My clarinet is discusting!?

Question

i my clarinet needs cleaning big time and i dont have a cleaning kit for it? any ideas?

Answer 1

Ok... so the other poster posted basic maintenance that should be done every time you play... this is basic upkeep and keeps your clarinet nice.

2 issues with what was said: First- you always drop the swab through the BELL of the clarinet and let it come out the barrel... there are 2 reasons... the register key hole goes further than the depth of the clarinet body (if you look through the top joint like a telescope, you'll see what I mean) and the swab is less likely to get stuck or damage the tube; also, if you are in the middle of a concert and you need to swab out really fast on a rest- it's faster to get it through the bell than through the barrel... you should be able to take off your mouthpiece, swab, and put your mouthpiece back on in about 4 seconds.  The other issue I had with the other posting is the dusting stick... don't use anything like this on your clarinet- if the wire pokes through on either end, it will scratch the clarinet... also, the bristles on these are often very hard, and can damage springs, the finish on the wood/plastic and keys, and don't do much to clean the grime.  If you really need to dust under the keys, use one of those 3inch brushes that's meant to clean between computer keys... they are meant to be gentle.

The best way to periodically wash your clarinet (ie after marching season) is with a soft cloth, qtips, and warm water.  Use one of those yellow dusting cloths... they polish nicely, and are gentle on the horn, either dry or wet.  You can wipe out from under the keys with a qtip... but pay very close attention to the springs... if you knock one out, just slip it back in... if you can't get it back in, take it to a shop (it will take them 2 seconds).  

Also DO NOT get your pads wet.  If you get a couple drops on a pad, gently slide a soft rag under the key, press down a couple times and then remove the rag without sliding across the pad.

If you have a plastic clarinet, and have stubborn dirt and grime that won't come off, you can use a TINY bit of hydrogen peroxide on a qtip... be sure to rinse it off with water, and again, don't get it on the pads.

If you have a wood clarinet, you can save your cleaning for when you oil it... ONLY use warm water to clean it, as anything else can damage the wood.  If your clarinet is seriously grimey, you may want to take it to the shop for them to do preventative maintenance... they will clean it, oil it, check the springs, check key adjustment and fix if needed, check pads, etc... it can cost anywhere from $10 -$60, depending on how much work they really need to do (adjusting keys), and parts (if you need new pads).  I have never paid more than $20.

Also, you CAN polish the keys, although you don't really need more than a dusting cloth.  If there is tarnish on the keys, you can use silver polish... be VERY careful to not get it on the clarinet body or the pads.  Use TINY amounts on a qtip, and wipe well when finished.  Some polishes say to rinse them... alternate between a damp cloth and a dry one until the residue is gone.  You should not have to do this often... once every 5 to 10 years or so, if at all.

Also, you can oil your keys- but this may take some practice... you have to pull out a few screws (where the key pivots) and oil THAT... you can use valve oil or key oil, but sewing machine oil works MUCH better as it's a higher density and a more viscous liquid.  If pulling out s***w makes you nervous, just take it to the shop.  And remember- you don't have to oil the keys if they all move well- oiling them should be a rare occurence.

Anyways, sorry for the book, but I hope it helped!  Have fun! :)

Answer 2

Remove the reed after playing and store it in a reed case to dry. Put the rest of the clarinet in a safe place. Don't stand it on end, unless you have a clarinet stand (It holds your clarinet upright, and can usually be folded and stored in the bell), since it can fall over.

Use your polishing cloth to wipe fingerprints off the ligature and keywork. Then, carefully place the cloth back in your case. Don't use any kind of metal polish (unless the clarinet is all metal, ie: silver) or other substance on your instrument , except for key oil. Key oil makes the keys move more easily.

Pick up the clarinet and take the mouthpiece off. Drop the swab into the top of the barrel joint. Wait for it to come out the bell and gently pull the swab through the clarinet. You may have to do this several times. Take the pieces apart and dry the tenons (these are the places where the joints of the horn fit together.) Then, fold the swab and store it in your clarinet case.

Get out some cork grease. Grease the corks by rubbing cork grease on them with your fingers. Cork grease comes in many different forms, but the most common looks like lip balm. However, lip balm is not an appropriate substitue for cork grease, and cork grease can be poisonous if ingested, so do not confuse the two. You don't need to do this EACH time you take your clarinet apart, or even very often, as too much cork grease will weaken the corks and make them prone to breaking apart. Just examine your corks regularly and apply cork grease as needed depending upon the dryness or wear in the cork. You may need to grease them more often in the dry winter months.

Take out your cleaning cloth and polish the keys to remove fingerprints and grime. Then you may, if necessary, take out your dusting stick. Dusting sticks are long, twisted, thin, wire, with a small, broom-like thing at one end, and a little thing that looks like a tooth cleaner at the other end. Gently clean between and under the keys with the mouthpiece-brush end, and brush the dust off with the broom end. Pay close attention to the tone holes that your fingers cover as they often collect gunk and grime from your fingers. You may wish to polish the instrument again after doing this. This would also be a good time to oil the keys, if necessary.

Place the mouthpiece cap over the mouthpiece, then store the clarinet in its case. Put the case in a safe place.