Care & Cleaning

Clarinets and Oboes

1. Carefully remove the instrument from the case, being careful not to bend keys or rods, especially while assembling.
2. Remove the reed after playing, placing it in a reed case to dry.
3. Always swab the bore of your instrument after playing to remove moisture. A silk swab is best. If playing for long periods, swab after 20–30 minutes to keep moisture off the pads.
4. Wipe the keys and exterior with a soft cloth to remove oils and perspiration from your hands.
5. Never leave a wood instrument in a closed car, especially on a warm day.
6. Grease the corks regularly. Rub cork grease into them — but don't use too much or too often, or the corks will rot.
7. Place the cap over the mouthpiece before storing, and always return the instrument to its case.

Flutes and Piccolos

1. Remove the flute carefully from the case, being careful not to bend the keys or rods — preferably pick it up by the ends.
2. Assemble with a slow back-and-forth twisting motion. Never push or pull when assembling or disassembling — this can bend the joints.
3. Carefully wipe the tenons with a soft cloth to remove built-up debris. Never use lubricants on tenons.
4. After playing, use a cleaning rod with an absorbent cloth to swab out the inside of all parts. Wipe the outside to remove oils or perspiration.
5. Always store the flute in its case when not in use to help prevent damage and tarnishing. Don't place anything in the case that could press on the flute.

Saxophone

1. Remove the reed after playing, placing it in a reed case to dry.
2. When finished playing, swab the inside with a swab made for saxophones. Be sure to remove the moisture that may have collected in the bow.
3. Wipe the keys and exterior with a soft cloth to remove oils and perspiration.
4. When removing the neck, be careful not to bend it or damage the neck tenon. Never pick up the saxophone by the neck.
5. Grease the mouthpiece cork — sparingly.
6. Always replace the tenon end plug to protect the tenon.
7. Place the cap over the mouthpiece before storing. Always store the saxophone in its case.

Piston Valve Brass — Daily

1. Oil valves daily — a few drops of premium valve oil to each valve.
2. When finished playing, remove excess moisture by opening each water key and blowing through the instrument.
3. Wipe the exterior with a clean, soft cloth to remove oils and perspiration.
4. When replacing valve caps, be careful not to cross-thread them. If any resistance is felt, stop and start over.
5. Never try to remove a stuck mouthpiece yourself. Take it to someone who has a mouthpiece puller. Never use pliers.

Monthly Brass Care

1. Completely disassemble the instrument, including all valves and slides. Remove felts from pistons (you don't want to get the felts wet). Remember the order of the felts — this determines the valve alignment when reassembled. Don't try to remove stuck valves or slides yourself; take it to a qualified repair person.
2. Place all parts in a large sink or bathtub with warm water and a mild dishwashing soap. Do not use hot water.
3. Brush the inside of all tubing with a tubing/bottle brush of the proper size. Clean the outside with a sponge or soft cloth.
4. Thoroughly rinse with clear warm water and dry completely.
5. Assemble tuning slides with slide grease — thinner grease on 1st and 3rd trigger slides; otherwise regular tuning slide grease on all.
6. Carefully reassemble the valves, corks, felts, caps, and finger buttons. Oil valves with about 8–10 drops spaced over the valve, spinning the valve carefully as you insert it to distribute the oil.
7. Insert the valve into the casing, properly aligning it. Tighten the valve caps and replace the bottom caps.

Trombones

1. Follow steps 1–4 above for piston valve brass.
2. Assemble the tuning slide with slide grease.
3. Use slide cream and slide oil only for trombone slides. Always be careful when the slide is disassembled — it dents and bends easily, and these repairs are expensive.
4. Assemble the slide making sure the slide lock is in the correct position.

Rotor Valve Brass

These should be taken to a repair technician — rotary instruments have special requirements and are easily damaged at home.