What Do I Need to Clean My Guitar? |
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When it’s time to clean and maintain your guitar, it’s important to know that each part requires a different type of cleaner. So what should you use? In any case, don’t use any general purpose cleaners you’ve found in one of the kitchen cabinets! To help you pick a safe and effective solution, we’ll answer a number of frequently asked questions related to cleaning acoustic and electric guitars. Keep in mind that the information in this Buyer’s Guide also applies to the cleaning of similar instruments, such as bass guitars and ukuleles. If you can’t find the answer to your question here, feel free to contact us! 1. How do I clean the body of my guitar?If the body or resonance chamber of your guitar has started to look a little grimey, it’s best to start off with a guitar body cleaner. In the case of nearly all bottled cleaning liquids, it’s wise to use a universal cloth. If your guitar has a glossy finish, a microfibre cloth is by far the best option as it prevents irreparable damage such as scratches. Most cleaning cloths in our product range are made of microfibre material but, since it’s better to be safe than sorry, always check the specifications listed below the product. If your instrument has a matte or rough finish, make sure that no residue is left behind after you’re done cleaning. Guitar Body Cleaners
2. How can I get the body of my guitar to shine?If your guitar is coated in high or satin gloss lacquer, you naturally want to get the most out of its finish. Looks matter too, after all! If it’s not looking too bad right now, a simple universal cleaning cloth will do the trick. However, if the finish appears dull or if you’d like to keep your instrument in great condition at all times, a bottle of guitar polish together with a cleaning cloth is a better option. Some guitarists even like to extend the cleaning process to a wax-based cleaner to seal the lacquer and add a protective layer. If the finish of your guitar is rough or textured,, you’ll often find that after giving it a good clean, a polish won’t be necessary. If you do want to continue buffing up the finish a little more, make sure that no cleaning agent residue is left behind as this could damage or permanently stain the body. Universal Cleaning Cloths
3. How should I clean the fretboard?The fretboard sits on the front of the neck and is the part where the frets are fitted. Before you start cleaning it, pay attention to the following things. If your guitar has a lacquered fretboard, you can use the same cleaner used for the body and a universal cleaning cloth. If you’re unsure whether your fretboard has a finish or not, you can hold it up against the light to see if there’s any shine to it. If there’s no lacquer on the fretboard, you’ll have to do the cleaning a little differently.
Guitar Body Cleaners (Lacquered Fretboard)
4. How can I clean the frets?Before you start cleaning the fretboard, it’s never a bad idea to take a closer look at the frets. If these long metal strips aren’t as shiny anymore, a fret-polishing paper or cloth is a great solution. Is it becoming increasingly difficult to play chords or bend notes? Then the frets are perhaps not so smooth anymore. In this case, the safest option is to take your guitar to a luthier to see if more work is needed.
5. How can I clean metal or electronic parts such as guitar pickups?For most guitarists, this is the hardest part when it comes to cleaning their instrument. Right after intense rehearsals or an ecstatic performance, it’s recommended to wipe down the hardware of your guitar with a moist cloth. Some musicians even like to use a little bit of glass cleaner here. But beware! Only use ever a dry cloth to wipe down the pickups. Electronics and moisture don’t go together very well, and any combination of the two can be dangerous. If there’s a layer of dust or dirt on the pickups, use a soft-bristle toothbrush to loosen up the grime and blow any remaining bits out with some compressed air. You don’t want these parts to rust because that’ll only mean more work. You might even have to replace corroded hardware so, in case of rust, take your instrument to a guitar specialist for advice. The same goes for oxidised electronics; don’t simply start spraying electrical contact cleaner all over!
6. How do I clean my guitar strings?Many guitar and bass players never wipe their strings clean after playing, but if you want the sound to remain bright and fresh for longer, cleaning the strings is certainly recommended.
Disposable String Cleaning Cloths
7. What do I use to maintain proper tuning stability?First off all, check if there’s any leeway or looseness in the machine heads and hardware that could cause poor tuning stability, and keep in mind that installing new and good quality strings contributes to more stable tuning. If, however, you still feel like there’s room for improvement after replacing old strings, apply a drop of string lubricant below the strings at both the string nut and the bridge saddle. You can find even more tips in our guitar tuning blog. Guitar Strings
8. How important is humidity for a guitar??If you own an acoustic guitar and the air in the room it’s in is dry, it’s advisable to store the instrument in a bag or case along with a humidifier, which often fits nicely inside the soundhole. To find out what your particular guitar needs, you can read our blog on the ‘solidness’ of the wood used for guitar bodies. If certain wooden parts of your electric or hollow-body guitar aren’t coated in lacquer, it’s also advisable to store the guitar in a case along with a humidifier. To make sure the conditions your guitar is kept in are not too dry or too humid, a hygrometer (humidity sensor) is a worthy purchase. If the surroundings are too wet, in the worst case scenario, the wood would begin to rot. In which case you won’t be able to enjoy your guitar for very long! String Instrument Cases & Bags
9. Which tools can come in handy during guitar maintenance?When you’re working on keeping your guitar in shape, there are a few tools and accessories that can help you out. For example, you could use a neck support to rest your guitar safely while you clean or carry out little maintenance jobs, and if you’re replacing old strings with a pack of fresh ones, it’s nice to have a tuner, a couple of picks, a string winder and pliers handy. And, if you have an acoustic guitar, using a bridge pin puller will keep the pins free from any damage. You can learn more about tuning and setting up your guitar in our dedicated blogs linked below. Guitar Neck Supports & Headstands
Links & More InformationProduct Categories Guitar Maintenance Products Blogs & Buyer’s Guides Blog: How to Set Up Your Electric Guitar
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