First, welcome back! I've been doing vinyl again after a 15 year absence. Other than the preoccupation with these audio sites that developed when I started seeking info, the habit has been pure pleasure. Now, I want ot say that anyone who says you "need" or "must have" an expensive record cleaning machine isn't using those words carefully. None of these items in this hobby is a "need." They're all "wants" and they feed our desires. I've been cleaning records with one of the homemade brews recommended here, using a magic brush to scrub and lint-free cloths to wipe. I've invested perhaps $15 and I've found that this works very well to improve the sound on about 90% of the records I have. The rest are in worse shape and still sound noisy after repeated cleanings. Those I toss. Then I look for replacements on the used market. If it's an LP I truly WANT, I pay premium for it. Otherwise I wait until another cheap one comes along. That's the way, for example, I came upon a $1 copy of Robert Palmer's Sneakin Sally Through the Alley that is pristine and wonderful. Same with a $.50 copy of Schumann's Cello Concerto with Leonard Rose. To me, this is a far better use of my time and money than forking over hundreds of dollars for an audiophile record cleaning machine. Good luck with the vinyl. Enjoy!
