When assembling the instrument...
Gently grasp the pieces, being careful not to bend the keys under your fingers.
Carefully twist the pieces straight together, being careful not to bend the ends of each piece inward.
Before putting your instrument back in its case after playing, do the following...
Carefully remove the head joint and shake any water out.
Put a clean soft cloth on the end of your cleaning rod and swab out the head joint.
Twist the middle and foot joints apart and draw the cleaning rod through each joint.
Carefully wipe the outside of each section to keep the finish clean.
Fix stuck keys by repositioning springs with needle-nose pliers or tweezers.
Tighten loose screws with an eyeglasses screwdriver.
Address sticky pads with cleaning paper.