Clean instruments

[Tillmanator]

Hi Folks,

I have this thing about keeping my instruments clean. Wash my hands and brush my teeth (before the flute) and keep rags around me all the time so I can wipe and such. Then when I put them away I wipe and inspect and wipe and inspect and polish and shine and wipe and polish......

Is anyone else as fanatic as I am? Who wipes and polishes like a freak and who just puts them back in their cases?

Just curious if I"m demented and weird.

[mandopete]

Yes.

[Mike Bunting]

Not me. But since you reminded me, I'd better get to it!

[Chris Biorkman]

Yes. I think it's a manifestation of OCD, but I just can't stop.

[pjlama]

I wash my hands a lot! I only clean the instruments during the regular monthly cleaning.

[Chris Biorkman]

I really like the Jupiter Silkweave cloths that Ted sells on the Jazzmando site. Just one swipe and all of the grit and hand cheese wipe away.

[JEStanek]

I wash my hands before I play and wipe down the strings before I put it away. I think it's more because I'm cheap and want to get the most out of my strings. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Jamie

[Siminole]

I will wipe the mando and strings down with a dry dusting cloth after every playing. #I do a good basic cleaning every time I change out the strings. #I'm not much for polishing or wax, really don't see the need.

[JoeK421]

Count me in as another clean fanatic. I do have one mandolin out on a stand for regular play, but the others are in their cases. I wipe down each after play. And wash my hands before playing.

[John Hill]

Now how's it supposed to ever look distressed?

[Rick Schmidlin]

Not me in the case out of the case, a small wipe and that's it. Plays like and angel and looks like a well played mandolin.

[MLT]

Both of mine are out on stands so that I can play as I want. I try to wipe them down every day after playing...just not always successful

[mandroid]

Thanks to the new Carbon Fiber Composite Mandolins,
you can take those to play at the Tractor Pull &
Mud Wrestling weekends.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[mandolooter]

I like to wash my hands before I play but only wipe my mando down once in a while.

[gnelson651]

I also wash my hands before I start to play. I then wipe down the strings and front before returning the mando to its case (and make sure that the neck strap is attached). When I'm at a festival, I'll use hand sanitizer before I jam.

[Brady Smith]

Let's see...my current truck is about to turn 8 years old (ya...I'm over due). I have never washed it...so...nope, the mando doesn't stand a chance of seeing a rag.

[Tillmanator]

Let's see...my current truck is about to turn 8 years old (ya...I'm over due). #I have never washed it...so...nope, the mando doesn't stand a chance of seeing a rag.
Holy Moly! I wash my car at least once a week! I think I have OCD.

[Dan Adams]

I'm thinking this is another trick question, much like those people whom inquire about selling one of their mandolins. Both are unlikely scenerios. Dan

[Chris Biorkman]

What? That didn't make any sense.

[Bob A]

Not demented; "weird" is a judgement call that I'm not willing to make. Obsessive-compulsive folks have a place in this world. I suppose if taken to extremes it can rightfully be called a disorder, but I think it makes for excellent surgeons, just to name one area where they're appreciated.

On the other hand, varnish is not forever. I think one can go too far with the clean mandolin thing. But then I'm a bit of a slob. As to washing hands before playing, I suspect it depends on where they've been previously.

[CES]

Let's see...my current truck is about to turn 8 years old (ya...I'm over due). #I have never washed it...so...nope, the mando doesn't stand a chance of seeing a rag.
Holy Moly! #I wash my car at least once a week! #I think I have OCD.
Never been a big car washer, and the drought down here has given me a great excuse not to start up now...drinking water vs clean ride...not a choice I want to have to make!

Aside from that, I'm a pretty clean guy...really, I am http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif...I wash my hands before I play and will wipe down when I change strings (unless I'm in a hurry). Otherwise, she just goes back in the case. Of course, my mando would barely qualify as a beater for a lot of you folks!

[JeffD]

I wipe it quickly before putting it away in the case. Thats all.

[eadg145]

My bandmates/jamming buddies have called me "Mr. Antiseptic." I always wash my hands thoroughly before playing. NO BELT BUCKLES! I either remove my belt or "restring" it one loop over, to protect the backs of my instruments. Lately, I've been wearing a very nifty hidden buckle belt that my Sweetheart gave me, so the buckle thing isn't a problem. No zippers or metal buttons allowed, either. After playing, I wipe down the strings thoroughly, as well as all surfaces that have been touched during play. I put the instrument into the case, then wipe it down once more where I've been touching it (to put it into the case.)
I usually have an instrument out on a stand for easy grabbing. That also requires freshly washed hands, and gets wiped down before being replaced. I also have a small ultrasoft paintbrush handy so that I can get the dust that accumulates at the nut and bridge of the instrument on the stand.
(And yes, I do carry wet wipes to a gig or jam where there won't be any water handy.)

Normally, I wouldn't broadcast all this in a public forum, but since Lynn asked so nicely, I'm coming clean (so to speak http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif ). As to the OCD thing, I'd say that in general I would definitely not fit into that category. "I'm obsessive, but not compulsive."

cheers,

David

[Ivan Kelsall]

I usually wipe any marks off my Mandolin after i've played it & probably wipe it over with a thin skiff of polish once a month to bring it back to top condition. I do wash my hands before i play,that just feels better. I wipe the strings down after playing & if they start to feel a bit 'sticky for any reason,i just wipe them over with a small drop of 3-in-one oil on a piece of kitchen roll & then wipe it off thoroughly.No need to press the strings down,so no oil gets onto the fingerboard. I also do as David above does,use a small,fine bristled paint brush (1/2" wide),to get out any dust from around the head & body scrolls & from underneath the tailpiece & from in front of & behind the bridge.
David's spot on re.his observations re.belt buckles,buttons etc.. Many years ago,i bought a beautiful acoustic Guitar. After a few weeks i took it to a luthier to have him set it up properly. In his workshop,he had a good look at the Guitar front & back,checked a few things out & then placed it face down on his workbench. I was admiring the lovely Rosewood back,when i saw a large indentation sort of scratch on the back. The finish hadn't broken through,just 'dented'. I was stunned !. I'm careful with my instruments,but this damage had obviously been caused by a belt buckle - never again !. I remove my belt when i'm at home,if i'm out,i move the buckle round to my left hand side,out of the way or wear a sweater (if it's cold).
Some folk might think that we're a bit OTT re.our cleaning,but having paid a lot of cash for a beautiful instrument,& there aren't many instruments more beautiful than Mandolins (IMHO),i want to keep mine looking as new as when i bought it for as long as i can,
Saska

[jim_n_virginia]

Well I guess I never noticed it before but I guess I'm the oddball scrounge ... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I never wash my hand before playing (to me it takes all the oils out of my hands and it doesn't sound as good and I don't play as well) and I never wipe my instruments down before or after playing, I guess I should.

And I'm usually in a hurry when I change strings so my mandolin usually doesn't get cleaned unless it's a quick wipe just to get the dust out from underneath the strings.

I have sat down just to clean the entire instrument but it's like once or twice a year. It just doesn't get all that dirty to me. It gets dusty a little and since I play with an open hand (as opposed to a closed fist) my ring finger and pinky on my picking hand lightly brushes the top and sometimes there is some finger gunk there but you can barely see it.

Funny thing is I have a SUV and a truck that I wash once a week and keep pretty clean all the time! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[arbarnhart]

Now how's it supposed to ever look distressed?
A daily cleaning will make the finish wear off quicker, not last longer, so it is actually a distressing technique.

[JGWoods]

I clean them before I put them on ebay and sell them. No other time...

[Givson]

Unless you've got a varnish finish, I don't think a daily cleaning with a microfiber cloth and perhaps a little water will cause any wear to the finish.

Varnish is another story.

[jimbob]

I try to mop up the beer spills... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Bob Wiegers]

only when changing the strings, and I'm lazy there too, so that's about 3 or 4 times a year. see, there ARE advantages of owning only cheapo instruments.

[arbarnhart]

Polishing is minimally abrasive, but to do any good it has to be ever so slightly abrasive. Good microfiber just makes that tiny amount very consistent. It will take a *lot* of polishing to produce wear on a nitro finish, but it certainly will eventually.

[CES]

A hearty 3rd regarding buckle rash, though you can occasionally get a sweet deal on a fine instrument from a dealer who's had a few customers not so careful with these things...

[earthsave]

Only if I spill something on it that affects my playing or could damage the instrument.

[Frank Russell]

After reading, maybe my daily routine is not so normal after all. I carefully make my way across the tiled floor, without stepping on any cracks, to my case. I open and shut each case latch three times each, and then put my mandolin on its stand, which is perfectly centered in the middle of my living room. I then spend about two hours cleaning up my house, as I cannot concentrate on enjoying my music when I know there is dust under the bed, or dirty dishes in the sink. When I am done tidying up, I go into the bathroom and open up two new bars of soap. To avoid cross-contamination, I use one for the left and one for the right hand. I then proceed back to the living room, hands held over my head to avoid violating the sterile field. I take out a fresh set of strings from the case of them I bought from JustStrings, and I change the strings on my mandolin. Using latex gloves, I carefully remove and dispose of yesterday's strings. A liberal application of Lysol to the entire instrument, and I'm ready to play. All in all, I'm ready to play each evening in a little under four hours. Much better than when I used to play the harp. Plus, mandolin strings come in nice, soothing even numbered sets. Now I just have to touch my computer screen ten times, and hit "Add Reply." Frank

[midmando]

The only time I go to extra effort is after one of my kids has played my guitar or mando - there's something about kid chemistry that seems to rust strings on contact...

[James P]

Be careful not to leave your mandolin pointed toward the door. All the tone escapes that way.

[eadg145]

Yeah, Frank, I hear ya. Been there, done that... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Tillmanator]

After reading, maybe my daily routine is not so normal after all. #I carefully make my way across the tiled floor, without stepping on any cracks, to my case. #I open and shut each case latch three times each, and then put my mandolin on its stand, which is perfectly centered in the middle of my living room. #I then spend about two hours cleaning up my house, as I cannot concentrate on enjoying my music when I know there is dust under the bed, or dirty dishes in the sink. #When I am done tidying up, I go into the bathroom and open up two new bars of soap. #To avoid cross-contamination, I use one for the left and one for the right hand. #I then proceed back to the living room, hands held over my head to avoid violating the sterile field. #I take out a fresh set of strings from the case of them I bought from JustStrings, and I change the strings on my mandolin. #Using latex gloves, I carefully remove and dispose of yesterday's strings. #A liberal application of Lysol to the entire instrument, and I'm ready to play. #All in all, I'm ready to play each evening in a little under four hours. #Much better than when I used to play the harp. #Plus, mandolin strings come in nice, soothing even numbered sets. #Now I just have to touch my computer screen ten times, and hit "Add Reply." #Frank
LOLOLOLOL!

I can't stop laughing.

And that was a good idea in an earlier post about the little brush for the dust near the nut! Gonna get me one of those.

[JEStanek]

That's gold, Frank, gold!

Jamie http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Chris Biorkman]

After reading, maybe my daily routine is not so normal after all. #I carefully make my way across the tiled floor, without stepping on any cracks, to my case. #I open and shut each case latch three times each, and then put my mandolin on its stand, which is perfectly centered in the middle of my living room. #I then spend about two hours cleaning up my house, as I cannot concentrate on enjoying my music when I know there is dust under the bed, or dirty dishes in the sink. #When I am done tidying up, I go into the bathroom and open up two new bars of soap. #To avoid cross-contamination, I use one for the left and one for the right hand. #I then proceed back to the living room, hands held over my head to avoid violating the sterile field. #I take out a fresh set of strings from the case of them I bought from JustStrings, and I change the strings on my mandolin. #Using latex gloves, I carefully remove and dispose of yesterday's strings. #A liberal application of Lysol to the entire instrument, and I'm ready to play. #All in all, I'm ready to play each evening in a little under four hours. #Much better than when I used to play the harp. #Plus, mandolin strings come in nice, soothing even numbered sets. #Now I just have to touch my computer screen ten times, and hit "Add Reply." #Frank
I thought I was the only one. Lol!

[lovethemf5s]

I asked my wife if she would keep my mando clean and she balked.

[GTison]

I kept my 1st F5 clean for about 10 years. A picking friend said is that a new mandolin? I said no. He said do you have kids? I said no. he said "hhumph"
THEN I HAD KIDS. And the distressing commenced from that point.

I see that you are a Female no offense but that changes my whole outlook on this subject. You are probably normal. Now isn't that weird? If you were a male, I'd say your OCD symptoms might be the tip of the iceburg or that you weren't even married. Nevermind.:)

[JoeD]

I ride 'em hard and put them away wet. Truth be told, my MT is collecting an unusual amount of mojo for a two-year old instrument.

I do wash my hands before playing if I've recently eaten chicken wings though.

[gnelson651]

My guess is that a well taken care of instrument with little wear and near mint condition would fetch more money than a distressed instrument (with the exception of Monroe's mandolin and #Gibson Distressed models).

[Jonathan Peck]

I never play without my bubble suit.

[woodwizard]

I make sure my hands are absolutely clean and I guess I'm one of those polisher/wipe her down kinda guys before and after.