Is there a way to clean the dust out of record sleeves?

I have gone through about 3 packs of mofi sleeves which I really do like. I am planning on getting an RCM soon, or at least using a Diy shop vac versions. Anyways these inner sleeves are pretty costly here in Canada at nearly 1 dollar per sleeve all in with the shipping. I would like to avoid buying more but don't want to vacuum clean my collection to just put them back into dirty or dusty sleeves. Throwing out all these sleeves would be extremely wasteful to me. Is there a way to clean the inner sleeves out to reuse them? All the records put into these sleeves were cleaned with a microfiber cloth soaked in a alcohol/distilled water/ drop of dish soap, so they aren't filthy but dust is a problem in my home. Maybe vacuuming the sleeves out would be sufficient? But will that leave a static charge?

Any thoughts?

 

Maybe a can of compressed air? Or if you have an air compressor, try that route first?

 

I' d try one of these, I use it to blow the dust off of my components but I bet it would work on your sleeves too. And no propellant or waste.



Giottos Rocket Blaster Dust-Removal Tool (Medium, Black) AA1910

 

Maybe try those microfiber brushes that are used to attract dust when cleaning house.
You are talking about the inside of the sleeve right ?

 

Occasionally I turn a sleeve inside out - makes it much easier to clean. A good soaking doesn't hurt either.

(Talking about inner sleeves that come with the LP)

 

Every time I clean a record, I also shake out the dust in the sleeve. I just insert my hand and arm all the way up inside, with the opening facing down, and start shaking. I do make sure my hand is clean, to avoid contaminating the inside of the sleeve.

I suppose wearing a cotton glove might be a good idea.

 

Once in a while I'll give it a zap with the Milty.

 

Bingo! Doesn't have the issues associated with so-called anti-static brushes; the largest size is the most effective- more "blast."

 

Residue of refrigerant; use the Giotto's blaster mentioned in another post.

 

I've switched inners once again. They all seem to leave some lint. The MA Records ones are like a woven material, porous, and seem to create less lint than the other fancy aftermarket inners.
As you probably know, the vortex action of the record spinning can attract dust, so if any is visible after I play a record, I give it a blast with the Giotto blaster mentioned here.

 

I use and recommend Swiffer Dusters.

 

It's a good idea and is probably effective, but the dusters use mineral oil as I understand it, perhaps not enough to noticeably impact your playback, but I don't want any residue of that, however small, on my records.

 

I'd rather have the insignificant mineral oil residue than the dust particles and static.

I'll admit that Swiffer Dusters are not a perfect solution. But they're cheap and readily available, they seem to eliminate static, and most importantly, they always clean the dust out of the sleeves

 

I just asked about those sleeves in this thread.

Micro scratches with Sleeve city diskkeeper

 

I cross posted in that thread and added a few other thoughts. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

Step 1-Turn the sleeve upside down.
Step 2- Shake vigorously until dust gone. And a bit of blowing into the sleeve doesn't hurt either.

Dust is dust.

That's what I do.

 

Can compressed air, lightly squeeze trigger, light air flow, works fine.

 

When I have had a plastic inner with lots of static (noticeable because it clings to the record) I've opened it out and given it a few zaps with my Discwasher Zerostat. No more static, so it doesn't attract the dust.

 

Never thought to use this but its a great idea now that I think about it. I have one of the smaller versions of these in my camera bag, but I will probably get one of the larger ones like the one you linked (more air moving).

 

Good idea, and probably should have the outer and inner sleeve openings not at the same orientation. What did you mean by dust is dust? are you saying it's not something to be concerned about? As far as I am concerned its normal for vinyl to have dust issues.

 

Yeah, just that you will always deal with it in one form or another. No need to overthink it.

 

I would just get new sleeves. If there is dust, there is dirt, and probably more trouble than it's worth to clean it out somehow.

 

I think this in addition to using the rocket blower thingy should be sufficient. I never put a totally dirty record into a sleeeve, so I don't really think I have much to worry about OTHER than dust. My cleaning methods have improved but I always at least wiped down my records with a microfiber cloth and fluid.

interesting. I use mofi sleeves and i'm gonna see if it is possible to turn them inside out. I could probably wipe it with a damp cloth and that should be enough. (if they are extra dirty)

 

At how many nanograms does accumulated dust inside a record sleeve become a threat?

 

You could use compressed air to blow them out, but this could create static electricity. With brand new MoFi records, they usually have already been charged with static electricity. The records are hard to remove from the MoFi inner sleeves and I have even held the inner sleeve by the bottom, with the opening on the downside, and the record won't slide out. After cleaning with my VPI HW-17 RCM, with no remaining static electricity sliding the record back into the MoFi inner sleeve recharges the static electricity. Maybe it has something to do with a dry climate, but I put those lined MoFi inner sleeves aside and put the records into new white inner sleeves and never have another problem.
If your MoFi inner sleeves are accumulating dust, it's because they are generating static electricity sliding records in and out. Rubbing plastic against plastic creates static electricity. The higher quality the vinyl, the more susceptible it is to static electricity. Take an A&M or Atlantic LP pressed by Monarch Records in the 60's to 70's, for instance, it won't have much of a problem with static electricity. I believe that the vinyl Monarch used, if it even was vinyl, was of poor quality. Those same records, A&M pressed by Columbia Santa Maria or Atlantic pressed by Specialty Records, had problems with static electricity due to their higher quality vinyl.