Cleaning stuck on gunk from an old record

rydal* -- Sat, 09/20/2008 - 10:22

Hello,

I have an old and valuable LP that has a few clicks and pops. I can actually see some of the grime pasted on to the record (which I've tried to clean). I've tried cleaning it off with Mobile Fidelity Super Deep Cleaner as well as the Mobile Fidelity Enzymatic Cleaner, followed by a vacuum on the Nitty Gritty using its fluid, but no luck. This is a valuable record so I don't want to get too physical.

Any ideas? What's the best cleaner out there for this kind of visible, baked on dirt? Thank you.

Steven Stone -- Sun, 09/21/2008 - 10:12

You could try Goo gone. It works great on oil-based or glue-type gunk. Work on only the trouble spot with goo gone then clean the record as you would normally to remove any goo gone remnants.

If the record is valuable I'd try this on another worthless record first with a similar formulation to make sure it cleans off completely when the record is put into a standard record cleaner after the goo gone treatment.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

rydal* -- Sun, 09/21/2008 - 13:04

Thanks! That's an idea I would never have thought of. What do you use to apply the Goo Gone?

Rydal

Steven Stone -- Sun, 09/21/2008 - 14:28

I would use a lint-free clean cloth.

Put a bit of Goo Gone on the cloth and rub carefully in the same direction as the grooves.

As I wrote earlier MAKE SURE YOU TRY THIS ON ANOTHER WORTHLESS RECORD THAT HAS THE SAME PLASTIC/VINYL FORMULATION.

If it's OK on the test mule you will be OK with your valuable one. start with very light pressure and check results. Increase pressure if you need more elbow grease.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

rydal* -- Mon, 09/22/2008 - 11:43

Thanks!

Rydal