\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Charlotte Moore is a Clarinetist by profession and has over time offered lessons on how to play the clarinet among other musical instruments. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. This can damage the pads, causing the instrument not to play at all, and actually accelerate mildew growth. Hite) - https://amzn.to/34I4XspLangenus Method for Clarinet - https://amzn.to/3Gl9SgQKlose Method for Clarinet - https://amzn.to/3GzFTC5Baermann Method for Clarinet - https://amzn.to/3r9ZodNRose 32 Etudes - https://amzn.to/3Gm9770Rose 40 Studies - https://amzn.to/3Gm9770Lester Advancing Clarinetist - https://amzn.to/3HZpJSOLester Progressing Clarinetist - https://amzn.to/3HVFYA1Kroepsch 416 Daily Exercises for Clarinet Book 1 - https://amzn.to/3Gp8hqfMY CLARINET SETUP:Yamaha CSVR-ASPRoyal Global Polaris Barrel - https://youtu.be/7SDG4HE6dFUVandoren BD5 https://amzn.to/2E0DHbqVandoren V12 No. Put the rest To prevent damage, NEVER spray directly on the instrument. Starting with the upper joint, hold it up to the light to see if theres any light Clean mouthpiece. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. I accidentally used rubbing alcohol instead of vinegar. Are you curious to know how to clean a clarinet? As the son of a music teacher, I know firsthand the importance of keeping instruments clean and maintained. Wash any part of the clarinet, except the mouthpiece, using water. Remove the mouthpiece and the reed inside of it. Once you This can damage the pads, causing the instrument not to play at all, and actually accelerate mildew growth. It was a huge help, thank you. Here are the 10 steps to properly clean your clarinet and then well go into each of these in more detail. Swab each segment. Use sterisol or another disinfectant to clean your mouthpiece. % of people told us that this article helped them. 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. Additionally, its important to use the appropriate cleaning solutions and materials to avoid any damage to the instrument. I keep my guitars out of the cases, and regularly air out the cases. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. If you use too much, itll just make a mess. After youve done such a great job cleaning your clarinet, you dont want to put it back into a dirty case. 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. 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. An ardant fan of acoustic music, I played the clarinet in high school band and even competed in Disneyland. Make a cleaning solution with cool water and dish soap. Take a bit of the vinegar and pour it on the rag. You should deep clean your clarinet monthly. After one use, furniture should be ready to go and odor-free. Use a mouthpiece brush with warm, soapy water to clean the inside. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Can I clean my clarinet with soap and water? The mouthpiece is the dirtiest part of the clarinet. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Clean reed. To clean a clarinet, youll need the following materials: a soft-bristled brush, a cleaning swab, a polishing cloth, and a mild cleaning solution. Use a Q-Tip damp with isopropyl alcohol to thoroughly wipe down the keys. 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 You can prolong the life of the pads and reduce your repair shop costs and time away from the instrument. Dry all items completely. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Using gloves, wet the sponge with hydrogen peroxide solution and sponge the solution gently into the fabric. Next, rinse out the mouthpiece water. Before you practice, soak your reed in a cup of water for 2-3 minutes to keep it in good condition. WebThis thread suggests washing the clarinet with warm soapy water, then bleach or peroxide (dilute to a safe concentration), rinse and repeat. Use a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water to clean the outside of the mouthpiece. To prevent that, wrap up the string and tie it off. First, make sure that the swab is spread out and not bunched up or have any knots in it. If you notice black mold on your clarinet, it is time to discard it. To learn how to use instrument oil on your clarinet, read on! 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, ? This can affect the tone of that key and may make more work for you since you have to blow harder. Do this for each piece until you dont see any moisture or spots. Sanitizing the caseI mostly If you cannot go every 6 months, you can visit the woodwind technician at least once every year. You will need mouthwash, hydrogen peroxide, or white vinegar to clean your mouthpiece, real pipe cleaners or Q-Tips to clean the tone holes, a soft brush to clean the dust from under the keys, a soft cloth to clean the mouthpiece, laundry detergent to clean your swab, and disinfectant wipes for the keys. In this case, 83% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Remove all the keys and rods from the clarinets body. Use a cleaning swab to clean the mouthpiece of the clarinet. Clean inside each of the tone holes, making sure to get inside the undercut spaces. 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. Use cold or lukewarm water with mild laundry soap. The clarinet is especially prone to this happening. Any instrument that isn't cleaned on a regular basis is likely to become unsanitary quickly. You can double or triple this amount for a whole bag. With your key brush (or cotton swab), clean off any moisture or other residues from each key. Inspect body and apply bore oil. For a few small stains, use a cup (8 ounces) of water and about an ounce of dishwasher soap. 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. Specialized swabs can be bought online or at music supply stores. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Chlorine bleach: Household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) works best to destroy mold and remove any discoloration. Then using either a mouthpiece brush or a soft-bristle toothbrush, remove all gunk and limescale. This can damage the pads, causing the instrument not to play at all, and actually accelerate mildew growth. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. When driving, be mindful that the trunk can get hot. To clean the reed, soak it in mouthwash for about 1 minute then rinse it under warm water. Even though your instrument is in its case, it can still be damaged by heat and moisture depending on where its stored. Apply cork grease to the tenon corks on your clarinet when the instrument becomes difficult to put together. Here is what you are going to need. In order to get the most out of your clarinet, developing a proper maintenance and cleaning regimen is very important. This will also protect your keys against corrosion and stop any sounds the hinges may have been making. You should clean your instrument after you play, and cork grease it at least once a week. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". They are really great when you have to leave your clarinet alone, since you won't have any fear of it falling over and breaking. This should provide a protective finish throughout for the wood. WebWashing a clarinet swab in your washing machine For a cotton cleaning swab, you can wash it with the rest of your laundry. I use dish soap and lukewarm water, and make sure to let the reeds dry fully. Use the small brush in your Clarinet Care Kit or a baby-size soft toothbrush to clean the edges and surfaces. 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. Honestly, I played for years without knowing the names for each part of the clarinet so this section is a handy reference so youll have that information. DeRoche) - https://amzn.to/3fblw1XBaermann Scales (ed. Inspect your reed. First, gently wipe the clarinet with the polishing cloth to remove any surface dirt. 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. Then, disassemble your clarinet, and place the reed in a reed holder to dry. Reeds can be sterilized with hydrogen peroxidea quick soak is enough. Of course, the first time you do each of these steps, itll take a little longer but youll be a lot faster each time you deep clean your clarinet. Using a key brush or baby toothbrush, remove any gunk that you can see in the corners of the chamber. 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. A good pad set should last 10 years but can wear out quicker if exposed to too much moisture. Then, with each segment, drop the cord portion through the hole and then pull the swab through. Follow these steps: Do this for the upper joint, the lower joint and the bell. Finally, use the toothbrush to reach any small crevices and remove any remaining dirt or polish. Rinse with cold water. Molds include all species of microscopic fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments, called hyphae. These can all affect how your instrument sounds. Use the small brush that comes in your Clarinet Care Kit to get what you can reach. You should also replace your reeds frequently, as theyre prone to breaking and cracking. You can saturate it in mouthwash, sterisol or vinegar. You can either soak your mouthpiece in these, or to use less, pour the mouthwash or Sterisol over and down into the chamber so that everything gets saturated. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Twist the upper joint onto the lower joint. If, after you remove the paper, you see that its an open circle, you may have a leak where that circle is open. You can also use mouthwash like Scope or Listerine, since its an antiseptic that kills up to 99.9% of germs. I'd dry off the pads by putting cigarette papers under the pads. Enjoy! On grease or stubborn areas use a small drop of soap and a soft nail brush. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ", "I was able to deep-clean my mouthpiece.". This article has been viewed 91,494 times. Read on to find out! Each time the instrument is played, the reed should be removed and the clarinet wiped out (swabbed) "Good reminder to clean more often. Now apply a little key oil to the small gap between the ball and the hinge for each key. These are simple steps you can and should be doing every time you play the clarinet. If you need follow-up scrubbing, combine one teaspoon baking soda with two cups of water.