Osage Audio Products, LLC

Directions for Use

For a downloadable version of these directions, please click here.

Carefully remove loose dust and debris with a soft brush or compressed air.
Apply enough Enzymatic Formula to completely cover the surface of the record. This typically requires between 1/16 ounce and 1/10 ounce of fluid.
Using a rounded- or blunt-bristle nylon brush, carbon fiber brush, or micro fiber pad brush, spread the Enzymatic Formula over the entire surface of the record. Add more fluid as necessary to completely cover the surface of the record. If fluid sloshes over the edge of the record you have applied more than is necessary.
Gently apply a very slight pressure with the brush to the surface of the record. DO NOT APPLY HARD PRESSURE AS THIS CAN COMPACT DEBRIS INTO THE RECORD GROOVES, MAKING THE CLEANING PROCESS MORE DIFFICULT AND CAN CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE RECORD! Continue brushing for 1 to 3 minutes, agitating the fluid on the record and allowing the enzymatic content of the formula to loosen and dissolve the contaminants on the record.
Thoroughly vacuum the record.
Repeat this process using either the Super Cleaner Formula or the Premium Archivist Formula as the second cleaning step. Use a separate brush to avoid cross-contamination.
For a final rinse step, use the Ultra-Pure Water product with a separate brush, following the procedure above.

Follow the above cleaning procedure when using the Premium One-Step Formula No. 6. This formula requires no rinsing. Always use a specific brush for this formula that is not used with any other formula, just as with the other Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions formulas.

The record should be placed on a flat surface, preferably with a cork or rubber mat or soft, absorbent cloth beneath it.
Follow the instruction in the machine cleaning section for applying and brushing the fluid onto the record. Using the brush, work around the record following the grooves. This can be done in both directions for added effectiveness.
Repeat for each step when using the Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions 3-step record cleaning process. The Premium One-Step Formula No. 6 requires only one step and does not require rinsing.
When the brushing process is completed, thoroughly dry the record using lint-free toweling, such as that available at photography supply shops, or a soft, absorbent micro fiber cloth. Always work in the direction of the grooves, applying firm but not excessive pressure. Turn the cloth over frequently to avoid introducing the dissolved contaminants to the surface of the record.

Please note: Premium One-Step Formula No. 6 is an effective record cleaning fluid replacement for anyone who has been using a brush or rotating pad hand cleaning system. If you can no longer locate the original replacement fluid for your system, or would like to try something different, please give Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions a try.

New records are some of the most polluted because of the release compounds used in the pressing process. If these records have a paper inner sleeve then the contamination is even more profound. The release compound is sticky and, over time, can start causing damage to the record surface. It will also collect and trap dust and other debris on the surface and in the grooves of the record. This is the primary cause of the ‘pops’ and ‘clicks’ that you hear during playback. We have performed laboratory testing on records that are more than 40 years old that still have traces of release compounds on them.

These release compounds can be difficult to remove without damaging the record or complicating the cleaning process. Some products that are effective at removing the release compounds can deposit other contaminants that are difficult to remove, and some can damage the record.

Used resale records present another set of problems. There can be traces of release compounds still present on the record, and these compounds may have trapped a high quantity of contaminants over time. These contaminants can also become compacted into the grooves by playing the record when dirty. For proper sound reproduction, and to prevent damage to the record or to the stylus, this contamination should be removed.

The directions detailed below will help insure that your records are safely and thoroughly cleaned and will give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

Pre-Soaking

Both the Enzymatic Formula and the Premium One-Step Formula No. 6 are excellent pre-soaking agents. This procedure is recommended for both new records and resale records. To pre-soak, apply sufficient Enzymatic Formula or Premium One-Step Formula No. 6 to completely cover the surface of the record. Gently brush and agitate the fluid for 1 to 3 minutes. Let the record stand with the fluid layer intact for 10 to 20 minutes and then remove by record cleaning machine vacuum or toweling described in the hand cleaning section. Add more fluid and spread it around the record should evaporation begin to occur during the pre-soaking process. DO NOT ALLOW ANY FORMULA TO DRY ON THE RECORD SURFACE. In many cases it is necessary to repeat this process 2 to 4 times to completely clean the record.

Here’s why: Although the fluid quantity is sufficient to cover the surface of the record, the quantity of fluid is small. As contaminants break down, they can populate the fluid to the point of obstructing the effectiveness of the enzymatic content of the Enzymatic or Premium One-Step Formulas. If this happens, the used fluid needs to be removed from the record and new fluid applied.

An analogy to this is washing your muddy hands in a small bowl of water. It will be necessary to repeat the process in order to get your hands clean because the water has become polluted. The theory behind this procedure is no more complicated than that and the pre-soaking procedure is based on extensive laboratory testing of record cleaning techniques and physical examination of the record under magnification.

In all circumstances, enzymatic-based products such as Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions need time to break down and dissolve contaminants in order to be their most effective. They also need a layer of fluid for those dissolved contaminants to migrate into in order to be removed from the record effectively. Using a just a few drops of ANY fluid will do little more than remove the dust from a record. Another analogy that can be drawn is the fact that no one would wash a dirty dish with a few drops of soapy water. The principle is the same for cleaning records.

The good news is that once a record has been thoroughly cleaned it is reasonably easy to maintain in that condition. A thorough cleaning is recommended every 6 months or so; sooner if the record is handled and played frequently. A record that is maintained in clean condition will have very minimal ‘pops’ and ‘clicks’, will be true to the recording, and will continue to provide a lifetime of listening enjoyment when played on a properly adjusted and maintained turntable setup.

Always store your Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions products in their original bottles with the flip spouts closed. The HDPE (high-density polyethylene) bottle are designed preserve the fluids for several years.
Store your Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions products away from heat, cold, and direct sunlight. Keep them away from children.
Never mix any of the formulas together. They are each designed to perform a specific record cleaning task and mixing them will significantly lower their effectiveness.
Always designate and use a separate brush for each formula, including the Ultra-Pure Water products. This prevents transfer of contaminants from one step to the next and prevents mixing of the products.
Rinse your brushes frequently using the Ultra-Pure Water product, reverse osmosis processed water, or distilled water to prevent transferring contaminants from one record to the next. Record cleaning machine pick up tubes should also be rinsed frequently.
Never use the Super Cleaner Formula or the Premium Archivist Formula before the Enzymatic Formula.
When hand cleaning, always use soft, lint-free toweling or micro fiber cloth for drying the record. These products are available in photography supply shops and can be found on the internet and in kitchen stores as well.
NEVER employ hard scrubbing when cleaning any record with any record cleaning product. Doing so can result in a record that is much more difficult to thoroughly clean and can cause permanent damage to the record.
Always check the stylus on your cartridge for a ball or glob of residue after playback of a record. IF YOU FIND ANYTHING OTHER THAN DUST OR LINT, YOUR RECORD IS NOT CLEAN. This is an indication that contaminants are present on your record or that a lubricant is present.

Warnings and Cautions

The Super Cleaner Formula contains a small quantity of laboratory grade Isopropanol. Isopropanol is flammable. However, the Super Cleaner Formula is not flammable and is exempt from D.O.T. 49CFR. To avoid any risk of injury, do not use the Super Cleaner Formula near open flame or fire, and avoid prolonged close exposure to its fumes.

Keep all Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions Formulas out of the reach of children. Please read and follow all warnings and instructions on the individual product labels.

Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions products should not be ingested and prolonged contact with the skin should be avoided.

The Super Cleaner Formula is not recommended for use on non-vinyl records, such as shellac records. For these records, use the Premium Archivist Formula as the second step in the 3-step record cleaning process, or use the Premium One-Step Formula No. 6.