You're Rotten to the Core!
Continuing on my quest to inform my clients about proper instrument maintenance, I am going to explore the art of chemical cleaning for brass instruments. Often students will be advised to give their instrument a “bath” with soap and water. While some may think they are helping their instrument, really, it is a waste of time. For starters, disassembling instruments and putting them back together can be tricky work. More often than not, parts are not interchangeable on the instrument. For example, all of the components off of valve #1 on a trumpet should be put back on valve #1, to ensure proper function as specified by the factory. Second, soap and water is only one of the steps in the cleaning process. Soap and water will remove “the Twinkies” as my instructor in repair school would state, but it will not remove the elements that are causing the metal to deteriorate from saliva. That can only be done with special chemicals performed by a professional. When lime and scale, which is what builds up as a result of saliva, is not removed, corrosion and decay are the result. Eventually, the saliva build up will break down the metal and cause it to erode, resulting in holes, cracks, and breakage. Since one always wants to protect their investment, I recommend having your brass instrument chemically cleaned once a year. The cost is inexpensive compared to the cost of the instrument itself. And, it also promotes proper instrument hygiene, which is often overlooked. As you can see from the above picture, this trombone lacked proper maintenance and as a result, the inner slide cracked and is now unusable. It’s too late for this trombone, but don’t let it be too late for yours! RIP trombone, you will be missed!
Continuing on my quest to inform my clients about proper instrument maintenance, I am going to explore the art of chemical cleaning for brass instruments. Often students will be advised to give their instrument a “bath” with soap and water. While some may think they are helping their instrument, really, it is a waste of time. For starters, disassembling instruments and putting them back together can be tricky work. More often than not, parts are not interchangeable on the instrument. For example, all of the components off of valve #1 on a trumpet should be put back on valve #1, to ensure proper function as specified by the factory. Second, soap and water is only one of the steps in the cleaning process. Soap and water will remove “the Twinkies” as my instructor in repair school would state, but it will not remove the elements that are causing the metal to deteriorate from saliva. That can only be done with special chemicals performed by a professional. When lime and scale, which is what builds up as a result of saliva, is not removed, corrosion and decay are the result. Eventually, the saliva build up will break down the metal and cause it to erode, resulting in holes, cracks, and breakage. Since one always wants to protect their investment, I recommend having your brass instrument chemically cleaned once a year. The cost is inexpensive compared to the cost of the instrument itself. And, it also promotes proper instrument hygiene, which is often overlooked. As you can see from the above picture, this trombone lacked proper maintenance and as a result, the inner slide cracked and is now unusable. It’s too late for this trombone, but don’t let it be too late for yours! RIP trombone, you will be missed!
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