\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Carefully put on the reed and secure it with the ligature. That is 1 cup of bleach + 4 cups water or 1 quart of bleach + 1 The table below summarizes and outlines a few clarinet maintenance tips that ensure the reliability and efficiency of your musical instrument. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. Cleaning Your Clarinet Mouthpiece: Full Cleaning In Under 20 Minutes. Wooden or plastic? The better the quality of your instrument, the longer it lasts. **Lesson times are not guaranteed. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Let it dry as you have been. % of people told us that this article helped them. The clarinet is especially prone to this happening. 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. At each segment joint, theres a ring of cork that makes it easy to put your clarinet together and seals it for proper airflow. Here is the Mouthpiece on the instrument. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). However I would recommend you clean the mouthpiece. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. In this case, scrub the reed using your fingertip to remove the lip balm/stick film. In high school, my band teacher drilled into my head how important it is to keep my clarinet clean and would inspect each instrument. I am a full time freelance musician; while this project is important to me, I would not be able to continue creating great content for the world without ongoing support from viewers. Does putting water in a smoothie count as water intake? Here are a few steps you should follow when cleaning your clarinet; To start cleaning your clarinet, start by disassembling it into its 5 separate pieces. How do you clean the inside of a clarinet case? Repeat the cleaning process multiple times until there is no moisture left in the clarinet. Over time, your clarinet just needs a little love to stay in top playing condition. Before reassembling the clarinet, use a tiny amount of sewing machine oil on the inside of the keys where the posts go: emphasis on tiny. 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. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The mouthpiece is the dirtiest part of the clarinet. WebAnswer (1 of 2): There is not much you need to worry about with the instrument itself. If you do not have a mouthwash, you can use hydrogen peroxide mixed in hot water. That way youll have a back up when if youre washing one. If you do that, you will ruin the mouthpiece and it might not play anymore, so don't even think about it. Everything you wanted to know about cleaning and taking care of your acoustic guitar in one place, with links to more in-depth articles if you need them. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If you see any dust or other matter in your tone holes, you can remove them with your key brush or a cotton swab. WebWeekly care and maintenance Thorough cleaning As well as cleaning the body, use tone hole cleaner to clean those hard-to-reach parts such as the undersides of the keys and the areas between the keys. 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. 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 your clarinet is very dirty, it's probably time to bring it to your local music store repair shop. Remove the mouthpiece and the reed inside of it. Clean reed. Use sterisol or another disinfectant to clean your mouthpiece. To protect it from possible water damage over time, grease the cork to provide a barrier while you soak it in the next step. Rinse the mouthpiece and dry thoroughly. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. While you can leave a clarinet assembled after a session, you still have to take it apart to dry its parts thoroughly after practice, and store away the reed. As the son of a music teacher, I know firsthand the importance of keeping instruments clean and maintained. AMRO MUSIC 2023|Memphis Web Design by Speak. As you polish the keys, make sure to leave the pads alone. Allow them to dry for about 3 minutes. 5. ", 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, . Loosen the ligament. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Clarinetexpert.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking toAmazon.com. After one use, furniture should be ready to go and odor-free. Also check for any dents or bent metalwork. 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. It wasnt until years later that I fully understood why you should keep it clean and how to deep clean it. Without further discussion lets begin to know how to clean a clarinet? Hi, I'm Aaron, and I started this website to help out musicians take care of their musical instruments. Regular white paper will work for this as well if youre in a pinch. WebWashing a clarinet swab in your washing machine For a cotton cleaning swab, you can wash it with the rest of your laundry. Clean And Maintain Your Electric Guitar: The Ultimate Guide. The best way to use the OdorKlenz odor treatment on wood furniture is to dilute it according to package directions in a spray bottle, and thoroughly spray the inside of drawers. Use a Q-Tip damp with isopropyl alcohol to thoroughly wipe down the keys. At least once a month but preferably once a week, deep clean the mouthpiece. 1 How To Clean A Clarinet? Replace your mouthpiece patch. I Have Covered All The Following Queries And Topics In The Above Article, How To Clean A Clarinet Without A Cleaning Kit, How To Clean A Clarinet Mouthpiece With Vinegar, ? Clean the interior and exterior of your mouthpiece, being careful to avoid getting the cork wet. If youre missing any cleaning supplies or accessories, visit our clarinet product page. What If You Dont? Just dont do this too often as excess grease can weaken the cork. Then using either a mouthpiece brush or a soft-bristle toothbrush, remove all gunk and limescale. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You can also remove any rods or keys to get to those areas. But, how do you go about it? By regularly disassembling your clarinet and cleaning each piece with swabs, oil, and a little water, your instrument will last much longer and sound beautiful. A swab is made of a piece of soft, absorbent fabric, a cord "Alarmist? In this step, we want to make sure that all keys are working correctly. Drying the Clarinet after Use 1. Approved. If you see any spots that you missed, you can use a cotton swab (yes, like Q-tips for ears) to get the tricky spots. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. By using our site, you agree to our. For areas under the metalwork that you cant get to, use your key brush to remove dirt. 3. 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. Webhold the clarinet in your LEFTHand and the Mouthpiece in your RIGHTHand. Use a polishing cloth to wipe fingerprints off the outside of each piece before putting them back in the case. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. "I am in a marching band during the coronavirus pandemic and needed to know how to thoroughly clean my clarinet. Place the mouthpiece into the bowl and let it soak for a few minutes. Dont use hot water when mixing a homemade solution. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Be sure to clean the reed case as well; dish soap, vinegar, or even something like Lysol will remove germs and mold spores. How do you deep clean a plastic clarinet? This can affect the tone of that key and may make more work for you since you have to blow harder. Wash your mouthpiece once a week. Be careful not to pull out the paper while youre pressing down on the key since it can damage the pad, or its seal. Vegetative mold (the stuff that you see growing) will not grow if the RH is below 50%. 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. Generally, you need to always remove the reed from the mouthpiece before putting them away in their case. To get rid of moisture from the pads, insert some cleaning paper in between the pad and tone hole. Doing this, protects the wood used on your clarinet from absorbing too much condensation and eventually cracking. A severely soiled pad will need to be replaced by a qualified technician at your local music store. If you do not clean your clarinet regularly, black mold tends to build up inside it and it can cause a condition known as Saxophone Lung that can make you sick. WebTo clean the reed, soak it in mouthwash for about 1 minute then rinse it under warm water. Take care when storing your clarinet and when traveling. Finally, use the toothbrush to reach any small crevices and remove any remaining dirt or polish. To clean your plastic clarinet, first remove all the parts and soak them in a mild soapy solution. Web1. 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. Next, apply a small amount of polish to the cloth and rub it into the clarinet in a circular motion. Once you are done, the last step would be to oil the bore of your clarinet using bore oil. So repeat the process with a few more drops of oil and pulling the swab through. ", "I was able to deep-clean my mouthpiece.". This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 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. Reeds are paper-thin and easy to crack or chip. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Next, wet the cloth With the case open shake it upside down over the garbage or outside to get rid of any free dirt or lint. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Once you 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). Wipe off any excess oil with a paper towel or cleaning cloth. Cut out a strip thats roughly 1/4 inch wide and 3 inches long. 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 help your covers last longer and maintain their original texture. How do I fix it? 5 Can I use disinfectant wipes on my clarinet? Read on to find out! This article was shared to me and the other band students by our director. This will also protect your keys against corrosion and stop any sounds the hinges may have been making. Along with that, regular cleaning and maintenance allows you to avoid expensive repairs and clarinet damages associated with neglect and improper care. I generally wash If you have any question on clarinet parts, please see the Clarinet Anatomy section below. Never leave the reed on the mouthpiece. 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] Here are the 10 steps to properly clean your clarinet and then well go into each of these in more detail. Starting with the upper joint, hold it up to the light to see if theres any light Next, fill a bowl with vinegar and water, and soak the mouthpiece in the Of course, youd have to do that before you take your clarinet apart. Wash the mouthpiece with a solution of liquid soap and cold water. A baby toothbrush can also be used to remove limescale. Sometimes, when playing the clarinet, the condensation buildup does not leak out. First, remove all the parts of the clarinet and set them aside. If the Q-tip doesnt come out clean, repeat the cleaning process until you are satisfied with the results. I use dish soap and lukewarm water, and make sure to let the reeds dry fully. When using hydrogen peroxide, ensure to rinse the reed thoroughly to clear its strong odor and taste. If you too much pressure on the keys, you can bend them since the hinges and metalwork can be fragile. If you play the clarinet with lip balm or lip stick on, you may notice a residue build up on the reed. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Because of this, many clarinet players have had odor issues with their mouthpieces. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Remove any garbage, old reeds, phone numbers (nice job, you!) This can be especially bad if you just ate or drank soda before playing since tiny food particles or sugars will be within your saliva extra food for bacteria. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. 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. When youre done playing them, spray both sides of the reed. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. To prevent the corks from drying out and becoming compressed, lubricate them using cork grease. Also, by putting the mouthpiece cover on while not playing, you reed will be protected. We dont want to get into it and find out that were missing something. Doesnt that feel great? Here are the 10 steps to properly clean your clarinet and then well go into each of these in more detail. You can saturate it in mouthwash, sterisol or vinegar. 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. You can find either of these at your local department store or drug store. How do you clean a second hand clarinet? Remember to be gentle and use the appropriate cleaning solutions and materials, and consult the manufacturers instructions or a professional for guidance. To learn how to use instrument oil on your clarinet, read on! Remember to wash your cloth on occasion. Then, with your finger, smooth it out so its applied evenly all the way around that cork seal. For a few small stains, use a cup (8 ounces) of water and about an ounce of dishwasher soap. 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. If you do, you may have mold starting to grow on your reed and should sanitize it. Blot it on the mold and allow it to work for a minute or so. These can all affect how your instrument sounds. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. References Clean inside each of the tone holes, making sure to get inside the undercut spaces. Do this for each piece until you dont see any moisture or spots. If you do not have a mouthwash, you can use hydrogen peroxide mixed in hot water. Mildew refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus. A quick wipe down on the exterior of the case is a nice touch to finish up the whole process. You can also use mouthwash like Scope or Listerine, since its an antiseptic that kills up to 99.9% of germs. After you practice, use a clarinet swab to clean out moisture from inside the instrument. Along with that, you should spray the clarinet and reed mouthpiece using sanitizing spray whenever you can. Start off by applying a a few dabs of cork grease directly on the cork. Along with that, you should spray the clarinet and reed mouthpiece using sanitizing spray whenever you can. To clean the reed, soak it in mouthwash for about 1 minute then rinse it under warm water. If you do not have a mouthwash, you can use hydrogen peroxide mixed in hot water. Next, use a vacuum on anything still left in the case. Run the mouthpiece brush back and forth to remove any built up residue. 4 Reeds https://amzn.to/3zR0VtmVandoren Optimum Silver Ligature, Plate No. You will have to apply some pressure and use the cloth to scrub the mold away. Place your mouthpiece in this solution and allow to soak for 5-10 minutes. By cleaning it often, you easily avoid any intonation problems, Ensure that the tubing of the tone holes are always clean, The tone holes for keys #9, #10, and #12 need to accumulate dirt easily. Occasionally, you can also choose to use a disinfecting wipe or cloth that has been lightly sprayed with disinfecting spray. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Clean-and-Maintain-a-Clarinet-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-and-Maintain-a-Clarinet-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Clean-and-Maintain-a-Clarinet-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid55331-v4-728px-Clean-and-Maintain-a-Clarinet-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"