Spin-Clean Made My Records Sound WORSE?

Don't make the same mistake I made!

A PSA about an issue you may run into if you don't properly clean your Spin Clean record brushes.

In this video, I give some tips for how Spin-Clean users can get the best sound from their vinyl for years to come!

[Aubreyu]

Title of this video needs revising, as it gives the impression that spin clean should be avoided, and is damaging ....

[etravix]

For folks just viewing this. Everything he stated is now in the user manual.
Rinse brushes after use, wipe album dry, use distill water for best results, don't use soap, use a record cleaning washing solution. Thanks for sharing video.

[dennispena]

Title of this video should be: "Read and understand your Spin-Clean instruction manual before calling the manufacturer"

[gregtraut]

I’ve spoke to Tim and customer care of a couple questions. What a great guide to deal with. Told me to call back whenever something that made me very happy. He wished me a merry Christmas shows. What a great guy he is.

[mongo]

Should be titled: “I did not change my brushes when I should have but when I did, my records were fine”

[ReasonablySane]

Side note: My discwasher uses the same "brush" that was installed on it when I bought it in 1976. Still works great.

FWIW, I just use a flat paint pad to "deep clean" really dirty records. I rinse them at the kitchen sink, lay them on a towel, and squirt some Dawn on the paint pad and scrub 'em down good. The brush "rides" the grooves just like a stylus. I then rinse and air dry. I cannot say enough about the results. I've literally cleaned "mostly unplayed" records that were completely submerged in basement floods DECADES earlier, "glued in bricks" of records and their jackets and they sound brand new. Dead quiet. Seriously. FWIW, a few were so caked that I had to clean them twice. i.e. they still had some "brown coloring" from caked on dirt after the first scrubbing.

[bobe]

Spin Clean themselves said do not air dry the records. You are supposed to wipe them down with a cotton cloth that they provide and make sure there is no water or residue on them that impacts sound quality..

[scottlowell]

I used a spin clean for a couple years. I just used a drop of dish detergent. It floated the gunk out of the grooves really well. A real bargain compared to a nitty gritty LP vac. I did the batch clean thing too.

[cpta]

Thanks for the tip. I just ordered replacement brushes.

[twangersturntable]

Just discovered you thanks to the holy algorithms. Subbed and like! 👍✔️
Absolutely love my SpinClean ss well. I made a tongue in check about transforming mine into a ultrasonic some time ago and it became my most viewed vid...by a mile! Lol! You make a great point about the brushes. They are the primary component and contact for the cleaning. Good stuff. Cheers! 🤘🎶🤘

[TheVinylLoungeMtl]

See, I needed you to remind me to get my Spin Clean “Clean”, thanks for the video man ✌🏼🎶

[JWD]

I have been using the Spin Clean for over 10 years with fantastic results. I usually pre-treat and go five turns in each direction, and then clean in smaller batches (since one "capful" of their fluid is good for 50 records at three spins each way, not five). However, I recently had an issue after buying new brushes. After cleaning records with my new brushes, I found my stylus kept getting all clogged up like mid-side during playback! Granted, I use a MicroLine so it digs up everything at the bottom, but this was never an issue before. At first I was worried the stylus was carving the records, but after playing a (cheap but) reasonably clean record I had definitely not cleaned with the new brushes, there was nothing on the stylus. It was only the records I had just cleaned with the new brushes doing this. (And no, I never play styrene records with my MicroLine.) I had to end up putting the old brushes (which I kept) back in and giving each record 10 turns in each direction, and this seemed to clear them up. It definitely appears that the new brushes had some factory grime on them. I will clean the new ones and see if they can be usable. Unfortunately I waited too long after receiving them to actually use them, so I can't try to return them. The moral of the story, make sure your new Spin Clean brushes are not worse than your old ones!

[judeobsc]

From my experience as a satisfied Spin Clean user....don't do big batches. I limit it to 2 dozen at a time. The water just gets too dirty. And if you want to see how dirty shine a flashlight at an angle through the water.
If I am cleaning new records I just use the spin clean solution. However, If I am cleaning used records, I use Dawn platinum dishwashing cleaner first (about two small drops), spin clean, set up for drip dry, and then set up the basin for a spin clean solution cleaning and pass them through that.
As for the brushes YES it is important to keep these clean. I believe all that micro dust gets embedded in the surface area of the pads. I used a big old lint brush (velcro style) that we had lying around. Behold it gripped the pads like rubber meeting the road. After that they cleaned GREAT!

[fortherecord]

The Spin Clean is my “go to” way to clean my records. I pre wash first then I put them through the Spin Clean . Depending on how dirty your records are it is recommended to use new water after 20-50 records

[bobadkins]

I’ve used one of these for several years. I clean and rinse the brushes fairly often. The solution that is used with the spin clean is basically a flocculant that makes any dirt or dust settle to the bottom.

[TomsHitParade]

I've owned a SpinClean for several years now, and fortunately I haven't had that problem pop up. When I'm done cleaning records (I let them pile up like you do until I have enough for a "cleaning session"), I run the brushes under the tap and squeeze the water out of them, each one two or three times to really flush out any residue, then I leave them sitting out to air-dry for a day or two. I'm on the second pair of brushes (bought the "deluxe" kit) and will probably need to get new brushes soon, but I've definitely gotten my mileage out of them. Great video - you've earned a subscribe from me! :)

[Handi]

I’ve used my Spin Clean for the first time recently and I was pleased with the results, the appearance of my records. But looking at the solution in the tank it appeared dirty so it must be working.

I’m going to have to reread the manual. I haven’t been cleaning the brushes between cleanings.

[mikewest]

I haven’t used Spin Clean but I have found that the Nosti anti stat works for me every time !

[tylerd]

After dry the disc, you need to pass it for the needle once (so needle get the dust). After thah, you clean the needle, and just then the cleaning is complete....

[kodithebear]

The noise you hear is static. I use two. Wet the record with 3 spins one way then the other. Place record on a towel and with a home made solution of 9/1 iso and distilled water with a drop of wshin liquid I cleanse it vigorously with a velvet brush. I then place in to the second spin clean and 5 slow rotations both way. Dry and spin. I've found at least 4 plays per side and some anti stat gunning really helps post clean.