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STOP DAMAGING YOUR STYLUS! The Safe Way to Clean Your Needle!

The Audiophile Man

115,338 views

Everyone has an opinion, the market is full of “solutions,” and misinformation spreads faster than dust in a vinyl groove. In this in-depth guide, I cut through the fluff, the fibres and the occasional panic to reveal what actually works when cleaning your stylus — and why it matters more than you think.

In this video, you’ll learn:
• Why stylus cleaning is essential
• The real dangers posed by dust, grit and bonded debris
• The truth about alcohol, solvents & stylus adhesives
• What Ortofon, Soundsmith and Goldring really say about cleaning
• Why brushes (wet or dry) can be risky
• Why gel cleaners are safer, faster and often more effective
• Which gel cleaners I recommend — and which to avoid

This guide includes real-world testing, manufacturer interviews, and long-term use cases. If you want to skip straight to the recommended products, use the timestamps below.
So grab a drink, take the weight off, and let’s get that stylus properly clean.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Introduction
00:32 – Why you must clean your stylus
02:00 – Adhesives & alcohol: the risky truth
08:30 - It Depends on You
10:19 - Brush? No. Gel? Yes.
12:02 – Branded vs unbranded gel pads
13:35 - Brush Problems
14:54 - My Top 3 Stylus Cleaners
18:25 – Closing thoughts

🧼 RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
1. DS Audio ST-50 Stylus Cleaner
Price: £80
My current reference cleaner — the most complete and effective unit I’ve used.
Website review: https://theaudiophileman.com/ds-audio...
Company website: https://ds-audio-w.biz
UK Distributor: https://www.soundfowndations.co.uk/ho...

2. Vinyl Passion Dust Buster
Price: £24.95
Outstanding value, large flat pad, extremely consistent clean.
Website: https://www.missinglinkcables.co.uk/a...

3. Onzow Zerodust
Price: £46.80
A long-time classic and still excellent when bought from a trusted dealer.
Always buy from reputable HiFi retailers or directly from the manufacturer. Avoid unbranded or unknown gels — risks vary wildly.
Website: https://onzow-e.japan-onlinestores.co...
Controversy: Onzow's side of the story: https://onzow-zerodust-stylus-tip-cle...

📸 IMAGE CREDITS
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio – Pexels
Photo by Craig Adderley – Pexels
Photo by Sora Shimazaki – Pexels

📬 CONTACT
Paul Rigby – The Audiophile Man
Website: theaudiophileman.com
Email: editor@theaudiophileman.com
Twitter/X: @TheAudiophileMan
Facebook: facebook.com/TheAudiophileMan
Instagram: @theaudiophileman

OTHER CREDITS
Old Bossa by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

20 Comments

@stepheng8779 9 months ago

50 + years & been using a simple, standard, cheap little stylus brush. Never had a single issue.

@bobbarker1476 1 month ago

When I notice a dust ball forming on the stylus, I blow on it a few times and leave it at that. Audiophilia is nutty.

@tubelab194 7 months ago

I've wet cleaned (with 99% isopropyl alcohol) all of my stylus for years, including Ortofon 2M and Nagaoka carts. And I've never had a diamond detach or shift position. Now I give my stylus a proper cleaning only every couple of months and when cleaning I'm not submerging the stylus, just placing a drop of isopropyl on a wee round stylus brush and gently brushing back to front.

@Harley1Lovegrove 7 months ago

What an excellent video! After over 50 years of playing records, I have learnt something new and very useful today! thank you Paul.

@mortlach186 9 months ago

I use Linn's green (mylar?) sandpaper after every LP, and it works marvelously. Its abrasive action removes stuck-on, burnt-looking deposits that nothing else I tried removes, plus I have cleaned older used cartridges with it and cleaned them up nicely; it just takes longer. In fifty years of use, never have I damaged a cartridge with this method. Linn recommends it on an eight-thousand-plus dollar cartridge. I don't see how any gel would remove that junk stuck to the tip. Also, a dip or two into a piece of Magic Eraser gets the fluffy stuff off.

@natdenchfield8061 9 months ago

Something that used to grate with me were the hifi dealers selling a stylus cleaning putty on a stick. £10 or so each.. but, if you just looked around, you quickly discovered it was a brand of watch maker'a cleaning putty that would set you back £6 for 5 times as much !

@jemsmay2167 8 months ago

After nearly 50 years of spinning vinyl on good to very good turntables (Denon, Technics, Fluance) with good to very good cartridges my stylus cleaning routine has evolved. I use a very soft, very small long bristled (1.5 inch) brush (quite unlike those sold by Ortofon etc, more like a fine nail polish brush maybe) regularly to gently clean the stylus sweeping from back to front and then inspecting with a magnifying loop. I very occasionally use a stylus dipping gel (I use Big Fudge brand, seems to work and leaves a clean needle) by placing the gel on the platter and then gently lowering the stylus into the gel 2-3 times always using the cueing lever. This seems to work well as I have no problems with static or popping etc.with my current cartridge rotation (Orto 3M blue, Denon 103 and Grado Timbre Opus 3). I get good long life from my styli (?) but your mileage may vary. FWIW

@JulesLeVeronMusic 7 days ago

I use same method as you prefer but made here in the UK by Audio Zomba branded Dust Magnet polymer based stylus cleaner . Great video 💪

@symonbuck3911 6 months ago

I have been using Blu-Tack - successfully for a few years now - as recommended by people such as Peter Ledermann of Soundsmith Cartridges. Knead a pea shaped size to warm and soften it then drop the stylus gently onto it a few times. Works very well and cost a few pence per operation!

@timmytimmy9099 2 weeks ago (edited)

I bought the DS Audio stylus cleaner as a result of watching this video. I have been playing vinyl for over 50 years, and the DS50 cleaner is THE BEST DAMN PRODUCT I HAVE EVER BOUGHT! It is bloody pricey, but it is THAT good. Thank you for making the video so well.

@oddeohdood 6 months ago

I know of one audiophile personally and have read of a reviewer that used one of those 'sticky' gel devices and both lost their styli...they just popped off after awhile. These are the types of audiophiles that wouldn't buy second grade accessories. I'm weary of the gels now, even though I was using one myself. Your argument that the rear of the stylus gets more attention than the front when brushing is probably exactly how it should be since the buildup of gunk will be mainly on the rear, because that is what is dragging through the grooves, and where most of the pressure would be acting. The front has no forces acting on it, so gunk won't 'stick' as much, and if it did, would most likely be residual, and easily removed.

@michaelb9664 9 months ago

I’ve been using the VP Dust Buster for over 10 years. It’s simple, safe and has no drawbacks at all.

@playbackamusicloversjourne8620 3 months ago

I've been using the Lyra SPT stylus fluid for years.

@kevinatkab5219 9 months ago

i would say that no stylus suspension system is designed to be pulled downward. I have read where people snapped cantilevers off using these jars of goop. The only direction a stylus should be drawn is in the direction of the record rotation. Discwasher made a brush designed for this purpose , the SC-2, and it does a wonderful job with a drop of record cleaning fluid. Made of a unique circular, tight bristle design. Only available used on eBay or such places these days. Back in the 80's Ortofon made an ultrasonic pad cleaner that used a fluid as well. I still have it.

@wollem6108 9 months ago

Thank you for your very comprehensive examination of stylus cleaning methods. I especially liked that you asked some of the stylus producers for their opinion! As many of the other commenters I would recommend using a record cleaning machine.That will give you better sounding records and your stylus less wear. Please keep on going with your interesting work.

@keithjones7810 9 months ago

I have used for years a strip of Mr Clean Magic Eraser. I have checked before and after with a magnifier and it is very effective.

@0Perhaps 9 months ago

I have never used a gel stylus cleaner, for two reasons:

1) I was never sure if the gel, itself, would stick to the stylus (leave a residue on the stylus, akin to your fingers leaving oil on the record.
2) Heaven forbid the platter moves, even 1/100th of an inch, in the wrong direction, and you can damage your stylus. I worked a lifetime to save for my dream cartridge, and would have my blood pressure go up every time I used a gel based remedy (in fear of the platter being nudged in the wrong direction).

I have been using MoFi LP Cleaner #9, for approximately 15 years, on a single cartridge, and never had a problem. I do not like MoFi pressings. But their #9 stylus cleaner works just fine.

Thanks for posting this video. It reminds me to check with the manufacturer of my new cartridge, to get their recommendation for cleaning the stylus.

@rickmilam413 8 months ago

I decided to close my mouth and open my mind for a change. On very rare occasions I use an "ultrasonic" stylus cleaner, the HiFi Flux. Quotation marks are because it is not ultrasonic at all, vibrating at a couple of hundred Hz with minimal. excursion. It is highly recommended by the North American distributor for Dynavector. However aft watching you vidio again I decided to try the DS Audio. So far I'm very impressed. Thanks for an excellent presentation of pros and cons for all the methods covered. Cheers.