\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. How do you deep clean a plastic clarinet? Next, rinse out the mouthpiece water. If you do, you may have mold starting to grow on your reed and should sanitize it. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". If you play the clarinet with lip balm or lip stick on, you may notice a residue build up on the reed. WebHow do you clean a moldy clarinet? Drop the clarinet swab string through each section and pull it through to remove moisture and keep the bore clean. You will have to apply some pressure and use the cloth to scrub the mold away. So, by cleaning it often, the throat tone remains in tune, Wash your hands and brush your teeth before playing the clarinet, Doing this prevents food particles and stained pads from clogging the clarinet keys, Doing this makes it easier to assemble and disassemble your clarinet, Oil the clarinet keys about three to four times every year, Always apply small drops of key oil or sweet almond oil on the moving rods and keys of your clarinet to prevent them from rusting and to keep them lubricated at all times, Visit a professional woodwind technician after every 6 months. If you see any dust or other matter in your tone holes, you can remove them with your key brush or a cotton swab. In a small bowl, soak any reeds youve been using in a solution of half water and half either hydrogen peroxide or mouthwash. 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. Rinse with cold water. Last Updated: September 23, 2022 The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Use a mouthpiece brush with warm, soapy water to clean the inside. Regular white paper will work for this as well if youre in a pinch. In a small container, big enough for the mouthpiece, put together a solution of half water and half either vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Next, well need to check the pads for leaks. Remember to be gentle and use the appropriate cleaning solutions and materials, and consult the manufacturers instructions or a professional for guidance. How do you sanitize a used clarinet? Remove any garbage, old reeds, phone numbers (nice job, you!) 2. Wash any part of the clarinet, except the mouthpiece, using water. Wash your mouthpiece once a week. To clean the keypads, therefore, place cleaning paper between the tone holes and the keypad then press it multiple times as you consistently move the paper until no marks are left on the paper. How to clean and disinfect your clarinet. If you need a new case, check out our. Starting with the upper joint, hold it up to the light to see if theres any light reflecting, or wetness. ", "I had this 5 paragraph essay to do, and this article helped me a lot.". Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials, as these can damage the clarinets delicate materials. Swab: A swab is one of the most important pieces of equipment youll need to keep your clarinet clean. However, dont use lip balm. Regular polishing, swabbing, dusting, and oiling will make your instrument last longer, but obsessive polishing and dusting will wear down the finish on your keywork. A swab is made of a piece of soft, absorbent fabric, a cord Use cold or lukewarm water with mild laundry soap. The best deal is a clarinet cleaning kit like this for around $16: Or you may need some other clarinet cleaning supplies, link to Clean And Maintain Your Electric Guitar: The Ultimate Guide, link to How To Clean An Acoustic Guitar: The Complete Step-By-Step Guide. Always consult the manufacturers instructions or consult a professional to make sure youre using the right cleaning method for your specific clarinet. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Repeat as many times as needed to eliminate gummy sounds and stickiness. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Also, ensure to hold your clarinet carefully to avoid bending any keys in the process. After the clarinet is cleaned and dried, reassemble it. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. For the upper joint, lower joint, and bell, youll want to inspect each piece and then apply bore oil as needed to give the wood inside the clarinet a protective finish. I now enjoy sharing information with others and providing answers where I can. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). 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. Once it is clean and well lubricated, remove the excess oil and store it in its case. There is little information about clarinets. Be careful not to pull out the paper while youre pressing down on the key since it can damage the pad, or its seal. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Now that youve found the leaky pad, it may be time to service your clarinet with an instrument repair professional. Do this for each piece until you dont see any moisture or spots. Theres other alternatives to cork grease too. By cleaning your instrument, youre removing any buildup and possibly bacteria growth and mold. Once you are done cleaning, take the upper joint, barrel, lower, joint, and bell apart and place them on a flat surface. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If the mold and mildew are in the wood body of the clarinet it will require a complete teardown to rid it of the majority of the offensive substance. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. With this step, youll remove moisture and buildup from your pads and check your seals. This can damage the tone holes! This article has been viewed 291,651 times. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Are there any substitutes for a polishing cloth that I could use? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 291,651 times. Sometimes, when playing the clarinet, the condensation buildup does not leak out. If you want, you can separate the lower joints in order to individually clean those parts of the instrument, but most of the time this isnt necessary. How do you clean a second hand clarinet? Wipe off any excess oil with a paper towel or cleaning cloth. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. With the case open shake it upside down over the garbage or outside to get rid of any free dirt or lint. Instead, it builds up on the pads and ton holes. Over time, your clarinet just needs a little love to stay in top playing condition. Take clarinet apart. Also though, you shouldnt swab the mouthpiece since it has a smaller opening and the cloth can get stuck and possibly cause damage. With a pull-through swab thats dry and clean, apply a few drops of bore oil near the string (this is where having a second swab comes in handy). When it comes to cleaning the mouthpiece, you will need to use a mouthpiece brush or a toothbrush. Next, check each screw and tighten as needed. Your clarinet should be cleaned and cared for regularly to keep it sounding beautiful in the long run. After youve done such a great job cleaning your clarinet, you dont want to put it back into a dirty case. Then using either a mouthpiece brush or a soft-bristle toothbrush, remove all gunk and limescale. This will also protect your keys against corrosion and stop any sounds the hinges may have been making. Gently wipe the cork with a paper towel or cloth. Does putting water in a smoothie count as water intake? Some of this will be spit but most will be condensation from the warm air youve been blowing into the instrument meeting the cooler inner walls. If your clarinet is very dirty, it's probably time to bring it to your local music store repair shop. This article has been viewed 91,494 times. 0:00 Introduction0:30 Swab your clarinet0:58 Remove excess moisture from mouthpiece1:45 Remove excess moisture around pads \u0026 tone holes2:44 Wash your swab(s) often4:33 Sanitize mouthpiece with vinegar and water6:12 Alternative to vinegar: Hydrogen peroxide 3%7:27 Sanitize reeds with hydrogen peroxide8:54 Use a an air circulating reed case10:41 Remove reed from mouthpiece after playing TAKE ONLINE CLARINET LESSONS WITH ME - https://forms.gle/TfJi656RkpDVvWLg8 I LOVE working with students who find me on YouTube! With the mouthpiece, youll want to loosen the ligature screws and then lift the ligature up over the reed. 2. Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. It was a huge help, thank you. When using hydrogen peroxide, ensure to rinse the reed thoroughly to clear its strong odor and taste. WebIdentify the source of water or humidity incursion, fix it first. Starting with the upper joint, hold it up to the light to see if theres any light Let it dry as you have been. Soak the reed in a cup of water before playing. The reed has the most impact on a clarinets tone and is essential to the clarinets sound. Be especially careful when handling the reed because it is very fragile. Soak the reed for two-three minutes before each session. [6] If you need follow-up scrubbing, combine one teaspoon baking soda with two cups of water. The mouthpiece can be easily cleaned by using regular dish detergent, warm water and a small brush (available at the music store) or a very small (babies size) toothbrush. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This will wipe and dry at the same time. ", "I was able to deep-clean my mouthpiece.". Here are the 10 steps to properly clean your clarinet and then well go into each of these in more detail. If you dont Here are the 10 steps to properly clean your clarinet and then well go into each of these in more detail. A bad clarinet smell typically comes from bacteria or mold growing inside the instrument. Remember to be gentle and use the appropriate cleaning solutions and materials, and consult the manufacturers instructions or a professional for, You can learn much more about various topics on. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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