Instrument Cleaning

The Case

Spray a clean cloth with Windex (or equivalent) and wipe the outside. Remove personal items and vacuum inside.

Woodwinds

When cleaning the instrument, keep in mind that liquid damages woodwind instruments and should never be used around pads, corks, or keys. Use a dry, lint free cloth to gently wipe off grime, fingerprints, etc.

Brass

Brass instruments, except the French Horn, place their disassembled instruments in a sink/tub/bucket with a solution of luke-warm water mixed with a VERY SMALL amount of liquid dish soap (not dishwasher detergent). Use a cloth to clean the outside and your instrument cleaning snake to scrub the insides of all tubing. Rinsed thoroughly with clean water, reassemble, and lubricate. Use valve oil on the valves, not grease. Trombones use Trombotine Cream and a few drops of water on their main slide. Use a small amount of slide grease on each tuning slide.

French Horn players remove only the slides. Do not remove the valves. Clean the slides in the same way as other brass instruments. The body can be flushed with luke-warm water (NO SOAP!), but not submerged.

Cleaning the Flute Headjoint

1. Use a cotton swab saturated with denatured, isopropyl alcohol to clean around the embouchure hole.

2. Use alcohol wipes on the lip plate.

3. Insert a lint-free, silk cloth into the cleaning rod and clean the inside of the headjoint. Do not run it under water.

Cleaning Hard Rubber and Ebony Mouthpieces

1. Place the mouthpiece vertically into a small container (tip down).

2. Partially fill with very warm water and a TINY bit of mild dish soap (not dishwasher detergent). KEEP ALL CORK DRY.

3. Use a mouthpiece brush to remove residue from inside & outside. Repeat if the mouthpiece is excessively dirty.

4. Rinse thoroughly. Place on paper towel to dry. Wait one minute, then dry.

Cleaning Saxophone Necks

1. Use a lint-free cloth soaked in water and a TINY bit of mild dish soap (not dishwasher detergent) to clean the outside. KEEP ALL CORK DRY

2. Use a neck swab or appropriately sized bottlebrush to clean the inside with the soapy water.

3. Rinse thoroughly. Place on paper towel to dry. Wait one minute, then dry.

Cleaning Brass Instrument Mouthpieces

1. Use a lint-free cloth soaked in water and a TINY bit of mild dish soap (not dishwasher detergent) to clean the outside.

2. Use a mouthpiece brush with the warm soapy water to scrub the inside.

3. Rinse thoroughly. Place on paper towel to dry. Wait one minute, then dry.