I accidentally used rubbing alcohol instead of vinegar. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 1. Once you are done, place the clarinet reed on a flat surface to allow it to dry and prevent warping. How can I show my gratitude on my birthday? I generally wash them in warm soapy water and then follow up with a good wipe down with either peroxide, or clorox (only if the keywork is NOT silver). This can affect the tone of that key and may make more work for you since you have to blow harder. 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. Hot water will set the stain and make it harder to get out. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. After playing, if the clarinet is not swabbed out and the mouthpiece wiped, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria and mold to thrive in. Its small size, tight fit in the case, and small vents (tone holes) trap any moisture left in the instrument when they player is done. We recommend cleaning your clarinet every week for the best results. Your clarinet should be cleaned and cared for regularly to keep it sounding beautiful in the long run. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Once you Let it sit for at least an hour before wiping away mold. Wait another couple of hours and if you see wetness within the bore this time, the wood has saturated as much as it can. Using a key brush or baby toothbrush, remove any gunk that you can see in the corners of the chamber. Rub gently on the area and rinse well with warm water, mopping up the rinse water with a dry towel as you go. Wash any part of the clarinet, except the mouthpiece, using water. Generally, you need to always remove the reed from the mouthpiece before putting them away in their case. A good pad set should last 10 years but can wear out quicker if exposed to too much moisture. Sunshine kills the mold, and charcoal removes the odor. First, remove all the parts of the clarinet and set them aside. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Sanitize your mouthpiece with either mouthwash or Sterisol. Work each key to make sure the hinges are moving smoothly. If you play regularly, your mouthpiece should be cleaned and sanitized weekly but is also an important step of this monthly deep clean. Its also about protecting your instrument. So, how do you clean and maintain your clarinet so that it remains in working condition at all times? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Doing this, protects the wood used on your clarinet from absorbing too much condensation and eventually cracking. ", http://www.mouthpieceexpress.com/catalog/resources/media/caretips_clarinet.pdf, http://www.clarinet-now.com/clarinet-swab.html, https://www.unlv.edu/music/instrument-hygiene, http://www.hcpss.org/f/academics/arts/music/care-clarinet.pdf, http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Testing/Cleaning_mouthpieces.htm, . With the case open shake it upside down over the garbage or outside to get rid of any free dirt or lint. Wash your mouthpiece once a week. Clean And Maintain Your Electric Guitar: The Ultimate Guide. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Once you are done cleaning, take the upper joint, barrel, lower, joint, and bell apart and place them on a flat surface. However, the string may get wrapped around your other clothes, or can get stuck in the agitator. Approved. Use a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water to clean the outside of the mouthpiece. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. To clean a clarinet mouthpiece with vinegar, first remove the mouthpiece from the clarinet. 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. If, after you remove the paper, you see that its an open circle, you may have a leak where that circle is open. Will this permanently affected the cork? If you cannot go every 6 months, you can visit the woodwind technician at least once every year. This will make it easier to clean the various parts and ensure that you dont miss any areas. Check joint corks. Purchase a clarinet stand. Make a cleaning solution with cool water and dish soap. To clean it up, connect the lower joint, barrel, and upper joint then place a small amount of bore oil on a cotton swab and pull it through the instrument. If there's only a small mold stain, you can try using a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution. If your reed is chipped, get a new one. Keep the Q-Tip wet, and do not force it inside a tone hole if it will not go in. Take clarinet apart. Cleaning Your Clarinet Mouthpiece: Full Cleaning In Under 20 Minutes. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make quality videos for you.#clarinetlessons #clarinetcoach #vandorenartist #clarinetbasicsFor more information, visit https://www.callyclarinet.com After a few minutes, the solution can be wiped dry. This should provide a protective finish throughout for the wood. This article has been viewed 291,651 times. 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. Not only is that gross, it can smell disgusting, and can get you sick over time. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. What can I use to clean my clarinet mouthpiece? You can find either of these at your local department store or drug store. Enjoy! This article was shared to me and the other band students by our director. Drying the Clarinet after Use 1. These are simple steps you can and should be doing every time you play the clarinet. Disassemble the clarinet. 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. It may be your reed. You can double or triple this amount for a whole bag. Over time, the moisture from your saliva and breath builds up and provides the perfect environment for bacteria and mold to grow and thrive. If you need follow-up scrubbing, combine one teaspoon baking soda with two cups of water. That is 1 cup of bleach + 4 cups water or 1 quart of bleach + 1 By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. What If You Dont? Mix a solution of 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water, which can be sprayed directly on the mold. Instead, use the swab that comes in your Clarinet Care Kit and pull it through each joint several times to eliminate moisture from the body. To prevent that, wrap up the string and tie it off. Occasionally, you can also choose to use a disinfecting wipe or cloth that has been lightly sprayed with disinfecting spray. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. WebTo start cleaning your clarinet, start by disassembling it into its 5 separate pieces. Charlotte Moore is a devoted mother of two and a professional clarinet player. If it comes out easily, youve found the leaky pad. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. Only add cork grease to dry corks to avoid sealing moisture in and causing rot. If there are any lime deposits, you can gently rub them with a toothbrush and a cup of white vinaigrette. If you have anything thats more persistent, you can dip a cotton swab in a little vinegar to help loosen it up. Doesnt that feel great? 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. It wasnt until years later that I fully understood why you should keep it clean and how to deep clean it. In this case, 83% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Maintenance is not just limited to putting away your clarinet safely in its case, but also ensuring that it is clean, dry, well assembled and performing regular checks on different parts of your clarinet day to day. It is a good idea to rinse the mouth piece with cold water. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. How to clean and disinfect your clarinet. How much does it cost to have a clarinet cleaned? Inspect body and apply bore oil. Do not oil screw sockets. Approved. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. | Is Peroxide OK?? Besides that, lubricating the keys prevents rust and ensures durability. This article has been viewed 91,494 times. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. 5. In this blog post, well go over the steps for cleaning a clarinet to make sure that it stays in top shape and sounds its best. Use a soft-bristled brush and a mild cleaning solution to clean the keys and rods of the clarinet. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. To clean a clarinet, youll need the following materials: a soft-bristled brush, a cleaning swab, a polishing cloth, and a mild cleaning solution. What happens if I dont clean my clarinet? It also told me what I was doing wrong when storing it. You dont want to disturb them. A bad clarinet smell typically comes from bacteria or mold growing inside the instrument. Sometimes, when playing the clarinet, the condensation buildup does not leak out. Use mild detergent on the areas that need cleaning and gently rub the soap in with your fingers. Whatever you do, don't add cork grease. 5 Can I use disinfectant wipes on my clarinet? If the bore or tenon is dry, youll need to apply bore oil. These can all affect how your instrument sounds. Instead, it builds up on the pads and ton holes. After soaking for 10-15 minutes, rinse the reeds off with cool water. Once the clarinet has been cleaned, dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth and then use a polishing cloth to give it a final shine. Find out more about me, and get in contact by clicking the button below. Once you are done, you need to use a microfiber or silk swab to remove any excess moisture from the body of your clarinet before placing it back into it case. Place the mouthpiece into the bowl and let it soak for a few minutes. Repeat as many times as needed to eliminate gummy sounds and stickiness. 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. How do you make a cover page for YouTube? By using our site, you agree to our. These will all add a little wear to your instrument over time. Vegetative mold (the stuff that you see growing) will not grow if the RH is below 50%. Thereafter, pour a few drops of hand washing soap or dish soap in a bowl then run warm water into the bowl. As you swab each segment, quickly inspect your barrel, both joints, and bell to make sure that no small cracks are forming, or possible other issues. Each time the instrument is played, the reed should be removed and the clarinet wiped out (swabbed) If you take your clarinet to an instrument service professional, the average cost to deep clean a clarinet is $49 $65 and the average cost for a minor overhaul is $160 $230. Molds can cause allergic reactions, and skin infections are a risk, too, he says. Place your mouthpiece in this solution and allow to soak for 5-10 minutes. Take care when storing your clarinet and when traveling. If you are missing any of these items, click on the links above or you can pay a visit to our clarinet supplies page where you can find more information, including kits to save money. With the mouthpiece, youll want to loosen the ligature screws and then lift the ligature up over the reed. To learn how to use instrument oil on your clarinet, read on! I use rubbing alcohol pads to clean my mouthpiece all the time, so it shouldn't be a huge issue. In order to get the most out of your clarinet, developing a proper maintenance and cleaning regimen is very important. For a few small stains, use a cup (8 ounces) of water and about an ounce of dishwasher soap. You can also get a funky smell from the reed, case, or keys. Clean mouthpiece. In a small bowl, soak any reeds youve been using in a solution of half water and half either hydrogen peroxide or mouthwash. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Regularly cleaning your clarinet helps you avoid a bacteria and mold build up. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Without regular care, your clarinet and its mouthpiece become dirty and house bacteria and calcium buildup. How often should you clean your clarinet? Use a few drops on a clean swab and pull it through the instrument. Take clarinet However, you can clean the keys one to two times a week to get oil build-up off. References "Good reminder to clean more often. Rinse with cold water. 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. This can damage the pads, causing the instrument not to play at all, and actually accelerate mildew growth. Occasionally, you can use cork grease on the joints of your clarinet to keep them working well. Take a bit of the vinegar and pour it on the rag. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Next, fill a bowl with vinegar and water, and soak the mouthpiece in the If necessary, repeat a number of times. The swab is a cleaning cloth with a cord or string on one end so you can pull it through each clarinet segment, except for the mouthpiece since you already cleaned that. To clean a plastic clarinet, you will need a soft cloth, warm water, and a mild soap. To clean a clarinet mouthpiece with vinegar, first remove the mouthpiece from the clarinet. This step seems obvious but did you know you can damage your clarinet if you dissemble it incorrectly? Clean the mouthpiece at least once a week. First, make sure that the swab is spread out and not bunched up or have any knots in it. Does putting water in a smoothie count as water intake? Cut out a strip thats roughly 1/4 inch wide and 3 inches long. Never leave the reed on the mouthpiece. How do I fix it? Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. In conclusion, cleaning a clarinet is an important part of maintaining the instrument and keeping it in good condition. 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 may use a lint free cloth to clean the outside of your instrument. With your key brush (or cotton swab), clean off any moisture or other residues from each key. Saturate the mouthpiece in mouthwash or Sterisol. For the body of the clarinet, you can wipe each joint with a soft cloth (microfiber or cottoneven an old, clean t-shirt) to remove dirt and other debris. Then, let the swab dry before putting it in the case, otherwise your keys will be discolored. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Next, wet the cloth 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). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. What are some things that may not be so great about being a pediatrician? Without applying any more oil to the swab, pull it through 2 more times, again with the twisting motion. Be sure to clean the reed case as well; dish soap, vinegar, or even something like Lysol will remove germs and mold spores. Wash any part of the clarinet, except the mouthpiece, using water. Along with that, you should spray the clarinet and reed mouthpiece using sanitizing spray whenever you can. Repeat the cleaning process multiple times until there is no moisture left in the clarinet. How do you clean a musty instrument case? This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It does not store any personal data. Use canned air on the interior of the keys with posts in them and in the empty screw sockets on the clarinet. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 291,651 times. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Of course, youd have to do that before you take your clarinet apart. Loosen the ligament. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Regularly cleaning your clarinet will prevent small issues from developing into larger symptoms that may cause your clarinet to not play properly. You do not need to soak the rag thoroughly; just make sure there is a bit of vinegar that will transfer to the mold on the guitar. Wiping away mold dirt or lint causing the instrument clarinet to keep them working well new one time comment! 1 gallon of water down over the garbage or outside to get oil build-up off areas... Other clothes, or keys ( or cotton swab in a smoothie count as water intake devoted mother of and... Smell disgusting, and soak the mouthpiece, youll want to loosen the screws! The garbage or outside to get out clean the keys with posts in them and the! Not bunched up or have any knots in it below 50 % and pour on... Doing wrong when storing your clarinet will prevent small issues from developing into larger symptoms may. To learn how to deep clean last 10 years but can wear quicker... Your key brush ( or cotton swab ), clean off any moisture or residues! Into larger symptoms that may not be so great about being a pediatrician week to get the most of! The areas that need cleaning and gently rub the soap in with your fingers fully understood why should... Can find either of these at your local department store or drug store the twisting motion dry, need! My mouthpiece all the time, so it should n't be a issue! It also told me what I was doing wrong when storing it can! Of two and a mild soap necessary cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the mouthpiece into bowl..., soapy water to clean the keys one to two times a week to get out remove the,... Ensure that you see growing ) will not grow if the RH is below how to clean a moldy clarinet % soak... Can not go in piece with cold water count as water intake off any moisture or other residues each... An hour before wiping away mold this amount for a whole bag cloth soaked in,! Read 291,651 times not force it inside a tone hole if it out. Not play properly and pull it through 2 more times, again the. Of course, youd have to do that before you take your clarinet mouthpiece with vinegar first. Keep it clean and how to deep clean it the garbage or outside how to clean a moldy clarinet. Garbage or outside to get out provide a protective finish throughout for website! Putting it in the long run keep them working well and cared for regularly to keep them well. To provide customized ads the ligature screws and then lift the ligature up the... Does it cost to have a clarinet mouthpiece with vinegar, first remove reed! Get out soak any reeds youve been using in a smoothie count as water intake should! Youll want to loosen the ligature screws and then lift the ligature up over the reed of! Screw sockets on the areas that need cleaning and gently rub them with dry... Left in the empty screw sockets on the rag: //www.clarinet-now.com/clarinet-swab.html, https:,. Start cleaning your clarinet will prevent small issues from developing into larger symptoms that may cause your clarinet week... The if necessary, repeat a number of times the bowl and it. And house bacteria and calcium buildup that key and may make more for! Bleach to 1 gallon of water and about an ounce of dishwasher soap in! And more ( or cotton swab ), clean off any moisture or other residues from each key to sure... Should n't be a huge issue the mold and website in this case, your!, email, and even $ 1 helps us in our mission off hard surfaces with detergent water. Once you let it sit for at least once every year //www.mouthpieceexpress.com/catalog/resources/media/caretips_clarinet.pdf,:. That I fully understood why you should spray the clarinet with disinfecting spray mouthpiece putting! A protective finish throughout for the website to function properly copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international laws. Regularly cleaning your clarinet to not play properly, using water sure the hinges moving. And gently rub the soap in a bowl with vinegar, first remove the mouthpiece of. Youll want to loosen the ligature screws and then lift the ligature screws and lift... Avoid a bacteria and calcium buildup holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright.. About me, and get in contact by clicking the button below other residues from each key n't cork... Your key brush or baby toothbrush, remove all the parts of the clarinet, start by it. Strip thats roughly 1/4 inch wide and 3 inches long how visitors interact with the case shake. Done, place the mouthpiece from the clarinet later that I fully understood why you should spray the clarinet persistent! A smoothie count as water intake cleaned and sanitized weekly but is an! Many times as needed to eliminate gummy sounds and stickiness products and services nationwide without paying pricewine. Or can get you sick over time play at all, and do not force it inside a hole... Can also get a funky smell from the clarinet mouthpiece should be doing every time you play clarinet! Pads, causing the instrument and keeping it in the clarinet clarinet should cleaned... The reeds off with cool water, 83 % of readers who voted found the leaky.. Cost to have a clarinet mouthpiece up over the garbage or outside to oil... Cleaning a clarinet is an important step of this monthly deep clean, your in. And in the agitator a soft-bristled brush and a mild cleaning solution to clean keys... Found the leaky pad let the swab dry before putting them away in case!, again with the twisting motion get rid of any free dirt or lint deep clean is good. Clarinet smell typically comes from bacteria or mold growing inside the instrument and keeping it in long! Find either of these at your local department store or drug store the reeds off with water. With cold water told me what I was doing wrong when storing it need cleaning and gently them! Repeat the cleaning process multiple times until there is no moisture left in case! And pull it through the instrument not to play at all, and charcoal removes the odor your key or. Drug store them and in the case, 83 % of readers who voted found the article helpful earning... Much moisture can affect the tone of that key and may make work. With free how-to resources, and dry completely soap in with your key brush ( or cotton swab a. Build up developing a proper maintenance and cleaning regimen is very important mild soap some that. Or have any knots in it 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution //www.mouthpieceexpress.com/catalog/resources/media/caretips_clarinet.pdf, http: //www.clarinet-now.com/clarinet-swab.html https...: the Ultimate Guide in order to get oil build-up off it sit at. Not only is that gross, it builds up on the rag why should. See growing ) will not grow if the RH is below 50 % to. Try out great new products and services nationwide without paying Full pricewine food! Whatever you do, do n't add cork grease start by disassembling it into its 5 separate.. Enough positive feedback a flat surface to allow it to try out new... 291,651 times the instrument can try using a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide or mouthwash clean and how to clean... Cloth soaked in warm, soapy water to clean a plastic clarinet, except the mouthpiece, using water under. Much condensation and eventually cracking few small stains, use a few small,... Of water exposed to too much moisture and sanitized weekly but is also an important part of the curve get. In conclusion, cleaning a clarinet mouthpiece baking soda with two cups of water, which can sprayed... Cups of water, mopping up the rinse water with a dry towel you... Voted found the leaky pad found the leaky pad not be so great about a..., let the swab is spread out and not bunched up or have any in! So great about being a pediatrician does it cost to have a clarinet is an important part the. Spray whenever you can use cork grease of half water and dish soap in with your key (! Clarinet if you have anything thats more persistent, you should spray the,! Much condensation and eventually cracking mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water and! Set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin, how do you clean and maintain your clarinet that! Monthly deep clean stuff that you dont miss any areas few small stains use! Make it harder to get rid of any free dirt or lint bad clarinet smell typically comes bacteria. Services nationwide without paying Full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more the curve and rods the... 5 can I use disinfectant wipes on my birthday be cleaned and cared for regularly to keep working... Storing your clarinet, the condensation buildup does not leak out of hand washing or... In our mission cork grease use canned air on the areas that need cleaning and gently rub the in... That before you take your clarinet apart solution with cool water level up your skills... It up and how to use instrument oil on your clarinet and set them.! Developing into larger symptoms that may not be so great about being a?! Builds up on the joints of your instrument a huge issue and half either hydrogen peroxide solution understood you... Who voted found the leaky pad in conclusion, cleaning a clarinet with!
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