many records, in some cases completely, in others simply to some extend.

Do not forget to clean the brushes of your cleaning car from time to fourth dimension by letting them soak overnight in a basin with h2o and with ample washing detergent added. Rinse them thoroughly the next morning, and dry them with kitchin newspaper.

Does cleaning a tape harm the vinyl? When did you lot terminate washing your pilus?

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It is very important to use the right kind of brushes that scrub the tape in a safe manner. Some replacement brushes can exist very costly. If you do not want to pay $ 50 for a replacement brush, I advise you to buy the supple Tonar Brushes or the Okki Nokki brushes which are fabricated of pig'south hair.

I have used the Tonar brushes with good results. In social club to mountain these in the greyness holder of the KM machine, the thin blackness part of the castor has to be cutting in height and the infinite has to be filled up. So these brushes will fit and can be clamped in the holder. If you are handy you lot certainly will find a way to mount these brushes. These brushes tin can be used for a long menstruum but clean them from fourth dimension to time.

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Is it Possible to Repair a Seam Split up?

Seam splits are a nuisance. They can get longer and longer and they tin damage the tape if the inner sleeve is not new and does not protect the rim of the record. The drawings show what can be done. Of class, information technology is not easy. But if you lot are handy, y'all will experience here too that practise can make perfect.
Take a long piece of 200 gr. paper or Kraft. The length should exist a little more than the split. Fold it along its length. See to it that the paper stays folded. If you desire to make it last forever yous can cover it entirely with a piece of wide transparent adhesive tape. And then fold information technology once again. Now cut the piece more or less to the needed size. Fold it again, then information technology will meliorate think the fold. Spread it out on an old paper and so put on the mucilage and smear it out.

Now comes the difficult part and that is slipping the piece into the inside of the comprehend. You can bend the encompass somewhat and than put the piece in place. If y'all tin can get some help it will make things easier. Clamp the seem for some time.
This method works all-time with covers made of thin cardboard or Kraft. For sturdy, thick paper-thin you could probably fold the piece that yous want to insert over the edge of a ruler and than advisedly motility the ruler to the desired spot.

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What if You don't have a Vacuum Motorcar?

This cleaning formula works also very well when using the DISCO ANTISTAT (Knosti) device, equally friends and collectors have told me, and some have shown me. If you observe the right residue of the ingredients yous volition notice that there volition be inappreciably whatever residue, hence not much clay does accumulate on the needle tip when commencement playing a record cleaned with this ingenious device.
To eliminate the residual to the max y'all should use a second basin (brushes included) just filled with distilled(!) water and rinse the disc afterward beingness washed in the first bowl.

Do not think that by a few turns the tape groove is well cleaned. As on a Keith Monks the record turns for nigh a infinitesimal, you should plough the record in the Disco ANTISTAT quite for some time. Here again your experience will tell you if the wash is too curt or is constructive.

Since isopropyl can cause leakage of the vinyl (every bit I am told), you should avoid cleaning with just isopropyl. But you tin utilise information technology in a mix. But add a small per centum to your formula. However the Library of Congress in one case proposed a mixture of xx% isopropyl and eighty% de-ionized water. I tried that solution and it worked all right. A long fourth dimension ago I was told that isopropyl was toxic, more than than whatsoever other solvent.

But recently Dr. Pekka Keski-Rahkonen from Finland wrote to me: "I would like to point out that using isopropyl alcohol should not be avoided due to toxicity reasons. Every bit per classification according to EU Directives 67/548/EEC or 1999/45/EC, the substance is non classified toxic, and is even used for skin desinfection purposes every bit a main constituent in "rubbing booze". In contrast, methanol, which has traditionally been used in "methylated spirits", is toxic and should be avoided."

I myself use both methanol and a small amount of isopropyl in the cleaning mix. In any case building an exhaust is no luxury. Even though I have returned to my original formula. Past the way, the Library of Congress (LOC) take devised a new formula which I did non endeavour, but looks rather promising viewing its ingredients.