[XYLOPHONE]

Hi,
I have been collecting records for several years now, and another
record collector who sells to me suggested me a few months ago:
HIM - Well, you can also clean them with Fantastik domestic cleaner,
they turn out great, it sometimes eliminates crackling sounds produced
sometimes by cigarette smoke or other dirt accumulated.
ME - Can doing this harm the vinyl in any way?
HIM - No. It doesn't alter vinyl.
ME - Are you absolutely sure?
HIM - Yes.

We're talking here almost exclusively about 45s. I've always used a
mixture of 75% demineralized water and 25% alcohol to clean records
with just dust or very little dirt.

However, since his advice I've started to do the following cleaning
steps for records with more dirt, convinced I'd obtain the best
possible playback results afterwards:

1- I spray some FantastiK on each side, spreading the product on the
whole surface with my finger. Sometimes, depending on the kind of dirt
(I guess), I feel the surface becoming warm

2- I set the record flat for 5 to 10 minutes. not more.

3- I put a bit of alcohol/demineralized water mix on a soft cloth and
wipe the record to remove most of the Fantastik along with dirt. I
watch my cloth to see what I remove. Sometimes it gets brown, or dark
if there was cigarette smoke.

4- I thoroughly rinse the record with tap water until I can feel with
my hands that all the residual product is removed.

5- I remove most of water with a towel.

6- I use a clean cloth, to wipe the record again with the 75%/25%
demineralized water/alcohol, to make sure to remove residues from tap
water.

7- I let the record air dry at least 2 minutes. I make sure it's
totally dry before I play it.

I've been buying records from him, and doing these steps for the vast
majority of the 45s I add to my collection.

Yesterday, I've listened to some clean records, NOT cleaned with
Fantastik, and some that went through my 7 steps above. I noticed in
the latter, although I got rid of most or all crackling, I felt
precision range of sounds not as wide.

Visually, the vinyl cleaned with Fantastik steps tends to be more
shiny, less dark.

I'm in a dilemma, and I'm starting to put the 7 Fantastik steps into
question as if it doesn't remove a bit of quality or "sharpness" from
vinyl along with the dirt, OR if the record was simply worn out that
way under the dirt.

I did many records that 7-step way, so I hope I didn't weaken the
performances.

Please share your comments, or any experiments done with part or all
of my cleaning method.

Thanks.
Luc