Warning, this can damage labels, ruin laquer discs and otherwise sterilize you. For vinyl only, and use a less sloppy method for rare discs.
Picked up a second copy of one of the best soundtracks of all time a few days ago at a rummage shop. Way way lucky find, as the "A Man and a Woman" (http://www.amazon.com/Homme-Une-Femme-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B00000INO7/sr=8-4/qid=1161192064/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4/104-3564897-3622344?ie=UTF8) soundtrack is a cult classic, with CDs from Japan costing $100. :shock: Anyway, the condition was perfect but had a TON of surface noise and crackly sybilants. Dirt! Often mold residue or nicotine on these 40 y/o discs. So I did Maxs standard thrift shop LP clean:
Fold a bath towel to be used as working surface. Place record on surface, drizzle with 40% isopropyl alcohol and a few drops of a wetting agent like dish soap. Clean with a soft 2" paintbrush, going with the grooves. Take your time. Rinse with water, avoiding the label, and dry with another towel or washcloth with the grooves.
:ptu: 90% reduction in surface noise!
A lot of the retail cleaning solutions on sale actually harm the vinyls, a bit of DIY is not such a bad suggestion provided you are careful and use the right solution for the job.
That and take good care of your babies in the first place :)
/me hugs his metal vinyl box and silica gel.
Basic soap and wetting agent is pretty benign stuff. Its pretty much what most pro DJs Ive known have used a variant of, but usually with a record vacuuming machine. Id rather use it than some mystery stoff in a bottle. :lol: