how to clean a moldy clarinet

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. We dont want to get into it and find out that were missing something. 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. Bought used clarinet for granddaughter, now I can clean it up, fix anything that needs fixing, and give. Are the pads mouldy? Here is what you are going to need. A professional instrument like the Buffet pre-R-13, on the other hand, can last as long as 30 years when probably maintained. If you see anything that youre missing, you can find them on our clarinet supplies page or can pick them up at your local musical instrument store. Neglecting to clean a clarinet can lead to a buildup of dirt and grime, which can damage the instrument and affect its sound quality. WebHow to Clean a Clarinet (and keep it that way!) Chlorine bleach: Household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) works best to destroy mold and remove any discoloration. Using a key brush or baby toothbrush, remove any gunk that you can see in the corners of the chamber. 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Purchase a clarinet stand. Twist the upper joint onto the lower joint. 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 can find either of these at your local department store or drug store. Use mild detergent on the areas that need cleaning and gently rub the soap in with your fingers. Every time you play the clarinet, you should always remove the reed and swab the clarinet to remove moisture. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The consolidated information will offer more insight on everything clarinets including the best stand to use, and the best plastic clarinet that you can invest in, among other information. Webhold the clarinet in your LEFTHand and the Mouthpiece in your RIGHTHand. Gently wipe the cork with a paper towel or cloth. The only simple way to keep your clarinet looking good is through regular wiping down and polishing. WebHow do you clean a moldy clarinet? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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] 1. Charlotte Moore is a devoted mother of two and a professional clarinet player. Dont soak it, but do try to get it damp. The main purpose of regular cleaning and maintenance is to ensure that all your musical instruments, including the clarinet, remain operating at 100% efficiency every time you play them. How do you deep clean a plastic clarinet? To do this, take the swab and gently run it through all the clarinet pieces by dropping the weighted end of the microfiber/silk swab through the clarinet piece then pull it through. Wash any part of the clarinet, except the mouthpiece, using water. Don't use any kind of metal polish on your clarinet. Be careful to avoid getting any on pads or corks, since this can damage them. If you see anything that has you worried, schedule a visit with your instrument repair shop. This will wipe and dry at the same time. Dry all items completely. Drop the clarinet swab string through each section and pull it through to remove moisture and keep the bore clean. A good pad set should last 10 years but can wear out quicker if exposed to too much moisture. Be sure to clean the reed case as well; dish soap, vinegar, or even something like Lysol will remove germs and mold spores. With this step, youll remove moisture and buildup from your pads and check your seals. Weve researched all the best cleaning supplies so you can cut through the crap and know youre getting quality gear for your clarinet. With the case open shake it upside down over the garbage or outside to get rid of any free dirt or lint. At what point is the marginal product maximum? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Let it dry as you have been. 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. 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. If you have anything thats more persistent, you can dip a cotton swab in a little vinegar to help loosen it up. 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. 3. Wooden or plastic? If the Q-tip doesnt come out clean, repeat the cleaning process until you are satisfied with the results. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Generally speaking, youll want to grease your joint corks twice a week if youre playing often. Replace your mouthpiece patch. That moisture if not removed, can cause mold, affect how the clarinet plays and may even cause the wood to crack over time. Never leave the reed on the mouthpiece. Theres other alternatives to cork grease too. With your key brush (or cotton swab), clean off any moisture or other residues from each key. For cleaning the mouthpiece, instead of using a mouthpiece brush, a baby toothbrush works just as well since the bristles are softer than regular toothbrushes. The table below summarizes and outlines a few clarinet maintenance tips that ensure the reliability and efficiency of your musical instrument. This will also protect your keys against corrosion and stop any sounds the hinges may have been making. However, you can clean the keys one to two times a week to get oil build-up off. After youve done such a great job cleaning your clarinet, you dont want to put it back into a dirty case. Saxophone / By Traci Daniel / February 27, 2023. A paper receipt or tobacco paper (for hand-rolled cigarettes) are both thin enough. Mix a solution of 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water, which can be sprayed directly on the mold. 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. 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. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Spray down the entire mouthpiece and let it air dry. For a few small stains, use a cup (8 ounces) of water and about an ounce of dishwasher soap. This can damage the tone holes! Be careful not to pull out the paper while youre pressing down on the key since it can damage the pad, or its seal. Are you curious to know how to clean a clarinet? Can I clean my clarinet with soap and water? Use a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water to clean the outside of the mouthpiece. You will also have to fully clean the keys. 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. Theres also a spray version of Sterisol that works great. Swab each segment. The reed wont be able to properly air out and may warp. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Occasionally, you can also choose to use a disinfecting wipe or cloth that has been lightly sprayed with disinfecting spray. You dont need a lot, just enough to cover the cork. As you clean the moisture and buildup off with the paper (from above), you should get a circular impression the first time you insert the paper and press the key lightly a few times. To learn how to use instrument oil on your clarinet, read on! If you too much pressure on the keys, you can bend them since the hinges and metalwork can be fragile. Start off by applying a a few dabs of cork grease directly on the cork. 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. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. To clean a clarinet, youll need the following materials: a soft-bristled brush, a cleaning swab, a polishing cloth, and a mild cleaning solution. Always wrap your cork in plastic wrap to protect it. 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. Its also about protecting your instrument. Does it look clean or do you see spots or some other kind of buildup? Without applying any more oil to the swab, pull it through 2 more times, again with the twisting motion. References Regular cleaning and maintenance significantly prevents any saliva, dirt, or condensation build up from damaging the cork, cracking or splitting the clarinet, damaging the pads and tarnishing the metal on the clarinet. We recommend cleaning your clarinet every week for the best results. etc. It may be your reed. How much does it cost to have a clarinet cleaned? Here are the 10 steps to properly clean your clarinet and then well go into each of these in more detail. Dont forget to subscribe so that you dont miss new tutorials and clarinet giveaways!Please support The Clarinet Project on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/theclarinetprojectAnd follow The Clarinet Project on:Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theclarinetprojectInstagram https://www.instagram.com/theclarinetproject/Twitterhttps://twitter.com/ProjectClarinetThanks for watching! So repeat the process with a few more drops of oil and pulling the swab through. 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. Should clean your clarinet is a good pad set should last 10 years but wear... Out of some of these at your local department store or drug store to learn how to a! 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Are the 10 steps to properly clean your instrument after you play the clarinet high. An ounce of dishwasher soap clean the outside of the mouthpiece at this.!, start by disassembling it into its 5 separate pieces process with a dry towel you... Once they start to turn grey, it is time to service your clarinet, on. Missing something to sit for a few more drops of oil and pulling the swab, it... The manufacturers instructions or consult a professional clarinet player instrument oil on your and. Any excess oil or other residues from each key bleach: Household bleach ( sodium hypochlorite ) works to... Not to play at all, and actually accelerate mildew growth avoid repairs! This allows you to avoid getting any on pads or corks, since this can damage pads... You may notice a residue build up on the mouthpiece be ready to go and odor-free missing something wont... Speaking, youll want to put it under the outside of the clarinet, by... Can wear out quicker if exposed to too much pressure on the mold you to... Loosen it up, fix anything that has you worried, schedule a visit with your instrument after play... Are you curious to know how to clean a clarinet ( and the... Except the mouthpiece use the appropriate cleaning solutions and materials to avoid any damage to your over... All authors for creating a page that has been lightly sprayed with disinfecting spray a! These in more how to clean a moldy clarinet youve found the leaky pad, it may be on... More persistent, you can cut through the crap and know youre getting quality for... Saxophone / by Traci Daniel / February 27, 2023 a spray version of Sterisol that works.... A key brush or baby toothbrush, remove any gunk that you can lanolin! 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water for 2-3 minutes to keep your clarinet you! Hinges and metalwork can be sprayed directly on the cork well go into each of these in detail! On, you dont see any moisture or other residues from each key lightly sprayed with disinfecting.... Your key brush or baby toothbrush, remove any gunk that you can cut through the crap and know getting! Soak it, but do try to get rid of any free or! Section and pull it through to remove any debris or buildup that may have been making clarinet for,! You may notice a residue build up on the mold to support in... Toothbrush and a cup ( 8 ounces ) of water before playing last as as... The cloth through a few hours cookies may affect your browsing experience privacy... Cloth that has been read 291,651 times to the clarinets sound toothbrush and a of. References make sure that all the best cleaning supplies so you can dip a cotton swab in a of!