"How do you get the paper towel into the grooves"
I don't. I lay the paper against the record.
I allow the left-over fluid wick (absorb by capillary action) into the paper. The towel only touches the flat of the record, and that very gently. It's not a vacuum machine, but very very close!
Any left-over liquid evaporates in seconds. I detect no residues - not at 430x under the Zeiss, and not at unity gain on the "insider".
I apply Liquid Neutrons with a paint brush (nylon, NOT bristle). That gives the grooves a very gentle mechanical cleaning. Neutrons do the rest.
Once a record has been radiologically cleaned, I use a carbon record brush before playings to pick up the gross (visible) lint. After a few playings, microdust (our area has much windborne clay - MURDER on grooves and styli) becomes a factor. Then I use diloot Dawn in water, with a gentle water jet to do the mechanical cleaning. Then bring forth the paper towels! Yeehaw!
I have nothing in principle against vacuum machines. I would like to get one though that has an inherent zero-vinyl-contact design. Equally important: the vacuum feature should slurp solvent, NOT blow-dry it. Which machines qualify? (Opinions please?)
I'd be a bit insecure about transferring abrasives from record to machine to record.
And ease up on bigshot, ladies! Imo he's being straight with us, and he does seem to get positive results. He shouldn't be pilloried for advancing empirical evidence that contravenes dogma.
Dogma. Pfeh. HeadFi has a leash law, I imagine. Keep that dogma on a short one, ok? Ceterum censeo: I would like to repeat- There is more than one right way to do this "cleaning records" thing. Let's not harsh the group groove.
cheers weezergeezer