Review on 🔊 Hudson Hi-Fi Vinyl Record Cleaning Solution - Advanced LP Cleaning Fluid for Vinyl Records by Louis Turley

So I have to start by saying I'm not new to vinyl. I got my first record in 1970 when I was 6 (it was "Snoopy vs the Red Baron") and I bought my first LP in 1975 when I was about 11 (it was a used copy of "Sgt Pepper"). Over time I have acquired a very large number of LPs, EPs and 45s and have always been a bit obsessed with servicing them. In the mid 70's my favorite record cleaning system was the D4 disc cleaner and cleaning brush. . While I still have the original brush, for the past 25 years I've made my own solution based on a recipe using almost completely sterilized/distilled water along with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol and a few drops of dish soap as a surfactant. . . This mix has served me very well and not only has it preserved my records, it has extended their life and also helped my styli last a long time. In fact, I have several albums (like Foxtrot or Physical Graffiti) that are almost 50 years old and still sound great - even after hundreds (if not thousands) of listens. Of course, when I was offered this Hi-Fi solution from Hudson, I wasn't impressed. I mean what do I need this for? The short answer - or at least the excuse I gave myself - was that I was tired of mixing batches of homemade grout. So here it is. The biggest difference I can highlight is the composition. My solution is about 80% water, 20% isopropyl, and just a few drops of soap. Hudson lists 95-99% water and about 2% propane-1,2-diol. I believe the lack of alcohol is due to all the paranoia about how it can dry vinyl, although my notes suggest such concerns are overdone, if not wrong. But look at that ratio again: about 98% water. I don't know how much propane-1,2-diol costs now, but it would be better if it was expensive because this solution costs around $12 for a 200ml bottle. Let's round up and say $10 for 200ml of solution. That means it costs $50 a liter, or about $200 a gallon. Made from 98% water. Talk about markups! My solution might cost $5 a gallon. Either way, the proof is in the pudding. Or at least listen. So I went ahead and pulled out my copy of Hot Rats to use as a test. Following Hudson's instructions, I cleaned the album and threw away the needle. Even before the first bar of "Peaches en Regalia" ended, I was in paradise. Not because of the cleaning solution, mind you, but because of the music. However, when I was near Son of Mr. I was in a state of panic. The music turned to an inaudible fuzz, like static discharge being passed through a speaker covered with very fragile tissue paper. I had never heard it before on this album and was convinced it was my record or stylus. I immediately stopped the player and checked the needle - it was covered with dirt. I've cleaned it, tried to reproduce it and it's still hissing. Almost desperately, I cleaned the needle again, this time applying a homemade cleaning solution to an old D4 brush and praying to myself. I put the needle back in the groove and it was clean and clear. The hiss is gone. into the sediment, which then settles (or wipes away) in the grooves. My guess is that the sediment was still soluble when I applied my homemade moonshine and this combined with the tried and true old D4 brush was able to remove the contamination. Whatever the problem, I poured this mixture of water and propane-1,2-diol down the toilet. where much more at home.