They say a musical instrument in sound health sounds better. Whether this is true or not, musical instrument maintenance is surely important for a lot of reasons. It helps the instrument function well and makes it durable, too. Good maintenance culture will also help you to avoid spending money on repair, at least, unnecessarily.
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Using musical instruments in poor conditions could also be bad for the instrumentalist. It could lead to illness and even injury in some cases.
Now, you know that taking proper care of your instruments is required to ensure the best of performances. What then do you need to make this possible? You need cleaning materials, of course. These materials or supplies are the tools that will be used to ensure your musical instruments get the best hygiene. Keep reading as we list below 6 important cleaning materials you must have for your musical instruments.
1. Cleaning Cloth:
A cloth or a rag is one basic material you will need for cleaning. It will be used to wipe away dirt and dust mostly caused by touching. In choosing the best cleaning cloth, ensure that the material is not abrasive or rough. This could lead to scratches on the instruments, especially the ones made of brass. A microfiber cloth is best suitable.
2. Mouthpiece Brush:
For instruments that make use of the mouth to play, making sure the mouthpiece is clean is very important. It helps in removing clogs that could hinder the functionality of the instrument.
3. Disinfectant:
While a mouthpiece brush helps in cleaning the mouth of an instrument, a disinfectant helps in other parts. A disinfectant specializes in killing germs; hence it will prevent infection when the instrumentalist makes use of the instrument. For example, a disinfectant spray can be applied on the surface of an acoustic guitar, while a microfiber cloth will be used to wipe over it.
4. Soap and Water:
Traditional soap and water solution works well particularly in cleaning hard-plastic instruments. The water used in washing the instruments should be at least 110 ° F hot. After washing, the instruments should be rinsed thoroughly with clean water and be left to dry in a clean room.
5. Music Care Kit:
A music care kit contains essential materials for cleaning a particular type of musical instrument. It is the best option because it comes with specialized supplies, prepared just for the maintenance of an instrument. An example is a brass care kit which is packed with materials like polishing cloth, valve oil, slide grease, and a mouthpiece brush.
6. Hand Sanitizer:
While the other materials are to be applied to the musical instruments, a hand sanitizer will be used by the instrumentalist. Using a hand sanitizer before touching your instrument is an important hygiene move. It kills the germs on your hands which will normally be transferred to the instrument. However, ensure that your hands are dry before using instruments. Some sanitizers contain ingredients that may cause damage to instruments made of synthetic materials, like the keyboard.
The importance of musical instrument maintenance cannot be overemphasized. It is a quality of a good instrumentalist to treat instruments as important as the music they make. If you want to keep your instruments in good condition, then following the steps above will be of a lot of help.