Deep Cleaning Records With Steam?


It has happened again. Major tweak and record provider has available a steam cleaner made especially for records. Anybody try steam for cleaning lp’s? What were your results? Since a unit can be had for about $20 at Target, 15% of what the tweak provider is charging, is it worth a try?.
tiger
All there is no doubt about it rinsing with high grade water is a very important part of vinyl cleaning. And doing that a few times completes the job for better playback and sound.
Sunnyboy I'm glad steaming is working out better for you now.
In the end its the sound that matters and nothing else. Steamed cleaned LPs will bring that goal of better sound to those who give it a try. IMHO
Last night I used double distilled water, cost about Rs.200 a gallon or USD 5 or so. Along with a final rinse this has made a huge difference. Am beginning to enjoy vinyl I had acquired 25/30 years ago. Must confess that previous attempts to clean the same lps with a VPI 16.5 and the AVI one step were not successful.At last its payback time for the vast sums spent on my vinyl rig.
Tiger, Creml, Stltrains and all the others on this thread : Gentlemen thank you for taking my vinyl experience to a new level.
Sunnyboy1956 : The very best in analog to you. Thanks for joining the revolution , tell your friends: With Steam (And A Good Rinse) Vinyl Rules !
Tried this method tonight for the first time - results were EXCELLENT. Thanks to all who have posted information and advice. Opens up the sound and I hear more than ever before. As others have noted, it does expose the flaws or damage in an LP like never before. All the more reason to treat your LPs well.

FYI, I picked up the Perfection brand hand steamer (recommended here) at Walgreen's yesterday. It was on sale for $19.99 here in Chicago. Not sure how long the sale is on.

Jon
I also got a perfection steamer for 19.99 yesterday in Des Moines but have yet to try it. I have a question for anyone willing to answer concerning water to use in the steamer. Why is it necessary to use anything more pure than distilled water in the steamer? I understand the potential advantage of rincing with ultra pure water. However, when water is boiled what comes off should be pure water vapor. I would think any minute amount of impurity in distilled water would be left behind in the tank. Isn't steam made up of individual water molecules that have gained enough energy to escape surface tension? These moecules condence together to make the "white" steam we can see. Water vapor itself is not visible.
Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this eye opening thread. Nice video Slttrains.