Re: [ARSCLIST] 78 RECORDS MILDEW AND MOLD

[Eric Jacobs <ericj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't recall the specific posting about formulations, but I have had
excellent results with following two cleaning formulations:

1.  My primary cleaning formulation for phonograph records (per the
    Canadian Conservation Institute):

    0.25 parts Tergitol 15-S-3 (oil soluble surfactant)
    0.25 parts Tergitol 15-S-9 (water soluble surfactant)
    100 parts distilled and/or deionized water

    Tergitol is available from TALAS.  It does not contain any alcohol,
    so is safe with all record materials except those damaged by
    water (for example, acetate discs with a cardboard base or shellac).
    If you must clean shellacs, work as quickly as possible and minimize
    the time the material is wet.  This is where a Keith Monks or other
    professional record cleaner can make a big difference, since you can
    both apply and remove the fluids quickly.

2.  For wax cylinders (per the Library of Congress), but also works
    well with phonograph records:

    1 part "Labtone" (from VWR Scientific)
    100 parts warm deionized and/or deionized water


I prefer NOT to use Photo-flo in the final rinse, as it does leave a
minor residue.

With either of the above formulations, I do a final rinse with
distilled-deionized water.

I use the chemistry in conjunction with a Keith Monks record cleaning
machine.  The vacuum does a good job of pulling up contaminants with
the chemistry.  If there is still some water droplets on the surface
of the record after the final rinse and vacuum, I wipe it up using
"Webril Wipes" from Anchor Paper.  You can also use "Cotton Litho Pads"
from A.B. Dick.  This is much better than using the Photo-flo wetting
agent and air drying.

Regarding water for mixing the chemistry: my prefered water is
distilled AND deionized water.  This can be difficult to find in
small quantities.  An equivalent water is "tissue culture grade"
water, which is one of the purest forms of water available.  The
most convenient source for this is from "Cellgro", which can
provide this very pure water in 500 mL containers (6 containers to
a pack).  The individual containers insure that the water remains
absolutely pure (no organic contamination from the air) until the
container is opened for use.  This prevents large quantities of
unused water sitting in open air, and microscopic organic material
forming and changing the PH of the water over time.  The only
solution superior to pre-bottled water is a very expensive water
filtration and purification system, which can deliver pure water
on demand.

With regards to mildew and mold, both of the above formulations
do an excellent job of removing the mildew/mold without the
incorporation of a fungicide.  Once the records are clean, they
should naturally be stored in appropriate new sleeves and in an
appropriate environment (ie. temp/humidity).  In my experience, I
have not had mildew/mold recur with the above formulations and
process.

Eric Jacobs
The Audio Archive

State-of-the-Art Audio Transfers and Restoration
Precision Audio Tools


-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx]On Behalf Of John Loy
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 7:14 AM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] 78 RECORDS MILDEW AND MOLD


Several Months ago someone posted a formulation of chemicals for
cleaning all kinds discs. Has anyone been able to try this formulation?
I have had some folks look at the formula on paper to tell if the
ingredients are safe and they have said it seems to be, but have yet
been able to get our collection to purchase the chemicals needed. If
anyone has tried it can you please let me know your results.

John A. Loy
UNC-Chapel Hill
Southern Folklife Collection


Quoting "H. Duane Goldman" <thedoctor@xxxxxxxxxxx>:

> Hi Mike,
>
> With all do respect, you give a bit too much credit to the value of a
> few
> drops of Photo Flo in water when manually cleaning, esp. when the
> residues
> are from household cleaning products.  It will help but certainly
> has
> audible limits.
>
> I would not recommend prolonged storage of phonograph records in
> plastic bags.
>
> Regards,
>
> Duane Goldman
>
>
> At 09:41 AM 10/24/2004 -0700, you wrote:
> >At 12:20 PM 10/24/2004 -0400, Steven C. Barr wrote:
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >>From: "Helen Dearing" <HelDear@xxxxxxx>
> >> > One of the members advised me to NOT use dish soap. He told me
> that it
> >>could
> >> > leave a damaging residue, not immediately recognized.  Helen
> >>For institutional archival collections (most of the ARSCLIST
> members are
> >>connected with such) this might, in fact, be true. However, they
> can afford
> >>the expensive professional equipment and solutions needed for
> thorough and
> >>absolutely residue-free cleaning. For the most part, dish soap can
> be used
> >>if the LP's are well rinsed and dried with a soft, lint-free
> cloth.
> >
> >A minor supplement, if I may:
> >
> >The last rinse should be with distilled or at least demineralized
> water,
> >not with tap water. Adding a drop of Kodak Photoflo or a similar
> wetting
> >agent to that rinse is also recommended. In combination, they permit
> air
> >drying and in any event virtually eliminate the chance of residue in
> the
> >grooves from the cleaning process.
> >
> >
> >Mike
> >--
> >mrichter@xxxxxxx
> >http://www.mrichter.com/
>
>       ------
> h. duane goldman, ph.d.   |   P.O. Box 37066   St. Louis, MO  63141
> lagniappe chem. ltd.            |   (314) 205 1388 voice/fax
> "for the sound you thought you bought"       |   http://discdoc.com
>