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

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: [email protected]
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/