Do you clean new vinyl before first playback?

Great display photo! Good questions and comments! Just simply dissolved debris can turn a solution brownish, but for a new record? Does anyone have an example of solution turning yellowish or darker from a brand new record?

 

To me, cleaning new records is more trouble than it's worth, other than just brushing off loose dust before play. I don't do any pre-emptive record cleaning. I just clean the records when they obviously need it -- if they're visibly dirty or audibly getting noisy.

Someone noted that records aren't made in a clean room sort of sterile environment -- I don't know about any of you, but in my case, they're also not played back in that sort of environment either, far from it; and my record cleaning set up isn't sterile or clean in that way either. So while cleaning makes them cleaner ways, there's still potentially residue and abrasion. Dust falls on the record in the room instantly after and even during cleaning. I don't hear any audible advantage to cleaning new records. So I don't bother. BTW, squeaky clean records mean higher levels of stylus groove friction, and putting lubes on record, while fraught with other problems solve that, but would probably horrify the "clean the records before you pull them out of the sleeve" crowd.

 

Ahh, to reveal more inner detail!

 

Just a carbon brush, to remove the remnant dust, otherwise new vinyl is clean.

 

Too much work. I’m a little lazy - outside of meticulously researching various CD releases (to avoid LOUD releases), ripping the CD, and scanning my own cover art, I don’t put much effort into my music listening/collecting hobby.

 

I voted yes as I usually give it a quick spin on my RCM when I'm doing a batch clean. But I'll play it without a clean too if I have no plans to do a batch cleaning anytime soon.

 

Then I certainly dont recommend it.

 

I have been buying records for 40 years and new ones never get any 'wet' clean of any kind!
Most of the noise clicks and pops are due to static and therefore an anti-static gun firstly, and then if any dust is on the record use a carbon fiber brush. Wet cleaning is for dirty used records ,which is needed in that case, when I did wet clean a new record ,even on a RCM I have found it made it worse.
The cleaning of new records is a fairly new thing to me,I do not touch the playing surface, just the edges and the label and they sound fine with just a quick clean with a microfiber brush before playing. Also clean your stylus before each play helps too.

 

I thought my RCM made new records worse as well but it was just static it added. With proper use and liquid it only improves the playback.

 

New ones get just brush treatment. Used ones get wet clean.

 

Yes. I found when I upgraded my system to a high enough level I (and others) could easily discern the sound of something on the records (release agent?). This sound, kind of like sandpaper on plastic, disappears when the records are wet vacuum cleaned. (I don’t think it is static charge, but that may also be a factor.) It’s not heard on every record I have purchased new, but now I just clean them beforehand since I know they start out somewhat dirty. After the wet vacuum clean I may occasionally use a brush, but only if I see something (like a hair).

 

Release agents put on stampers have never been substantiated. More inclined to assume static or fine dirt.

 

Whole vaccum clean when GZVinyl and others put the records inside tight inner sleeves that leave dirt on it.

 

Yes, if a new record has crap all over it, usually because it was pressed at GZ, or the edge of the LP shredded the seams of the inner sleeve during shipment and left crap all over it, then I will give that record a wet clean. If it looks spotless or just has a few tiny bits of stuff that can be blown off, I don't bother.

But then, on a few occasions, I have played brand new records that looked clean, but which nevertheless left a tiny bit of dust/debris on the stylus toward the end of a side. In those cases, I'll clean the LP before I play it again. But I have to say, those instances are few and far between.

 

I agree, I still have records I bought new 35 years ago that have never been cleaned,stored properly in anti static inner sleeves,they play through perfectly with no clicks or pops,they just get a quick carbon fiber brush before each play,and the stylus gets cleaned.

 

Anti static gun, then carbon fiber brush on new records,if it's done vice versa it won't work.The static has to be removed first.Any rubbing with cloths will make static, and also touching the playing surface not only puts oil from your hands on the vinyl, but also makes more static especially where I live on the west coast.The carbon fiber brush I have works fine at removing dust and doesn't scratch.

 

Try draging it against the grooves and see if it scratches then.

 

No unless when playing i hear noise that i think might be related to dirt or debris from the inner sleeve.
Cleaning used to be fun for me but now it's a hassle and i use it only on "emergencies"

 

Yes, always

 

I 've gone through phases of cleaning new records as a matter of course, but now I only do if there's a problem with the record.

 

No. Life's too short. I do dry brush my stylus gently before every play.

For me, record cleaning is only for when I'm concerned that they might be dirty and needing it.

And me, I have a bath or shower once every 6 weeks, whether I need it or not.

 

No! Never.

 

I don't, then if it needs it and you know after first play, then I do. I carbon brush all sides before play of course.

 

Yes, new records always cleaned before being first played.

I clean/vac records on a Loricraft. All the cleaning solution is vacuumed off the record into a refuse container jar. I have done cleaning sessions where the only records cleaned were sealed, brand new records. The container jar after cleaning only new records exhibits waste solution with a gray, cloudy cast with the finest grain of dirt suspended in the solution.

Yes, new records are cleaned because new records are dirty.

 

It varies, but people can see something about as small as 50um in size. On the vinyl record close-up picture below, the scale bar is 50um so the record grooves can be easily seen, but all of the other debris would be invisible to the naked eye so the record would look perfectly clean when it is not. I have a Loricraft and new records leave a lot of dirt in the bottle for me too and clearer sound quieter when cleaned.