New to Vinyl - recommended way to clean/keep clean collection

I would strongly suggest you invest in a carbon-fibre record cleaning brush / pad (from the maker Milty or others) and a soft brush specifically designed to clean your stylus. A quick Google should find both of these at various prices.

Thanks Alears, Both items now purchased from the bay!

No problems david230. How are you getting on with your speakers? Often thought about getting a pair myself. Do they sound OK if placed close to a rear wall, as my room size dictates they will have to be?

The best way to keep your vinyl clean is a wet record cleaning machine, the likes of Okki Nokki, VPI or Moth spring to mind.

If you're on a budget, Knosti Disco Anti-Stat does its job pretty well. Remember to wet clean your vinyl first, then put it into new sleeves.

As for the stylus, I have found that a cotton swab soaked in purified water cleans the stylus miles better than Zerodust or a stylus brush. You need a rock steady hand or you may lose your stylus, though I use the swab to touch the stylus from the bottom, _very_ gently.

thanks again guys!

Alears, the TL speakers I'm really happy with although very early days. The drivers are now out of the cabinets while I finish them off. 

As for positioning, mine are about 12inches from a rear wall with none of the bass controlling issues of my old MA's. 

+1

Caution!!!!!! digging on Amazon customer satisfactione for the 'Knosti Disco Anti-Stat'.  A white residue is deposited from record on to the stylus after cleaning, apperars this residue is left behind by the cleaning solvent?  I certainly dont like the idea on my records.

The alternative  might be 'Spin-Clean', twice the price, but no residue reported, better safe than sorry?

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0110/spin_clean_record_cleaner.htm

Cotton bud to clean the stylus???   Sounds like it is needed if the residue report is right?

CJSF

No caution required, the anti-stat is a fine cleaner. When the solution runs out, make your own with distilled water, isopropanol and photographic wetting agent (Ilfotol).

. . . so what is the white residue reported on Amazon John?

CJSF

CJ. The Anti is ok for albums that are not too minging. All the scrunge from a dirty record gets mixed up with the cleaning fluid. The fluid evaporates. Most of the gunk then settles back in the records grooves. Cant beat a vacuum jobbie.

Edit. The knosti fuid is pretty good stuff. I use it in tandem with isoprope . The white residue isnt due to the fluid, its just congealed gunk CJ.

Don't know as I haven't experienced it in 100+ albums.

@floyd droid; agreed, a vacuum cleaner is better, but 10 times the price and, as I say, I've had no problems with the antistat. I've had to have a few goes at some albums and have discarded fluid rather than 'sieve' it as suggested, but if you make your own it's cheap.

From what I have gleaned over the last 18 months from here and other forums is that many people don't think much of the supplied cleaning fluid with the Knosti and prefer to make their own solution of Isopropyl alcohol and distilled water , usually in the ration of about 1 to 4 parts respectively . This is what I do . I bought 10 litres of alcohol from fleabay for about £30.00 . This is about the only place you can get it these days . I buy the water from my local garage . This should last quite a few records .

  For what the Knosti costs , you should be able to get one for less than £40.00 , to my mind it represents excellent value for money . They are not as good as a machine but ,as John says , they cost a great deal less than even a cheap record cleaning machine . If you have a large number of LPs then one of these machines would be a good investment but if you are just starting out , which your initial post implies , then a Knosti would be my recommendation . When you have built up a significate collection of records then it might be the time to buy a machine .

  It is probably best if we don't talk about the PVA glue method of cleaning records just yet !

I did not list the Knosti because I assumed the OP probably had new vinyl as he is just starting out. I have never felt the need to wet clean new vinyl as some people profess to do. Once original fluid has been used up you can indeed make your own or for a better result use L'Art du Son cleaning fluid although this is a tad expensive. I tend to use my Knosti purely on any second-hand LP's I purchase. I would not consider putting a cotton-bud anywhere near my stylus..... they are for ears or tape heads as far as I'm concerned!

I do have a few old vinyls from my dads now redundant record collection, dating back to late 60's to mid/late 70's that I do like to listen to. For the price I will invest in a knosti cleaner. 

Knosti is good, but as said, the fluid should be disposed of after use, or filtered, then used for a first clean on particularly dirty records.

I actually put the the record (still attached to the plastic centres) into my drill, and spin the records dry.

Do take care though, if the record was to come out, it'd take your head off