How to Clean and Maintain a Clarinet

How to Clean and Maintain a Clarinet
In order to make the most of your clarinet, it is very important to develop a suitable care and cleaning method. If you regularly disassemble your clarinet and clean each piece with swabs, oil and a little water, your instrument will stay much longer and sound beautiful.



Disassemble your clarinet. Grasp each piece with your fingertips to avoid transferring your hand oils to the clarinet's wood. Be careful not to bend the keys while taking the clarinet apart. Place each piece in a safe place where it can not be damaged.

Remove the sheet after playing and store it in a sheet holder to dry. Store the rest of the clarinet in a safe place that is not too hot or too cold. Do not stand it up at the end, unless you have a clarinet stand (it holds your clarinet upright and can usually be folded and stored in the bell).
Use your polishing cloth to remove fingerprints from the ligature and the key. Polishing with a microfibre cloth prevents acids and oils from damaging the instrument. [1] Carefully place the cloth back in your suitcase. Do not use metal polish or other substances on your instrument, except oil and cork grease. Pay close attention to the tone holes that cover your fingers, as they often collect dirt and grime from your fingers.
Clean your mouthpiece with a small brush. An impure mouthpiece can become unhygienic and adversely affect your health if you ignore it too long. An impure mouthpiece could also shrink and adversely affect the sound of the instrument. Carefully remove deposits from the mouthpiece with a brush and warm water and dry with your microfiber cloth. [2]
Wipe off any part of the clarinet. To remove moisture from the clarinet, use a swab, drop the weight and string of the cloth through the clarinet from the bell to the mouthpiece and pull it through. If your fabric sticks, tighten, do not worry, it will not ruin your clarinet. [3] You may need to do this several times.
Take the pieces apart and dry the pins (these are the places where the horn joints fit together). Then allow the swab to dry before putting it in the case. Otherwise, your keys will discolour.