Table of Contents
How do you clean an old flute?
The best way to disinfect your flute at home is to use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide with a cotton ball then let it air 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 I make my flute shiny again?
For a simple step-by-step breakdown on how to make your flute shiny, start by using Windex to clean the outside of your flute. Next, use rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip or cotton ball to disinfect the mouthpiece. Use silver polish to keep the flute body shiny and tarnish-free.
How do I get rid of brown spots on my flute?
When it comes to removing tarnish on the outside of your flute, your best bet is to use a microfiber cloth with alcohol. However, you must be careful with this method to never allow the alcohol to touch the pads underneath the keys. This will destroy the pads, and replacing them is an expensive repair.
What household items can you use 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.
What can I use to clean 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.
Why is there tarnish on my flute?
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.
Can I use silver polish on a 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.
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 you clean a flute with toothpaste?
Take a tooth brush and tooth paste and scrub your flute down with it. Make sure you use lukewarm water before and after to rinse it off. I tarnished my flute by accidentally soaking it in 3% hydrogen peroxide for too long so it got all tarnished but the toothpaste helped it a lot. To disinfect it I use mouthwash.
Why does my flute have black spots?
Removing dirt from the surface of the instrument This discoloration on the flute is silver sulfide, a product of the silver on the surface of the flute combining with sulfur components in the air.
What happens if you dont clean your flute?
Although tarnish doesn’t do much damage to your flute other than eroding the silver slowly, rust and key jamming are highly common results from not cleaning your instrument regularly. If your keys jam and are unable to be used, this can cause you to be unable to continue playing your instrument altogether.
How do you clean a flute with rubbing alcohol?
To clean a flute with rubbing alcohol, take a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol soaked into it and rub around the mouthpiece and lip plate. This will kill any bacteria on and around this spot without the need for bleach. Don’t use rubbing alcohol inside the body of the flute or around the keys.
How much does it cost to polish a flute?
Typically the cost to professional clean a flute will cost around $50 every few months depending on the frequency of usage. The cost can vary based on location, the state of the flute, and the musical instrument technician but generally will cost around $50.
How do you clean a silver flute?
Clean the inside of your flute out after each playing session to dry it out and prevent moisture damage. Polish the outside of your flute using nothing more than a silver polishing cloth to clean it up. Never use silver polish or any other type of polish to clean the outside of your flute.
How do you use anti tarnish strips on the flute?
Simply place the strip in your flute (or piccolo, etc.) case to prevent tarnish from forming. These strips last up to 6 months for instruments in storage, but for instruments that are in regular use, they should be changed approximately every 3 months.
