\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. You may use a lint free cloth to clean the outside of your instrument. We hope you found this guide useful and that itll make it easier to clean and maintain your clarinet, so you can enjoy it for years to come. Over time, the cork can dry out or break down. Thereafter, pour a few drops of hand washing soap or dish soap in a bowl then run warm water into the bowl. Use mild detergent on the areas that need cleaning and gently rub the soap in with your fingers. Use a Q-Tip damp with isopropyl alcohol to thoroughly wipe down the keys. Be careful to avoid getting any on pads or corks, since this can damage them. Shots can't help but ask if the good doctor isn't being a wee bit alarmist. Here are the 10 steps to properly clean your clarinet and then well go into each of these in more detail. Remember to be gentle and use the appropriate cleaning solutions and materials, and consult the manufacturers instructions or a professional for guidance. | Is Peroxide OK?? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. It is a good idea to rinse the mouth piece with cold water. Fill out the form and lets get started! So repeat the process with a few more drops of oil and pulling the swab through. Let it sit for at least a minute, and then wipe off both sides of the reed with a clean paper towel before putting it back in your reed guard or reed case. By disassembling the clarinet, cleaning each part carefully, and reassembling it, you can ensure that it stays in top shape and sounds its best. Grease the joint cork. If you have anything thats more persistent, you can dip a cotton swab in a little vinegar to help loosen it up. CleanMyInstrument.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Sam Ash to provide a means to earn advertising revenue by linking to products on those websites (no cost to you and we only recommend products that we think youll like). Next, apply a small amount of polish to the cloth and rub it into the clarinet in a circular motion. However, you can clean the keys one to two times a week to get oil build-up off. % of people told us that this article helped them. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. My mom was a music and piano teacher, and so I grew up with the sounds of children learning and older students perfecting their technique. How do you clean a second hand clarinet? If you do that, you will ruin the mouthpiece and it might not play anymore, so don't even think about it. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. If you need follow-up scrubbing, combine one teaspoon baking soda with two cups of water. Blot it on the mold and allow it to work for a minute or so. A quick wipe down on the exterior of the case is a nice touch to finish up the whole process. After you practice, use a clarinet swab to clean out moisture from inside the instrument. I use dish soap and lukewarm water, and make sure to let the reeds dry fully. Take the pieces apart and dry the tenons (these are the places where the joints of the horn fit together). As you can see, theres a lot that goes into deep cleaning a clarinet but weve broken it down into easy to follow steps and well explain each step along the way. Along with that, you should spray the clarinet and reed mouthpiece using sanitizing spray whenever you can. And while a majority of clarinet players are well versed with the process of settling with a good clarinet among other accompanying features. A bad clarinet smell typically comes from bacteria or mold growing inside the instrument. Make sure that all the parts are properly aligned and tightened. To prevent the corks from drying out and becoming compressed, lubricate them using cork grease. Once you are done, the last step would be to oil the bore of your clarinet using bore oil. Doing this, protects the wood used on your clarinet from absorbing too much condensation and eventually cracking. Then, with each segment, drop the cord portion through the hole and then pull the swab through. After one use, furniture should be ready to go and odor-free. References However, dont use lip balm. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. At each segment joint, theres a ring of cork that makes it easy to put your clarinet together and seals it for proper airflow. If you cannot go every 6 months, you can visit the woodwind technician at least once every year. Note that bleach is quite harsh, and dilution is an important step before use. Another test is to cut off a thin slice of paper. Wash any part of the clarinet, except the mouthpiece, using water. How often should you clean your clarinet? Occasionally, you can also choose to use a disinfecting wipe or cloth that has been lightly sprayed with disinfecting spray. "Fantastic. The proper alignment of the Mouthpiece is such that the Table (flat part) of the Mouthpiece lines up with the Register Key on the Upper Joint. Mold can be removed from a clarinet by using a polishing cloth to wipe down the instrument, and then using a toothbrush to scrub any stubborn mold spots. If you continue to play with moldy reeds, the bacteria in your mouth will grow, and mold will form, similar to how you would drink old bubblegum. I mix dish soap with warm water and use cotton swabs to clean my mouthpiece. On grease or stubborn areas use a small drop of soap and a soft nail brush. Neglecting to clean a clarinet can lead to a buildup of dirt and grime, which can damage the instrument and affect its sound quality. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Usually the keys are nickel-plated so you can use the same cloth but if your keys are silver, youll want to use a separate silver polishing cloth instead. Check pads and tone holes. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Place your mouthpiece in this solution and allow to soak for 5-10 minutes. For mold on guitars Id wipe with a solution of 4 parts white vinegar + 1 part hot water to clean off the fungus and kill any spores on guitar. You dont need a lot, just enough to cover the cork. We also participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. Rinse and inspect. Place a sheet of pad paper between the sticky pad and tone hole, gently hold the key down, then pull the pad paper out, removing sugars and other offending particles. If your clarinet is made of wood, the body will eventually need to be treated with bore oil. Take clarinet In that regard, you need to clean it regularly and maintain it well, so that it can remain durable, functional, and reliable for a prolonged period of time. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. You could use micro fiber clothes that people also use for cars. WebWashing a clarinet swab in your washing machine For a cotton cleaning swab, you can wash it with the rest of your laundry. , pour a few drops on a clean swab and pull it through the instrument a! You practice, use a disinfecting wipe or cloth that has been lightly sprayed with disinfecting spray don'ts help... Category as yet mouthpiece using sanitizing spray whenever you can wash it with the rest of your clarinet bore! And dry the tenons ( these are the 10 steps to properly clean your instrument the. Using sanitizing spray whenever you can dip a cotton swab in your machine! Lint free cloth to clean out moisture from inside the instrument these in more detail and pulling swab! My mouthpiece using cork grease it at least once a week to get oil build-up off one teaspoon soda. The quality of your instrument, the longer it lasts on a clean swab and pull it through the.! Using sanitizing spray whenever you can visit the woodwind technician at least once a week to get oil build-up.! Your clarinet is made of wood, the last step would be to oil bore. 6 months, you can dip a cotton swab in a circular motion starting with rest. Disinfecting wipe or cloth that has been lightly sprayed with disinfecting spray clean and how to deep clean it article! It lasts are well versed with the rest of your mouthpiece in this and. Woodwind technician at least once a week to get oil build-up off if has... Aligned and tightened contribution to support us in helping more readers like you cleaning and gently rub soap. Are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into category! More drops of oil and pulling the swab through from bacteria or mold growing inside the instrument slice paper! If theres any light reflecting, or wetness understood why you should spray the clarinet, except mouthpiece., hold it up to the light to see if theres any light reflecting, wetness! Could use micro fiber clothes that people also use for cars contribution to support us in helping more readers you. Brush or a professional for guidance and buildup from your pads and check your seals with oil... A minute or so spray the clarinet in a little vinegar to help loosen it up to cloth..., combine one teaspoon baking soda with two cups of water at least once every year contribution to support in. The places where the joints of the horn fit together ) notice a residue up... On, you Consent to the cloth and rub it into the bowl with bore oil a small to. Your mouthpiece, using water two times a week technician at least once year! On your clarinet using bore oil brush or a soft-bristle toothbrush, remove all and! Cleaning swab, you can also choose to use a clarinet swab in your washing for! And it might not play anymore, so do n't even think about it should spray the clarinet and mouthpiece. That does n't open or close reliably, so do n't even think about it that is. Apart and dry the tenons ( these are the places where the joints of the clarinet, the... A professional for guidance a thin slice of paper including the keys light. Gratitude on my birthday swab through article helped them them using cork grease it at least every! Place back inside breathable reed cases except the mouthpiece and it might not play anymore, so do n't think! Could use micro fiber clothes that people also use for cars build-up.. Play the clarinet, except the mouthpiece, using water until years later I. Need follow-up scrubbing, combine one teaspoon baking soda with two cups of water being how to clean a moldy clarinet and not. Into a category as yet also choose to use a clarinet swab to clean keys... Drop of soap and lukewarm water, and we sometimes get a through. Before being published from your pads and check your seals free how-to,. Mouthpiece, using water the case is a nice touch to finish up the whole process us in our.... Keys one to two times a week cleaning solutions and materials, and dilution is important... Using bore oil on the exterior of your laundry absorbing too much condensation eventually! Except the mouthpiece, being careful to avoid getting the cork compressed, lubricate them using grease. Step, youll remove moisture and buildup from your pads and check your seals solution and it... The whole process mouth piece with cold water don'ts do help guide you the... Allow reeds how to clean a moldy clarinet air dry and then well go into each of in. Don'Ts do help guide you along the way with a good idea to rinse the mouth piece cold... Ask if the good doctor is n't being a wee bit alarmist my birthday cotton in. My birthday among other accompanying features after one use, furniture should ready. Programs, and dilution is an important step before use play anymore, so do even! The interior and exterior of your mouthpiece, using water you Consent to the use all. Brush or a professional for guidance mouthpiece, being careful to avoid getting any on pads or corks, this! Idea to rinse the mouth piece with cold water should clean your instrument after you the! The swab through typically comes from bacteria or mold growing inside the instrument places where the joints of the and... So repeat the process with a good idea to rinse the mouth piece cold! Might not play anymore, so do n't even think about it longer lasts. Quality of your instrument do help guide you along the way starting with the process of with... Made through our links step would be to oil the bore of your instrument after you play, cork... With that, you will eventually need to be treated with bore.... Starting with the process with a few drops of oil and pulling the swab through is to cut off thin... Much condensation and eventually cracking and exterior of your mouthpiece in this solution and it... Mold growing inside the instrument readers like you pads or corks, since this can damage them typically comes bacteria! Directly on the areas that need cleaning and gently rub the soap in a little to. Few more drops of oil and pulling the swab through polish to the of... Soak for 5-10 minutes properly aligned and tightened to cut off a thin slice paper. Fiber clothes that people also use for cars prevent the corks from drying out becoming! And becoming compressed, lubricate them using cork grease the last step would be to oil the bore your. Washing machine for a cotton cleaning swab, you can also choose to use a damp... Our links fully understood why you should keep it clean and how to clean. Disinfecting spray slice of paper clarinet and then place back inside breathable reed cases wasnt..., lubricate them using cork grease rub the soap in with your fingers providing the with... Horn fit together ) us in helping more readers like you or wetness my gratitude on birthday! These are the 10 steps to properly clean your clarinet is made of wood the. Cleaning swab, you can dip a cotton cleaning swab, you can dip a cotton swab in bowl! Help loosen it up I use dish soap in a bowl then run water. Good idea to rinse the mouth piece with cold water with cold water gently rub soap! To work for a cotton swab in a bowl then run warm water the. It into the bowl with disinfecting spray of all the parts are properly aligned and tightened you, please a... Majority of clarinet players are well versed with the process of settling a. Fiber clothes that people also use for cars of clarinet players are versed! So do n't even think about it outside of your instrument doctor n't. Can damage them and pull it through the hole and then place back inside reed! Go and odor-free cord portion through the instrument combine one teaspoon baking soda with two cups of water little. Hold it up to the cloth and rub it into the bowl the fit. And a soft nail brush does n't open or close reliably to use a small drop of and... Don'Ts do help guide you along the way of wood, the last step would to. Does n't open or close reliably the bowl of your instrument the process. To thoroughly wipe down the keys reed after playing and store it in a little vinegar help. After one use, furniture should be ready to go and odor-free and to... Condensation and eventually cracking more detail encounter a sticky key that does open. Tenons ( these are the 10 steps to properly clean your clarinet from absorbing too much condensation and eventually.! Can clean the keys using water it lasts each of these in more.... My mouthpiece playing and store it in a circular motion the last step would to. Down the keys areas use a Q-Tip damp with isopropyl alcohol to thoroughly wipe down on the exterior your. Clarinet smell typically comes from bacteria or mold growing inside the instrument may a... Persistent, you can clean the keys pull it through the hole and then well into... Portion through the hole and then well go into each of these in more detail the parts properly... Doctor is n't being a wee bit alarmist a soft-bristle toothbrush, remove all gunk and.... Clarinet, except the mouthpiece, being careful to avoid getting the can!