Record cleaning just got a lot easier for me

satkinsn

satkinsn

low end audio
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I posted about this on another message board, but I thought my fellow AKers might be interested...

For me, the biggest barrier to fully enjoying vinyl has been cleaning. I don't own a cleaning machine, though I probably should. I have a Spin Clean, and have tried to keep up a regular regimen of cleaning, but I have found the Spin Clean hard to use - the inserts keep popping out, turning the records requires a lot of force, etc. So I often don't clean new albums. I just brush them before playing. I've even skipped cleaning used records I trust.

But knowing that's not good practice, mostly what I've done is listen to CDs.

As of this week, that has changed. I bought Humminguru's new EZ Record Washer. It retails for around $100 and is aimed squarely at the Spin Clean market. In some respects, the products are similar. Both are completely manual operation. Both require you to fill a tank with distilled water and the company's cleaning fluid. But there is a huge difference between the two: instead of having to rotate records by hand, Humminguru has come up with an ingenious handle-crank, which makes cleaning fast and easy. You mount the record into the cleaner, turn the crank clockwise 12 times and 12 times counter-clockwise and you're done.

I cleaned eight records yesterday without breaking a sweat and I'm actually looking forward to my next cleaning session, something I didn't think was possible.

Again, this obviously isn't for people who are deeply into cleaning and have automated machines and the rest. But if you have a modest vinyl setup and are looking for a no hassle way to keep your albums in good shape, you can't do much better than this.
 
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I just bought a spin clean. Wish I would have read this first. Your assessment is spot on. The results
are excellent, but tiring.
 
I've been considering an ultrasonic cleaner , it's a little more money but it would also be multi purpose as the album attachment can easily be removed.
 
I have the Studebaker cleaning system which is pretty much identical to the Spin Clean except for the price and I've found it to work just fine
for me. I don't understand why your breaking a sweat with yours. I just got done doing about 15 LP's without a hitch. I wish I could afford $100 or more for something to clean my records but, it just doesn't seam practical or something I can seriously rectify the cost when I can get them clean the way I'm doing it now cheaper. Of course I'm retired and have nothing but time, at least for a little while. ;)
 
Pioneered said:
I have the Studebaker cleaning system which is pretty much identical to the Spin Clean except for the price and I've found it to work just fine
for me. I don't understand why your breaking a sweat with yours. I just got done doing about 15 LP's without a hitch. I wish I could afford $100 or more for something to clean my records but, it just doesn't seam practical or something I can seriously rectify the cost when I can get them clean the way I'm doing it now cheaper. Of course I'm retired and have nothing but time, at least for a little while. ;)
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You and me both! Time is a great gift.

What I wrote should not be taken as the last word on Spin Clean. A lot of people use one and are perfectly happy with the results. My experience, however, hasn't been great - I find it it difficult/impossible to keep the inserts in place. (For non-Spin Clean users: there are plastic inserts that rotate and which go in notches in the top of the Spin Clean basin. The notches are spaced for cleaning albums and 45s. They keep the record straight while it's being cleaned.) I struggle to clean an album with both plastic inserts in place, so I usually just take one of the inserts out. Then I'm trying to keep the record in position as I turn it. And turning is slow and requires a bit of force on my part.

The Humminguru cleaner solves the rotation problem. It's simple and ingenious.

If you're getting good results doing what you're doing now, excellent! 15 LPs in one session is more than respectable. My post is really aimed at people like me, who haven't invested $300-$400 in a cleaning machine and who are looking at cheaper alternatives.

(btw - I never said this in my first post and probably should have: I don't know anyone at Humminguru and have no relationship with the company. No one paid me to produce a "positive" review. I bought the unit I'm using with my own money.)
 
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satkinsn said:
You and me both! Time is a great gift.

What I wrote should not be taken as the last word on Spin Clean. A lot of people use one and are perfectly happy with the results. My experience, however, hasn't been great - I find it it difficult/impossible to keep the inserts in place. (For non-Spin Clean users: there are plastic inserts that rotate and which go in notches in the top of the Spin Clean basin. The notches are spaced for cleaning albums and 45s. They keep the record straight while it's being cleaned.) I struggle to clean an album with both plastic inserts in place, so I usually just take one of the inserts out. Then I'm trying to keep the record in position as I turn it. And turning is slow and requires a bit of force on my part.

The Humminguru cleaner solves the rotation problem. It's simple and ingenious.

If you're getting good results doing what you're doing now, excellent! 15 LPs in one session is more than respectable. My post is really aimed at people like me, who haven't invested $300-$400 in a cleaning machine and who are looking at cheaper alternatives.

(btw - I never said this in my first post and probably should have: I don't know anyone at Humminguru and have no relationship with the company. No one paid me to produce a "positive" review. I bought the unit I'm using with my own money.)
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Hmm, you must have got one that was poorly made or something, I never have to pull a roller out, that would certainly make it difficult to say the least. Are you filling the tank with distilled water to the line or using it dry with only the pads wet with cleaner? I've heard of this done and I would imagine it would certainly make it hard to turn, that and not so good for the LP I don't imagine.
Anyway, glad that you've found something you can afford and enjoy that does a good cleaning.
 
I have a suspicion that you may have not pushed the rollers hard enough into their slots. They do take quite a bit of force. You need to push them really hard, until you feel them click very firmly into place, with a loud pop. Once you do that, not only will they not come out of their own accord during use, but they will take some effort to remove even intentionally.
If you did that and you still have trouble keeping them in place, then you may have got a defective unit.
But anyway, now that you've got something even better, the point is moot. I'm glad you've found something that works for you.
 
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Route 66 said:
This link is for the original Humminguru. Their newest model is the NOVA.
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Nova is indeed a noticeable upgrade in several respects, but it's almost double the price. It's well worth the money, mind you, but the original will clean just as well if you're on a tight budget.
 
seely said:
I just bought a Nova and couldn't be happier with it. Very easy to use, quiet and great results.
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True. The Nova is awesome. I love mine, too.
But it doesn't clean twice as well as the original model. The original is really fine if your budget is limited.
 
ernieS said:
I just bought a spin clean. Wish I would have read this first. Your assessment is spot on. The results
are excellent, but tiring.
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Spin clean works well. I find using a pair of rubber coated gloves makes it a lot easier to rotate the record. I use a home built pressure washer using only distilled water with a filter of 10 microns on the intake of the fluid reservoir.
 
I might be weird but I find cleaning records with my SpinClean to be oddly calming and soothing. There's something rewarding about looking at the dirty water. LOL
 
Colin86325 said:
I might be weird but I find cleaning records with my SpinClean to be oddly calming and soothing. There's something rewarding about looking at the dirty water. LOL
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Was once my method also and I agree with the satisfying effort. Worked great until I'm dredging crud from the valley of the groove with my stylus, which was fine for the time. Honestly the Vevor US is so cheap and for a just a small chuck of change more you can clean effectively.
 
Also might depend on the type of music you're listening to. Heavy rock or metal having real clean vinyl is not as important sonically. But acoustic, classical and much Jazz there are many sections with less than dynamic passages where a noisy background or an out of the blue loud click will kill the enjoyment of a LP. I always experienced that with all other cleaning methods, but the US made it a day and night difference.
 
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