INSTRUMENT CLEANING
Brass instruments are expensive to buy and repair yet 70% of instruments brought to any instrument repair shop exhibit problems due to lack of proper regular maintenance or cleaning. This needs to be done at least once a month!
BRASS INSTRUMENT CLEANING PROCEDURE (Should take about 10 minutes)

You will need the following:

Large towel, Paper towelsand lint-free cloth* Soapy luke-warm water (eg. Fairy Liquid) Flexible cleaning brush*

Mouthpiece brush* Valve Oil* (Besson, Blue Juice)

Vaseline

Slide cream or grease* (Trombones only)

*available from a good music shop

1. Lay a large towel on the floor - this is the best surface to work on. It is better to work on the floor as then you cannot drop anything

2. Flush a mild solution of soapy luke warm water into the bell of the instrument whilst in a basin or in the bath. Do not use hot water as this will remove the lacquer. Press the valves up and down so that all the tubes get cleaned.

3. Rinse through with cold water (to remove the soapy taste!). Blow into the instrument to check if there is still water in it. Turning the instrument through 360 degrees a few times often releases any trapped water. Dry thoroughly with thesoft towel.

4. Pull out the tuning slides in order so that they go back in the correct position! Use a flexible cleaning brush to thoroughly clean out the tuning slides and tubing. Grease the slides with a small amount of vaseline and wipe off any excess with a paper towel.

5. Unscrew the valve casings. The valve pistons should be carefully removed in order (they won't work if put back in the wrong sequence!) and dried. Use a paper towel or lint free cloth for th is purpose. Put a small amout of valve oil on each piston.

6. Trombones ONLY: Apply a small amount of good-quality trombone slide cream (Trombotine)or Slide-O- Mix should be applied to the inner slide and sprayed with clear water.

7. Always clean the mouthpiece thoroughly with warm water and a mouthpiece brush. Hard deposits can sometimes be scraped off with a toothpick. An accumulation of deposits in either mouthpiece or mouthpipe can have a very adverse effect on the performance of your instrument.

Remember that although brass instruments are made of metal, it is very easy to dent and bend the tuning slides and bell ---------- be gentle!

Do not use Brass or Silver polish on instruments. This will remove and scratch the lacquer. The lacquer should only be cleaned with a damp soft lint free cloth.