Stylus cleanliness

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   A controversial topic to be sure. 

For years I used stylus brushes, gel cleaners, and the occasional fluid cleaner. 

A couple of years ago, a person I know that works on cartridges started to spot problems with styli that had been cleaned using gel cleaners, and so I stopped using mine. It was no big deal because my gel cleaners were old and getting visibly dirty, though the makers claim you can "wash" them. 

At this point I mainly just use a dry brush, with very very spare use of liquid stylus cleaner. 

Note that not all cartridge companies advise the use of liquid stylus cleaner. I mainly use an AT as a daily driver and that company has their own liquid. It's not something you really want to use more than once a month or so and it needs to be used very carefully. 

The same person that works on carts has seen many examples where the owner went overboard with liquid cleaners and they can inadvertently get sucked up into the cartridge body and damage the internals of the cartridge. 

Bottom line is that if you keep your records clean and don't put filthy used vinyl on the turntable your stylus should be okay with a dry brush the majority of the time. I never play any used record without running it through my ultrasonic cleaner no matter how clean it seems to look. 

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patientot Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2018 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1778	Post Options Post Reply Quote patientot Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Feb 2025 at 9:13pm
	A controversial topic to be sure. For years I used stylus brushes, gel cleaners, and the occasional fluid cleaner. A couple of years ago, a person I know that works on cartridges started to spot problems with styli that had been cleaned using gel cleaners, and so I stopped using mine. It was no big deal because my gel cleaners were old and getting visibly dirty, though the makers claim you can "wash" them. At this point I mainly just use a dry brush, with very very spare use of liquid stylus cleaner. Note that not all cartridge companies advise the use of liquid stylus cleaner. I mainly use an AT as a daily driver and that company has their own liquid. It's not something you really want to use more than once a month or so and it needs to be used very carefully. The same person that works on carts has seen many examples where the owner went overboard with liquid cleaners and they can inadvertently get sucked up into the cartridge body and damage the internals of the cartridge. Bottom line is that if you keep your records clean and don't put filthy used vinyl on the turntable your stylus should be okay with a dry brush the majority of the time. I never play any used record without running it through my ultrasonic cleaner no matter how clean it seems to look.
	SL-1200 MK7 (modified) + Reflex M + PSU-1 used with AT150-40ML, AT VM610 MONO, AT VM95ML, Stanton 680mkII + Ogura, and Shure M35X cartridges.

Fatmangolf Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 9695	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fatmangolf Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Feb 2025 at 7:46am
	May I amplify David's important point about cleaning records before they are played. However you clean the records it keeps dirt of the stylus.
	Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.

Mikeh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Dec 2018 Location: Yorkshire Status: Offline Points: 617	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mikeh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Feb 2025 at 4:58pm
	To emphasise Jon's point, take a look at the picture I posted in the Vinyl Cleaning thread of the crud removed from my ultrasonic cleaner from albums that had been previously cleaned by rcm. All that crud would be ready for collection on a stylus.
	Mike Technics sl1210g with Victor U-2 or Technics EPC-205C mk4 Accession MM, Majestic + Proprius, Solo ULDE Innuos Zen mini mk3 streamer Harbeth P3ESR XD paired with 2x REL t5x

Fatmangolf Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 9695	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fatmangolf Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Feb 2025 at 6:57pm
	Ugh!
	Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.

Fatmangolf Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 9695	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fatmangolf Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Feb 2025 at 6:58pm
	To be fair David made the point and I just amplified it
	Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.

Stylus cleanliness

Cadman Enterprises Limited
7 Kirkstall Close
South Anston
Sheffield S25 5BA
England

+44 (0) 1909 568739
+44 (0) 7947 107188

john at gspaudio.co.uk

Stylus cleanliness

Cadman Enterprises Limited7 Kirkstall CloseSouth AnstonSheffield S25 5BAEngland

+44 (0) 1909 568739+44 (0) 7947 107188

john at gspaudio.co.uk

Cadman Enterprises Limited
7 Kirkstall Close
South Anston
Sheffield S25 5BA
England

+44 (0) 1909 568739
+44 (0) 7947 107188