How do you clean and polish a flute?

Can I use silver polish on flute?

When you’re polishing a flute, don’t use silver polish or other liquids. Although it can be tempting to give your instrument an extra shine, liquid polish isn’t recommended because it can damage the instrument’s finger pads and cause the metal to rust.

What is best to clean a flute?

To sum it all up, cleaning your flute is typically best done with anti-tarnish silver polish and rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. You can also use soap and water but in small amounts so as to not destroy the pads or the headjoint cork either. While Windex isn’t necessarily harmful, it also isn’t recommended.

How do you clean the surface of a flute?

Use a soft cloth to wipe off moisture and finger marks after playing. Never use silver polish or any other cleaner on your flute. To clean your flute use “saliva” or rubbing alcohol on your cloth. To keep pads clean, don’t eat candy or chew gum before playing and never while playing.

Can I use baking soda to clean my flute?

Do not use baking soda or toothpaste, as these are too abrasive. Your flute is not silverware. Any music store will tell you this. Use silver polish (Wrights silver cream and a Q-tip) but do not get any water or polish on the pads.

Why is my flute turning yellow?

Flutes turn brown due to tarnish. The tarnish is the result of a chemical reaction between the silver of a flute and the various compounds it comes into contact with. Tarnish on a flute is not an immediate problem, and will not significantly affect the sound of a flute.

How do you polish a tarnished flute?

How do you oil a flute?

How do you polish silver?

For silver that is heavily tarnished, mix a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Wet the silver and apply the cleaner with a soft, lint-free cloth (not paper towels). Work the paste into the crevices, turning the cloth as it gets gray. Rinse and buff dry.

Why is my flute turning brown?

Why is my Flute Turning Black? The actual process that causes this browning or blackening is the reaction which happens from silver sulfide. This silver sulfide is created when the elemental silver flute reacts with hydrogen sulfide gas. … The longer you let this sit, the darker the flute’s exterior will get.

How do you clean a metal flute?

How do you clean the outside of a flute at home?

Why is my flute black?

What causes tarnish? The very dark almost black looking tarnish is caused by exposing the silver to sulfur. In the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere, silver forms a film of silver sulfide which is black in color. When silver sulfide forms on the surface of your flute, it darkens the silver.

How do you polish a gold flute?

Gold doesn’t. You don’t need to polish a gold flute. Just clean your lip plate with a soft cleaning cloth humidified with water, then use a dry cleaning cloth to finish. Sometimes people take a gold flute to an overall polishing (at a good technician) to minimize scratches (mostly when they want to sell it).

How do I know if my flute is silver?

Why is my flute turning green?

The green accumulation inside your flute most likely is residual patina from the brass that your instrument is probably made of. Unless your instrument is solid silver, it is a brass body plated with nickle or silver. The brass is exposed at the joints and other locations. Your saliva is mildly acidic.

How do you clean a flute with soap and water?

The key to using soap and water as a cleanser is to apply it in moderation and to avoid getting water on the cork and pads. Using a non-abrasive dish detergent and water, carefully wipe your flute’s interior and exterior parts. It would be easier to disassemble the parts first for a more thorough cleaning.

How do I stop my flute from tarnishing?

Can you clean a flute with hand sanitizer?

Rubbing alcohol works great for sanitizing and cleaning a flute because it isn’t hard on the finish and silver metal while still killing a lot of germs. Finish cleaning out your flute by using your swab that came with the instrument on the inside to soak up any collected moisture. It’s that easy!

Can flutes grow mold?

How to get rid of mold in a flute headjoint – Quora. , Embracing life for 53 years and counting. Disassemble the flute, clean it thoroughly and make sure it is dry before putting the flute back together. Also, make sure the flute is dry after you play it to prevent the mold from coming back in the future.

How do you clean a flute mouthpiece?

Mouthpieces should be cleaned monthly. Using a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water, clean the outside of the mouthpiece. Use a mouthpiece brush and warm, soapy water to clean the inside. Rinse the mouthpiece and dry thoroughly.

Can you put a flute in the dishwasher?

While silverware and silver flutes may seem close to one another at first, the truth is that putting your flute in the dishwasher is sure to be a costly mistake. Why? Well, it’s simple. Your pads and your cork are not meant to experience hot temperatures, water damage, or exposure to soap either.

How often should I clean my flute?

Q: How often should I swab/clean the inside of my flute/piccolo? A: Every time after you play and as needed while playing! It is important to keep your flute/piccolo swabbed out because excess moisture left inside the instrument can affect the condition of the headjoint cork as well as the stability of the pads.

What will happen if you don’t clean your flute?

Woodwind Players Who Don’t Clean Their Instrument Risk Growing Colonies of Infective Fungi. … If they don’t clean out their instruments on a regular basis, black mold can build up inside and cause a condition called “Saxophone Lung.”