For Students

Basic Supplies:

Soft Cloth/Bandana & Cleaning Rod

Q-tips and/or Small, Soft Brush (like a child’s toothbrush)

Paper Money/Tissue Paper/Other Thin Papers

Polishing Cloth

1. Dry and clean inside of the body and foot of the flute using a soft cloth or bandana over the cleaning rod.
2. Shake any water or condensation out of the head joint and dry gently with the soft cloth/bandana.
3. Wipe both joints (where the headjoint, body, and foot connect) clean with a soft cloth. Use a q-tip to get any stubborn dust or grime from joints.
4. Use q-tip and/or a small, soft brush to wipe around posts, keys, and springs to remove dust and dirt.
5. Use a dollar bill or tissue paper to tap the pads under each key and remove any gunk.
6. To sanitize the lip plate, you can use q-tips dipped in a solution of water + vinegar OR rubbing alcohol to wipe down the lip plate and tone hole.

Be very, very careful not to allow any moisture to come in contact with the cork inside the headjoint!!

7. Use a polishing cloth - an old soft cotton t-shirt works well, too - to shine the outside surface of the flute.

Basic Supplies:

Cork Grease

Instrument Swab or Cleaning Cloth/Bandana

Q-tips and/or Small, Soft Brush (like a child’s toothbrush)

Paper Money/Tissue Paper/Other Thin Papers

Polishing Cloth

1. Throw out any old, broken, or unusable reeds.
2. Dry and clean the inside of your instrument by running a cleaning cloth/bandana or instrument swab through the body of the instrument several times.
3. Wipe all joints (where the instrument connects) and corks clean with a soft cloth. Use a q-tip to get any stubborn dust, grease, or grime from joints.
4. Use q-tip and/or a small, soft brush to wipe around posts, keys, and springs to remove dust and dirt.
5. Use a dollar bill or tissue paper to tap the pads under each key and remove any gunk.
6. Use cork grease on any exposed cork.
7. To sanitize your mouthpiece, use warm, soapy water and a small brush (mouthpiece brush or child’s toothbrush) to scrub the mouthpiece ONLY (not ligature). Adding vinegar to your wash or applying vinegar directly with a q-tip will help remove any stubborn build up.

Do NOT submerge clarinet mouthpieces - cork should NEVER go underwater. Be very cautious when cleaning around corks with water!

8. Use a polishing cloth - an old soft cotton t-shirt works well, too - to finish cleaning the outside surface of the instrument.

Basic Supplies:

Mouthpiece Brush

Valve Brush

Cleaning Snake

Valve Oil (trumpet, euphonium, tuba) or Slide Oil (trombone) or Rotor Oil (horn)

Tuning Slide Grease

Polishing Cloth

1. Lay out a towel and fill a bucket [OR you can do this in the bathtub at home] with a small amount of warm water.
2. Add a squirt of dish soap (not too much!) to the water.
3. Trumpet/Euph/Tuba: Remove your valves and set them to the side, keeping them in order on another small towel.
4. Remove tuning slides, being sure to depress the valves to avoid the pressure and “pop” of forcing them out.
5. Trombone: Separate outer and inner slide, being VERY careful to not hit them on anything.
6. Place tuning slides, main slides, and body of the instrument in the water. Stubborn gunk can soak for up to 15 minutes.
7. Wash small sections in the bucket or tub using the snake for tuning slides and main tubing, the cylinder brush for your valve casings, and the cone brush for your mouthpiece.
   • To further sanitize your mouthpiece, you can run it through a dishwasher or place it in a small pot of boiling water for about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn yourself!
8. Rinse each section of your instrument (not valves!) with clean water.
9. Dry your entire instrument with a soft towel or cloth.
10. Apply a THIN layer of slide grease to every tuning slide and reassemble those parts of your instrument.
11. Finish assembling your instrument…

For Valves

• Carefully wipe each valve with a clean, soft cloth.
• Oil each valve before returning it to the instrument.

For Trombone Slides

• Carefully wipe the inner slide with a clean, soft cloth.
• Apply slide grease or slide oil to the bottom stockings of the inner slide.
• Replace outer slide and work oil into the slide.
• Spray with a mist of water to activate slide oil. Work the slide back and forth again.

12. Use a polishing cloth - an old soft cotton t-shirt works well, too - to shine the outside surface of the instrument.

If sticks and practice pads need to be cleaned and disinfected, standard household cleaners (clorox wipes, etc.) should be sufficient. Wipe down all surfaces and allow the cleaning product to dry before use.

Any keyboard instruments should be sanitized with a gentler solution of water and vinegar to avoid damaging the bars of the instrument.