Sanitizing your Instrument

Instrument maintenance is always crucial and lately, sanitization has become more important than ever.  Are you looking for sanitization to ensure your child’s instrument is ready to play this fall?  Contact Mandy (mandysschoolofmusic@gmail.com) to have your entire instrument sanitized with ultrasonic cleaning by our instrument repair technician.

Here are some tips on sanitizing different mouthpieces that you can do at home:

• Flute

  • DO NOT put a flute head joint in water.  There is a cork in the end of a head joint, and you will damage the cork with water.  The easiest way to sanitize a flute head joint is to use alcohol pads to wipe off the lip plate and embouchure hole.  You should also make sure that your cloth swab is always clean-wash in hot water at least once a week-and use the swab and cleaning rod to wipe out the inside of the head joint every time you play.

• Clarinet and Saxophone

  • You can use gentle dish soap and warm water to clean a clarinet or saxophone mouthpiece.  Be sure to remove the reed and ligature--those should not get wet.  For a deeper clean, mix half white vinegar/half warm water in a bowl and let your mouthpiece soak in the mixture.  After the mouthpiece soaks, use a brush to scrub out any residue that’s left over. You can purchase a mouthpiece brush online or at a music store.

• Brass instruments (trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba)

  • Wipe off the mouthpiece with a clean, dry towel.  Soak two cotton balls in white vinegar.  Set one cotton ball in the mouthpiece for 10 minutes (the area where your lips go when you play).  This will break up any residue that has built up.  Then, take the second cotton ball and use it to scrub the mouthpiece.  Finish cleaning by washing the mouthpiece with warm water and gentle dish soap.

• Mi-T Mist is a great antimicrobial spray that can be used on any instrument.  It eliminates germs on the surface where it is sprayed, which is why it is a good backup but should not replace regular washing of mouthpieces.  Mi-T Mist evaporates within about 45 seconds.