The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all,
Some where in my reading I came across a post on Windex as the best agent to clean DD records so I bought a spray dispenser of ammonia free Windex last night. I pose the question to the original person posting which of the to types do you use? Gee, next I may have to reach out to the father in the movie " My Big Fat Greek Wedding" to ask which he preferred.
Please excuse my attempt at humor my wife says I do not have any.
Allen
p.s. I understand those that wounder if the wife will let them put a new lovely purchase in the living room. It does not matter to my wife how well restored the Steinway Duo-Art is or how rare the Edison A-I is when it arrives all must go in the basement!

Allen, I don't know about using Windex, but the discs should never be subjected to water. Especially on the unlaminated sides where the wood core is exposed.

I use rubbing alcohol and cotton balls or a modern record cleaning "brush" to lightly clean them before playing. I've never attempted to clean any really filthy ones though.

Best,
Fran

Hi Allen, I was the collector who made reference to my using Windex to clean my Edison Diamond Discs. And I use the original formula Windex in the familiar blue liquid. As mentioned in the prior message I have tried several other different cleaning liquids including Isopropyl alcohol and everything else left a film on the surface or didn't leave the surface nice and shiny and clean. For what it's worth, I've collected Diamond Discs for nearly 30 years and have thousands of them in the collection. This is what works for me. And my sincere thanks are to Wyatt for it was his original suggestion for me to try the Windex. I've never used anything else since and never will. As with other liquids to clean Edison DD's don't get it on the paper labels!

Doug

FellowCollector wrote:Hi Allen, I was the collector who made reference to my using Windex to clean my Edison Diamond Discs. And I use the original formula Windex in the familiar blue liquid. As mentioned in the prior message I have tried several other different cleaning liquids including Isopropyl alcohol and everything else left a film on the surface or didn't leave the surface nice and shiny and clean. For what it's worth, I've collected Diamond Discs for nearly 30 years and have thousands of them in the collection. This is what works for me. And my sincere thanks are to Wyatt for it was his original suggestion for me to try the Windex. I've never used anything else since and never will. As with other liquids to clean Edison DD's don't get it on the paper labels!

Doug

I don't want to pirate Allen's post, but...I'll have to try this!

What do you use to apply it to the record? A soft cotton cloth, or some sort of record cleaning "brush"? I'm horrified at the prospect of getting too much liquid on the record.

Fran

fran604g wrote:

FellowCollector wrote:Hi Allen, I was the collector who made reference to my using Windex to clean my Edison Diamond Discs. And I use the original formula Windex in the familiar blue liquid. As mentioned in the prior message I have tried several other different cleaning liquids including Isopropyl alcohol and everything else left a film on the surface or didn't leave the surface nice and shiny and clean. For what it's worth, I've collected Diamond Discs for nearly 30 years and have thousands of them in the collection. This is what works for me. And my sincere thanks are to Wyatt for it was his original suggestion for me to try the Windex. I've never used anything else since and never will. As with other liquids to clean Edison DD's don't get it on the paper labels!

Doug

I don't want to pirate Allen's post, but...I'll have to try this!

What do you use to apply it to the record? A soft cotton cloth, or some sort of record cleaning "brush"? I'm horrified at the prospect of getting too much liquid on the record.

Fran

Hi Fran, I have sprayed it on a soft, clean white T-shirt and applied that way and I've also carefully sprayed it on the DD surface so that it did not get on the label and wiped the surface in a circular motion with a soft, clean white T-shirt until a nice clean shine is revealed. That's my method but I'm sure there are others.

Doug

Thank you Doug, sounds good to me! (And you can't go wrong with Wyatt's advice, either)

Fran

I bought cotton balls to use but the T shirt idea sounds great I have a few old ones to use that my wife will not let me put on my back. I was waiting to hear which Windex but I may at least try the ammonia free and see how it performs first.
Thanks to all that gave their take on this topic,
Allen

I have also used Windex for years to clean Diamond Discs and have never had any problems. I spray it on a soft cloth and wipe.
Dave Jolley

Have used both Windex and denatured alcohol, with a slight preference for the latter.

Clay

I have actually never had an issue with a damp cloth, but I don't apply water directly to the record, and I wipe off immediately. It's not the top surface that is water soluable, rather the core can absorb water and swell.