Original Discwasher Brush Smells of Mildew

I recently came by one of the old-school Discwasher kits with a full bottle of fluid and a black brush that's in pristine condition, except that I discovered the brush has a mildewy odor.

Now, I know the little instruction booklet says quite clearly not to wash this thing. But since I'm obviously not going to let a mildewy brush come in contact with my records, and since I wasn't able to return this thing (which didn't cost that much anyway), I thought, "screw it," and set about trying to eliminate the mildew odor anyhow.

I scrubbed it with an unused toothbrush using a mixture of distilled water and white vinegar (which is excellent at removing mildew from clothing), rinsed it thoroughly, then went over it with distilled water and some isopropyl alcohol, rinsed it again (to really make sure I'd removed the vinegar), squeezed as much water as I could out of it, and let it dry all day outside in warm, direct sunlight.

And the mildew odor is still there.

I thought about washing it again with a mix of white vinegar and a tiny amount of gentle laundry detergent, maybe even letting it soak for a while. But then I thought, am I wasting my time and should I just toss this thing?

Edit: Actually, my wife just said it at least smells better. So maybe I will eliminate it eventually...

 

I've had mine for 40 years, and it has no smell.

 

You've obviously taken care of yours, or at least not left it in some damp, dank place for some extended period of time.

 

Spray it with fabreze.

 

Keep it in it's box when not in use. Bought it when I bought my components in Spring, 1978. Still have my Jensens too.
.

 

What the hell....put it in the dishwasher. Top shelf.

 

Rinse it with water and a tiny bit of Dawn dishwashing liquid then let it dry.

 

It has little/no use these days....put it on display!!!!

 

No record brush is worth this much hassle. Seriously.

 

Especially outdated tech....carbon fiber is better suited to the task, IMO.

 

Awhile back a friend gifted me a Gruv Glide kit. Better than any brush I've tried. I don't use it on ever record either, just for a little surface dusting in between RCM cleanings. People going to great lengths to use a brush as primary cleaning are misguided, IMHO.

 

If you're ever in the SD area, I can give you instruction on how to use a Discwasher as a pre-play prep.

Works great. I can show you - if you want. Contrary to the blah blah blah.

Cold beer and good music free of charge.

 

True, it's a before play thang. The Discwasher, when liquid is applied, does help with static. But then so does the carbon brush, only with mo' gentility.

 

I'm not sure about scrubbing it that way with a toothbrush. You could have hurt its bristles and the pile, which was known to work very well.
I would have just sprayed it with vinegar. If that didn't or doesn't work, saturate it, soak it, with vinegar and let it dry out. If there is mildew it may be inside, in the foam. It may still be there ready to grow out again.
I have never had to do this, my original discwasher purchased new is still good, although the original fluid is long gone.

 

Well, since the thing comes with the small, stiff-bristled brush that you use to remove any dust or debris from the big brush (by brushing up and down the length of it), I didn't think doing a similar brushing motion with a toothbrush would be that much different. But I'm kinda doing all this fully aware that any of these things could potentially damage the brush's micro bristles. This brush is pristine, though; it looks like it's never been used, so it can probably take a little bit of abuse.

At any rate, I think just soaking it in vinegar like you suggest is probably a good idea and that's what I'll try next.

If only the Discwasher brushes made today weren't just crap made from corduroy, this wouldn't even be an issue.

 

I know what you mean, but I have used these in the past (a roommate from years ago had one), and they're honestly quite effective at cleaning moderately dusty LPs.

 

No argument there. My point is that may now be better.

 

I never brushed up and down the length of my Discwasher brush with the cleaning bristle brush. I only used it from the back edge to the leading edge so it would not break the micro bristles.

 

The best thing about the original Discwasher D4 brush is that is is great to use with a RCM. I bought mine boxed, in excellent condition (though the liquid had long gone), for £10: far cheaper than a replacement brush from any of the RCM suppliers. By all accounts the newer version of the D4 is inferior, but I haven't tried one.

I never used it with the original liquid: I have no idea how effective it would have been. However, my RCM/D4/L'Art du Son combo is my cleaning regime of choice.

 

Another SHF member told me about Groovewasher, which is a successor to the original Discwasher company. I purchased their fluid and use it with an old DW brush. Very satisfied.

 

The part about drying it in the sun made me smile. Today's high for SF: 70 degrees.

 

The instructions in the manual it came with say to brush up and down the length of the brush, and/or in the direction of the arrow.

 

And that's on the warm side for SF! Here in Oakland, where I am, it got up to 80.

 

Seal it up in a box and put some baking soda in a little tray in there. Leave it for a few days.

 

How is the quality of new Discwasher's?

RCA - Discwasher Vinyl Record Care System