It is a good idea to clean new records before using them as there is sometimes a small amount of residue from manufacturing process depending on manufacturer. That said, I am not very fanatical about cleaning records and sometimes play new records without cleaning. The may be in part due to my use of the Spin Clean, which is cheap and works but is some work to use and not very time efficient IMO. My next cleaner will be similar in that regard but better in result I think: George Merrill's Gem Dandy hydraulic cleaner. hifigem.com Down the line I would like to get a Klaudio ultrasonic cleaner. BTW, I always clean used records before playing and store in new sleeves and use an outer cover as well. Make sure you store your records nice and vertical as well.
Go ahead and use the table to set tracking force and play away. Recheck and adjust once you get your digital gauge. I use a rega digital stylus force gauge that is terrific and worth the $. I used to use an Audioquest carbon fiber record brush (the ubiquitous one) and I think it leaves small scratches and have read similar findings from others. I switched to an AcousTech The Big Record Brush with grounding wire for static drain and its fibers are much softer and it excels at what it does without scratches as far as I can tell.
In the end, use what you have and enjoy. Don't overthink it, but do remember that appropriate record care will lengthen the life of the record and stylus and improve the sound. I would however avoid developing any habits that are so cumbersome that they eat into your listing time or experience or drive you away from enjoying the music.
Go ahead and use the table to set tracking force and play away. Recheck and adjust once you get your digital gauge. I use a rega digital stylus force gauge that is terrific and worth the $. I used to use an Audioquest carbon fiber record brush (the ubiquitous one) and I think it leaves small scratches and have read similar findings from others. I switched to an AcousTech The Big Record Brush with grounding wire for static drain and its fibers are much softer and it excels at what it does without scratches as far as I can tell.
In the end, use what you have and enjoy. Don't overthink it, but do remember that appropriate record care will lengthen the life of the record and stylus and improve the sound. I would however avoid developing any habits that are so cumbersome that they eat into your listing time or experience or drive you away from enjoying the music.