The clarinet is a fantastic instrument and to play it one has to blow air in. Hence it is always worried that how to deep clean clarinet.
As, while playing clarinet, saliva also gets deposited into it with air.
That is the reason the clarinet needs proper and timely cleaning.
Primarily, if you rinse your mouth before playing the clarinet will help you to keep it clean. Also, brushing your teeth before using the clarinet is also a good option.
However, these practices will not act as permanent solutions. You have to clean the clarinet deeply from time to time.
Cleaning the clarinet regularly will increase the life of the instrument and also be good for your health.
By cleaning the clarinet timely, you will restrict microbial build-up in the instrument.
The clarinet is a fine piece of craft and hence it is obvious that you are worried that how to deep clean the clarinet without damaging it.
Don’t worry. Here you will get the complete solution to deep clean your favorite clarinet step by step.
Why deep cleaning of the clarinet is required?
- To keep the clarinet functioning for a long time.
- To make the clarinet capable of giving its performance at its best.
- To make it hygienic that you should not get any infection or diseases.
Steps to deep clean clarinet
Here are the steps to deep clean your clarinet.
Step 1: Pull apart the clarinet
It is obvious. To clean the clarinet you have to dismantle it. You have to separate all 5 parts of the clarinet before starting actual cleaning.
After pulling apart the Clarinet, you will notice the mouthpiece, the barrel, the upper joint, the lower joint, and the bell.
Step 2: Cleaning the reed completely.
To clean a reed, you have to first separate ligature and reed.
Reed can be cleaned using warm water. Water should be enough warm to clean and disinfect the reed. Boiling water can harm the reed by changing its shape by warping it.
So take precaution that you are using hot water only and not boiling it.
For deep cleaning, use mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide.
Mouthwash can kill all the germs and disinfect your clarinet reed. If you do not have mouthwash with you, go with hydrogen peroxide.
Mixing equal parts of hot water and hydrogen peroxide can make your cleaning solution.
Related Reading: How to clean cymbals with household items?
You can keep the reed in any one of the abovementioned cleaning solutions for 1-2 minutes for better results. After that rinse it with warm water and dry.
Step 3: Cleaning clarinet mouthpiece
The mouthpiece is the clarinet part which needs a deep cleaning.
If you are using clarinet regularly, cleaning should be done on weekly basis.
To clean the mouthpiece, again, you can use mouthwash. In absence of mouthwash, Sterisol can be used.
Pour the solution into the mouthpiece and let it run it through. Repeat the process, for total cleaning.
For areas where just running cleaning solution won’t work can be cleaned using a soft bristle baby brush or clarinet key brush.
You can use a cotton swab to check whether the mouthpiece is cleaned or not.
Lastly, dry the mouthpiece. You can air dry or use a microfiber cloth.
Step 4: Swab each clarinet segment
Clarinet cleaning swab is nothing but a microfiber cloth having a thread attached to one end.
One end of the thread is attached to the cloth and another is to the weight. Thus when you drop thread thru the clarinet body part, it passes through easily.
You can pull the thread to swab the clarinet. Swabbing is the process that helps to dry the inner side of the clarinet.
If you fail to remove moisture, it will help microbes and mold to build up fast.
Clarinet holes can also be cleaned by swabbing.
Step 5: Checking for pads and tone holes
The next step is to check tone holes and pads for cleanliness.
Due to the use of clarinet over the time, the buildup can be formed.
This may result in stickiness between keys and pad. You have to use cleaning paper to put between the keypad and holes.
After that push the key repeatedly until the stickiness goes away.
Step 6: Inspect and oil keys
All the clarinet keys should be clean and neat. It will help to perform better.
Inspect all the keys. Check whether the keys are clean and working smoothly.
Using a key brush or cotton swab, clean all the moisture from the keys.
Normally, keys are made from ant-rust material. But, moister can help microbial build-up.
If you found that there is a little built up near keys, use a cotton swab to clean it by forcing on it.
Lastly, apply a little drop of key oil between the hinges and the ball of the key. It will smoothen the key movement you needed while playing.
Step 7: Look for any deformity in joint corks
Corks are helpful to keep all clarinet parts at one place without letting the air out while playing.
Over time, the cork gets dry. As a result, cork can break down due to brittleness.
This will make it difficult to take apart clarinet parts.
The solution for this is cork grease. When you apply cork grease, it helps to reduce dryness of the cork and increase its life.
When you use your clarinet regularly, applying grease twice a week is recommended.
Take a little bit of grease on your fingertip and apply it to the cork. It should cover all the cork areas.
Step 8: Bore oil application on the clarinet body.
Bore oil is used to protect the clarinet body from the inside.
Bore oil basically provides a protective finish to the wooden body of the clarinet.
Using a swab, you can apply the bore oil.
Take a small amount of bore oil and run it through the clarinet body. Repeat the process until all area gets covered.
Also, remember to remove excess oil from the clarinet. For the same, use another clean swab and run it through the clarinet body.
9: Polishing exterior of the clarinet
Using a polishing cloth, you can clean the clarinet from the outside.
You may think that cleaning the clarinet from the outside is merely for making it shine. But it is more than that.
When you clean the clarinet from the outside, you remove smudges, dust, and excess oil from it. It helps to make the clarinet’s useful life longer.
10: Cleaning the clarinet case
Finally, clean the case. If the clarinet case is not clean, eventually it will make a dirty clarinet too.
Remove all the dirt, any paper you put therein, old reeds, etc. Shake the case to make loosen the dirt. Also, any hidden dirt will show up after shaking.
If possible, vacuum cleans the clarinet case.
Conclusion:
By following the above cleaning guide you can defiantly deep clean your clarinet.
Cleaning the clarinet is also an art like playing it smoothly. I hope after going through this article, you must have found the solution to your question – How to deep clean a clarinet?
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