removing static from records

DigitalDjigit

Honky Tonk Woman
I know a lot of you are vinyl junkies so maybe you can help me out here. How does one remove static from records? I got this cheap brush thing with a little bottle of purportedly anti-static liquid. It does ok at removing dust although if you don't wait for the liquid to properly seep in, it actually makes it worse. But it doesn't remove static. I did a bit of googling and there's an article that says that a solution of a cationic surfactant in water should remove all static from the vinyl and keep it that way. I searched the web and ebay and I cannot find anything that is a cationic surfactant or a place where I may obtain some.

So what do you recommend? What's worked for you?
 

johneffay

Well-known member
DigitalDjigit said:
I did a bit of googling and there's an article that says that a solution of a cationic surfactant in water should remove all static from the vinyl and keep it that way.

I know one place where you can get cationic surfactants dissolved in water: They're a special form of detergent used in non-alcoholic sterilising handwash in hospitals. I have no idea what they'd do to vinyl though.
 

xero

was minusone
mms said:
lighter fluid is good to clean the muck off records and make em crisp .

even better is a lukewarm soapy shower, combined with johneffay's suggestion it could be the solution (excuse the pun)
 

DigitalDjigit

Honky Tonk Woman
It's not the dirt/muck I am interested in removing, my records are mostly fairly clean. It's the layer of dust particles that annoys me. The records are static-y so they attract dust and it's hard to wipe off. If I could remove the static electricity then the dust would come off the records.

Any idea what that non-alcoholic hand detergent is called (like brandname or something) and if it is available in supermakerts/pharmacies?
 

johneffay

Well-known member
DigitalDjigit said:
Any idea what that non-alcoholic hand detergent is called (like brandname or something) and if it is available in supermakerts/pharmacies?

I bet you can't get it in supermarkets. Anyhow, it's occurred to me that this is what you're really after. I had one years ago and they really do work. Just don't let your mates play with it because it breaks if the trigger is pulled quickly several times.
 

noel emits

a wonderful wooden reason
On a friend's recomendation I've successfully used Ecover's dishwashing liquid to clean stubborn records. Not sure if it's actually any good at reducing static, but it definitely goes easy on the vinyl and is less likely to leave a residue than other leading brands ;) And of course their products are supposed to be less environmentally damaging. Use a small amount of this in warm water and then rinse with distilled water or equivelent.

Looks lke they use cationic surfactants in the fabric conditioner (probly not a good idea), but "anionic and non-ionic tensio-active surfactants" - no idea what that means tho.
 

Jim Daze

Well-known member
When I worked at Music & Video they had a record cleaning machine in the Soul Basement. I think it cost about 800 squid, you place the platter on the machine that spins it slowly through some cleaning pads, like a carwash for records. Failing this you can't beat the old bog roll and lighter fluid combo.
 
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