04/01/2020 06:35 PM
With studies showing that some viruses may be able to survive on certain surfaces for as long as 9 days, this is an important time to keep every item in your home extra clean. There are specific cleaners for almost every item in your house.
But, what about musical instruments? Use these quick tips to learn how to clean and sanitize your instrument without damaging it.
#1. Wash your hands!
The best way to keep your instrument clean is to be clean, yourself. Touching your instrument with dirty hands can transfer dirt, bacteria, and even viruses to your instrument. It's never a bad idea to wash your hands before you practice.
#2 Know what to clean
The parts of the instrument that are touched most frequently are the parts that are most likely to pass on germs. Don't worry too much about trying to sanitize the inside of a guitar, or the underside of the piano. Where the hands go, so go the germs.
#3. Be Gentle
Instruments are delicate. Most are made of wood or soft metal, and almost all have pieces that can be damaged by rough handling or caustic cleaning products. A good rule of thumb is ‘Don't use anything you wouldn't use on your face.’ This includes hash chemicals, scouring pads, or anything abrasive. Your instrument doesn't need exfoliating.
Now let's get instrument-specific:
The first thing you need to know is what material your keys are made of. Unless you have an antique piano, your piano/keyboard's keys are most likely made from plastic. Piano keys were historically made from ivory from elephant tusks and ebony wood. But, this practice began to fade out in the 50’s and production of ivory piano keys in the US ended in 1970.
To clean the keys of a modern piano or keyboard, you will need a disinfecting wipe, a damp cloth, and a dry cloth. Avoid paper towels which may create lint residue which can fall between the keys. Wet a cloth with water, making sure it is moist but not too wet.
Wipe the keys from back to front a few at a time to clear any dirt or grime off the keys. Make sure no water gets into the keyboard by using a dry cloth immediately after. Avoid wiping from side to side, as it may push dirt or moisture into the piano mechanism, or the electronics of a keyboard. After keys are fully dry, wipe with disinfecting wipe back to front. Again, avoiding side to side motion and excess moisture. Follow with a dry cloth.
HOW TO CLEAN A GUITAR
Because guitars are almost entirely wooden, it's important to avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning them. It's a good idea to wipe down your guitar with a lint free rag each time you finish practicing.
Other than using a UV lamp to disinfect the instrument, the only safe treatment is white distilled vinegar. This should be applied sparingly with a cloth, rather than a paper towel which will leave paper residue. Moisten cloth with the vinegar, then wipe down the body, head stock, tuners, and fret board, being sure to use a dry cloth immediately after.
Remember that excess moisture damages wooden instruments. Wait 30 minutes before putting it away to keep your case odor free.
HOW TO CLEAN A VIOLIN
Violins require their own special cleaning techniques. For this one, we asked for advice from our friends at Keller Strings. John recommended using a UV lamp for 20 minutes.
If you don’t have a UV lamp at home, you can use an alcohol-free disinfecting wipe. An alcohol-free wipe will most likely not hurt the instrument. But just in case, test it out on a less visible part of the violin first (maybe on the back of the instrument by base of the neck).
If you see any of the finish coming off, stop immediately. If after two minutes, you haven't noticed any change, continue cleaning the entire violin piece by piece, avoiding the bridge & bow strings, and following immediately with a dry cloth to clear any excess moisture.
Alternatively, you can polish the violin. The chemicals in violin polish should kill any germs. You should only use polish made specially for violins, because furniture polish may damage both the appearance and sound.
When polishing the violin, apply polish to a rag and then gently rub it onto the instrument. Wipe away any excess polish with a dry rag. Avoid getting polish on the bridge, strings, and bowstring, and be careful not to get any on the inside of the violin when polishing near the 'f'-holes. Remember that violin polish will stain fabric and clothes, so don't use your favorite hand towels.
HOW TO CLEAN A SAXOPHONE, CLARINET, OR FLUTE
Woodwind instruments can be tricky to clean. It's a good idea to use a soft rag to wipe down the keys and body of the instrument after every use, and to pull the silk cleaning cloth through the main body of the instrument to clear away moisture from your breath.
The part of a woodwind instrument that collects the most germs is the mouthpiece. Clarinet and sax mouthpieces can be cleaned with soap and water as long as the reed and ligature have been removed. The reed can be sanitized by soaking in hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes. Avoid using cleaning chemicals on a woodwind instrument, and never get it wet! Flute mouthpieces can be cleaned with brass mouthpiece spray, which will keep it sanitary as well as minty fresh.
Brass instruments can be cleaned piece by piece with soap and warm water. Take the instrument apart and set the valve caps and felt pieces aside. Submerge each slide in soapy water and gently run a bottle brush or cleaning snake through each tube. Dry with a soft cloth.
Repeat with each valve, and the body of the instrument. After drying, apply slide grease, making sure that each slide is thoroughly lubricated before putting the horn back together.
After giving your horn a bath, make sure to give it a good polish to keep it nice and shiny. There are a variety of alcohol brass mouthpiece sprays that should keep your mouthpiece sanitary and smelling fresh!
It’s always important to stay clean, both for your own health and safety, and that of your instrument. If you need some extra help keeping your instrument germ-free, sign up for lessons with one of our instructors!