how to clean old LPs

Go to Wallyworld and pick up a hand held steamer with a 4" attatchment..I use a Shark Steamer..I can't imagine any cleaner ( manual or automatic ) that will remove more grunge and leave a more clean surface than Steam cleaning...I know there are guys ( and gals ) with plenty of Green to buy the Big Boy Auto cleaners,,but for a few bucks these little hand held steamers will compete with anything.........No bells and whistles but they work....

I had a similar situation to yours - my vinyl collection sat unplayed for about 15 years. When I first took them out again to play them, they all played awful - pops, ticks etc. My suspicion is mold, but who knows. I first tried manual cleaning using a few different fluids but that was too much work and the results were mixed (likely due to my own laziness and impatience).

I purchased a record cleaning machine and they all play like new again. I have not tried the steam cleaners, though I plan to get one for really dirty LP's, but for mass cleaning, I think the RCM pays off just in time saved. I also purchase a lot of used lp's and they all need a thorough cleaning. When you can buy albums for $1 - $5 that play like new after a good cleaning, the RCM really starts to pay off.

A Nitty Gritty RCM can be purchased for $150 (i needs to be hand cranked) I think. I started with one of those and it worked great. After I realized I was in it for the long run I purchased a VPI 16.5 for $350 used. It's less work and does a great job. I mix my own fluid - there are recipes online and they work as well as the expensive ready made solutions.

actually I'm looking for nitty gritty fluid cleaner , and maybe SOTA RCM , do you all think that will solve the problem?

Thorman, what do you do next after applying the steam? Do you scrub with a brush, wipe with microfiber cloth, dry it??? Also, do you steam the LP with it lying flat (steam from above)?

VPI 16.5 with Walker Fluids and a Walgreens steam clearner. Best I have tried. Better than Clearaudio or NittyGritty.