Record-playing Rituals?

I have tried a number of products and rituals over the years. I estimate that 90% of my listening time is vinyl, so I attempt to get the best possible sound that I can from the vinyl rig.

My current procedure is to use Disc Doctor (DD) in combination with VPI fluid and and Last Preservative. Any record that gets brought into the house (new or used) gets the same treatment. I put it on a VPI 16.5 and wash with the DD cleaner using the DD brushes. I vacuum with tube no. 0, then do the distilled water scrub with VPI brush no. 1 and vacuum with tube no. 1. I then apply VPI fluid and scrub with VPI brush no. 2 and vacuum with tube no. 2. After that I apply Last Record Preservative and vacuun with tube no. 3. I remove the record, change the mat and repeat for side 2.

At each step, I scrub for 6 revolutions and vacuum for 3 revolutions. My procedure only takes a few minutes per side. I usually get records on a buying binge, so I end up performing a cleaning marathon, doing all of the side one's then all of the side two's. Once the records are cleaned in this fashion I just use an old Decca brush to clean away the dust prior to playing.

I have not tried the Record Research products yet, but like others I have tried many products and many "homebrews" including washing the record with dishsoap.

Kudos to Albert for passing on a what sounds like a great product. I will give it a try soon. Regards, Doug

On an average night I'm not cleaning records. I walk toward my rack, wine in hand and open up the tray of my CD player which sits next to my turntable. I place the glass of wine on the open Cd tray and brush my record with an AQ brush and clean the stylus. I then grab my wine and sit back and listen. Who said CD players were worthless?

Well Longplate, if I had only known....Alas, I've got a toploader.

Geez, Longplate, I've been racking my brains for yrs trying to figure out why that thing popped out of the cdp! Thanks to you, I found use for the other cdp in the cupbord... electric coasters especially effective when listening to music with friends.

LOL!
(Detlof, "top-loading": does that mean a shaker?)

Hi,
I NEVER apply anything to my Linn Klyde. Matter of fact I've had nice tables since 1980 and have never put anything on any of my styli. I am a Linny (looney?) and follow the edict that anything added to the mass of the stylus is going to degrade sound, as it will inevitably slow down its movement.

I remove big dirt off the record only if needed with a carbon brush. Believe it or not I use a small bit of silly putty to clean my stylus every LP side (or so). I used to work at a Linn shop and I know I guy there who has sworn by Putty for over 15 years. He has verified its effectiveness by microscope and durability testing (all of our cartridges over the years).

If I really like the record I'll clean it with a machine.

I put new sleeves on all records.

That's it!!