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What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 5:36 pm
by Daniel Quinn
I've been reading some good stuff about enzyme record cleaners. So much so, it as piqued my interest.

Trouble is, it's very expensive and shrouded in mystery.

Now enzyme cleaners for organic stains is expensive but 10 times less than record cleaners.

My reading hasn't been able to find any active ingredient differences. It would appear record cleaning liquid fluid is a rip off.

Anybody any thoughts?

Re: What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 6:12 pm
by Fretless
Oh, so 'Enzyme Cleaner' is the new name for Snake Oil then?

Re: What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 6:30 pm
by savvypaul
I've seen a couple of reviews of an enzyme based record cleaning fluid, but they weren't from people whose word I would take at face value.

Re: What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 6:34 pm
by Daniel Quinn
There is more than 1 company who make the stuff. All get good reports.

I just can't find any difference in these and organic stain cleaners, except of course the price.

Re: What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 6:41 pm
by savvypaul
The ones I've seen claim to work out at about £30 to clean 150 records.

There's no technical data with them.

Re: What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 8:21 pm
by Classicrock
Enzyme cleaners are normally not alcohol based and therefore suitable for 78s. The best known is L'art du Son which is the only one I have experience off. Effective in cleaning records and I believe it's supposed to work on molds. However I would recommend a rinse with purified water as it appears to leave a deposit which darkens the sound a bit. Wash and vac it off and it's fine. Frankly I find The Right One cleaner more effective and easier to use for most records. I don't think you are going to find a chemists report on any of these cleaners and best to go on recommendations from reliable sources.

Re: What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:30 pm
by Geoff.R.G
DQ, here is a quote from Wikipedia that might help a bit.\Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts. Catalysts accelerate chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products.

Enzymes are what make Biological washing powder Biological, I avoid them.

Re: What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 12:58 pm
by Daniel Quinn
I know that, that's basic stuff. I'm postulsting that the enzymes in stain remover are exactly the same as those in vinyl cleaners.

Re: What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 3:14 pm
by TheMarlin
Image

Re: What's in an enzyme.

Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 9:52 pm
by Geoff.R.G
Daniel Quinn wrote: Thu Oct 01, 2020 12:58 pm I know that, that's basic stuff. I'm postulating that the enzymes in stain remover are exactly the same as those in vinyl cleaners.
Fair enough. I suspect that what you want to know is what enzyme/s are in the vinyl cleaner, which I can't tell you but I'll bet it is proprietary information and the manufacturers won't tell you.

The other reasonable question might be, "what contaminant am I seeking to remove?" If the answer is grease then it is possible that the enzyme/s in washing powder/liquid will be the same as those in vinyl cleaner as one might reasonably conclude that they are doing the same job.

One way to find out would be to run a test and see if very dilute clothes washing liquid makes any difference to a record, one that you are prepared to sacrifice if it all goes horribly wrong.