Testing if cleaning brushes damage your vinyl records 

This is so awesome! Great scientific approach. Super methodical. Love the use of the microscope. Can’t wait to see more videos.

Water is a wetting agent for water-soluble debris , but it definitely is NOT a lubricant . If that record had any debris on it at all the brushes would grind THAT into the surface . Thanks for the options which I'd not seen before .

please come back and make videos again!

@2ndchancevinyl I really like the video about how to clean the records. Since then I am using the plastic thing to cover the labels and using my mix of water/soap/alcohol and a shower brush with delicate bristles. I left you a comment with a link to my method. This new video with the experiment on different brushes is great to help to find the ultimate weapons and method. Thanks!

Please come back. I need more tips from you to clean my used vinyl records.

I'd like to see the babys hair brush with lubrication like the fine tooth brush. I've been using it and it has made a difference on multiple albums. Even on new albums that come covered in residue from the pressing. Play it straight out of the cover and can hear alot of noise, Once through the clean cycle and sounds way better.

My guess is, and my experience suggests, that the sonic benefits of thorough cleaning significantly outweigh the sonic effects of minor scratches.

Great video, good to see a comparison 👍😎

Good to know👍👍

That goat hair brush looks really brittle and stiff. The goat hair brushes I've got are all really fine and soft.

Fun vid, I was almost 100% correct in my guessing as to which brush would do the least damage. I’m curious why you did not use any standard “record cleaning” brushes used and sold for this purpose. I was more curious about those products, the ones most all of us use daily.

I love your video, I watched it very closely. All baby brushes are not the same. I found one that does not scratch. I found several that do. Now that I have a good one, I hope it lasts the rest of my life- my record cleaning method now satisfies me- after experiencing since 1975. The name-brand Dawn dish soap, very warn running sink water, and the baby brush. I truly can scrub the record, with force. The same brush, while rinsing. My regular dish towel, to dry. Unless the record already had Groove damage, I can get a very silent sound from the surface. And, no residue collected on the stylus after the first play. Residue on the stylus is proof that the record is not clean. The stylus should not be able to scrap substance from the groove. Nothing sounds better than a record which is absolutely clean. I also find that name-brand Windex glass cleaner can be used on most LP sleeves to remove dirt. You must first take notice of the cover substance. If it's laminated, you can spray and wipe like it's a piece of glass. If it's just printed paper, spray the Windex onto the towel, and blot, or lightly rub. With a lot of care, even a cover that looks trashed can be cleaned and look like a collectable again. I can spend a very happy hour, taking a $1, awful looking album, and making it sound and look like a prize. It's a good feeling, to take something that seems worthless, and return it to enjoyable condition.

Thanks for sharing the info.

You forgot the toilet brush! 😁

It would be better to see the test with lubrication.

I hope you do more videos!

Informative but the knife triggered me!

I highly recommend nylon. Stay way from animal hairs. Nylon record brushes won't scratch pvc and the diameter is thin enough to get in the groove.

love the vids - keep them coming! when do i receive my number 1 subscriber licence plate :)

Great video. Would love to see a similar test with the more “conventional” store bought record cleaning products out there. Being an Aussie, I’d love to see Australian brands from Flea Market brushes (yep, that JB Hi-Fi brand) to the more expensive brushes against those household brushes. Would also like to see other Aussie to other cleaning solutions like Wax Wash and Record Revirginizer demoed. Keep the videos coming!

Just curious, what microscope were you using?

Always use brush only with wet clean

What about a soft makeup brush (with its many fine bristles)?

Man to think we are on the same Island. My entire world inc records went under about 18ft of scum flood water last year and I have been agonising over how to restore the them since. I have managed to save most of the vinyl blowing up a $2k ultrasonic in the process. Its the sleeves though!. There are only about 250 total however they were nearly all 1st pressings from the artists country of origin so Black Sabbath Zeppelin Beatles UK 1st etc. Irreplaceable for me so I need to save them. I have had the sleeves out in air and sun for months yet mould is still evident. Im thinking about submerging them in vinegar? BY THE WAY one of the worst effected in my situ was the labels. Many just peeled and some still stink. The biggest culprit was the inner and outer sleeves that the labels and covers stuck to. Those outer sleeves caused more damage than any other thing. I’d take minor shelf wear over this any day!

Using science? Unless you can control the pressure applied, as in equal pressure for all brushes, is it really science? But a cool video. I have tried the baby hair brush on bad records and it has made the record sound better. However, maybe any type of deep clean scrub would have made them sound better. I also have played a new album straight out of jacket and it sounded great put through a spin clean and it sounded worse. I like your video. At least you are trying to show the difference so we can maybe make a better choice. Subscribed! Thank you!

I wish you'd of shown the Numbered Test Item while you talked about the outcome. - m.

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