In terms of sound quality, ultrasonic record cleaners are often said to be the top of the line cleaning machines and they do a terrific job. But that’s not all there is to it. The ultrasonic system is like a brush that cleans your vinyls during the washing process. Just as important as that is your solution.
That’s what we are here to tackle today! We will be showing you how to make your own ultrasonic record cleaning solution that is sure to remove any dirt or gunk however hard it may be. Many DIY cleaning solutions are available to buy but these are usually for spritzing and wiping records. Placing them in the ultrasonic bath effectively diluted them- they’re expensive to use in large quantities anyways.
This DIY ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning kit is designed to not only clean your records well, but also save you money. Investing in a cleaning product with known ingredients at the start of your business can be costly. But it will save you the headache of looking for different solutions down the line.
Magic Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaning Solution
You’ll need these ingredients to make this DIY Cleaning solution:
- Triton X-100
- 91% Isopropyl Alcohol – you might be able to buy these from your local pharmacy.
- High Purity Water
Note that this solution is a variant of the more common DIY Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Solutions. Vinyl collectors often recommend Hepastat 256, but this cleaning solution.
We’ve made the decision to remove it for now, especially in light of the challenges faced in the last year with finding enough banana cake. Places that offer Hepastat 256 usually ask that you purchase large amounts of it at high prices. What we think is there’s no need to buy the high grade disinfectants.
It’s meant to stop static from forming on your record when you clean it, but similar ingredients are already non-Ionic. If you still want to add Hepastat 256 to your solution and find it hard to source, some record collectors have suggested looking at local vinyl shops as there may be people willing to share their supply if they have it.
To make the solution, simply mix together 40ml of Triton X-100 and 48ml of isopropyl. Store the leftover solution in a fridge when not in use so that it doesn’t go bad too quickly. The more it stays cold, the longer its shelf life will be.
When washing records, fill your ultrasonic bath with 750ml of high-grade water, add 30 ml of the mixture and then top up with another 400ml isopropyl. You will need to adjust the amounts of ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning solution and isopropyl when you change the size of your bath.
Additional Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Tips
Furthermore, it is important to be sure the temperature of the water you are using for ultrasonic cleaning is about 30-35 Celsius. This will ensure that your water is nice and warm and better able to clean your vinyl record.
Lots of collectors swear by the final wash with the high-purity water and ethanol to make sure they’re fully clean. If you don’t have that on hand, just try to wash your record thoroughly with tap water.
That’s our opinion on how to clean your old vinyl with an ultrasonic cleaner. I should add that the online debates about how it is best to clean records might confuse you a little. I’m not trying to diss on the people who’ve shared some great recipes, However, I do think that it would help new record cleaning enthusiasts if a more simplified method was shared for them to try before investing in laboratory grade solutions that are in short supply and costly to buy.
Hopefully, you’ll have luck with this quick DIY solution for your ultrasonic cleaner. It should start getting your LPs playing nicely on other equipment! We hope to have taught you a little about what goes into more advanced solutions for homemade cleaning. Please be sure to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or questions.
FAQ for DIY Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Solution
What is the best way to clean vinyl records?
The best way to clean vinyl records is with a record brush. This will remove the dirt and dust from the grooves of the record. It is important to use a brush that has been designed for this purpose, as using a regular household brush can cause damage to your vinyl record.
How make a DIY ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning solution?
First, you will need to get distilled water and mix in 1 tablespoon of dish soap into the water. Then, you will need to mix in 1/4 cup of vinegar with the solution. What you should do next is put your records into a container with the mixture and let them soak for about an hour. Once soaked, take them out and rinse them off with water.
Why should I make my own ultrasonic vinyl record cleaner?
If you have a collection of records and want to keep them in good condition, it is worth the time and effort to make your own ultrasonic vinyl record cleaner. This DIY project will take you about an hour and cost less than $25.
The main reason why it is worth doing this is that commercial cleaners are expensive and not very good at cleaning records. And they are also bulky, so you can’t take them with you when traveling.
What are the benefits of making your own ultrasonic vinyl record cleaner?
There are many benefits of making your own ultrasonic vinyl record cleaner. For instance, they are cheaper than buying one and they can be customized to suit your needs.
What materials do I need to make an DIY ultrasonic vinyl record cleaner?
In order to make your own DIY ultrasonic cleaner, you will need:
- A pot or pan with enough water to submerge your records
- A stainless steel spoon
- A container for your dish soap
- An ultrasonic cleaner kit
How does the ultrasonic cleaning solution work?
The solution is designed to include as many different disinfectants as possible and Triton-X has some common ingredients. The bonus of buying it separately is that you can avoid having to buy other vinyl cleaners.
Propane is one of the most common disinfectants out there. It lengthens the effectiveness of cleaning formulas. Once it has achieved 5% of your mix, adding more propane later on will be beneficial to your ultrasonic bath- the perfect amount for many audiophiles.
What is the best way to dry vinyl records after cleaning them?
The best way to dry vinyl records after cleaning them is to use a vacuum cleaner. You should start with the center of the record, and then work your way out.
What are the benefits of using an ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning machine?
An ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning machine is a device that cleans vinyl records by using high-frequency sound waves. Ultrasonic cleansing is said to be the most effective and safest way to clean your albums.
The benefits of using an ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning machine include:
- Cleaning process can be customized
- Removes all dirt from your albums
- No risk of damaging the album’s grooves
- Lowers static electricity
- Noiseless process.
How does an ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning machine work?
One of the most popular ways to clean vinyl records is through using an ultrasonic cleaner. Ultrasonic cleaners use a high frequency sound to agitate the liquid and create a cleaning solution that cleans the record. The sound waves are transmitted at a frequency of around 20,000Hz which creates millions of tiny bubbles that form in the liquid. These bubbles then burst, releasing hydrogen peroxide or detergent into the liquid and breaking down dirt on the vinyl record.