Cleaning the mandolin

[chordbanger]

I know this has probably been asked before, but what do you use to clean your mandolin?

[Mr. Loar]

I've been using Endust on all my 30+ instruments for as long as it's been available. It cleans, polishes, and smells wonderdul.

[Tim2723]

Endust works, honest, but I use just about any polish as long as it is silicone free. Silicone can be very bad, as it has a tendency to end up where you don't want it and is very hard to remove when you want to.

You'll find tons of good info on this subject here.

[Chris Biorkman]

Buy a Jupiter cloth from jazzmando.com. That's all you need.

[MandoBen]

This stuff is a miracle product, available at http://www.cumberlandacoustics.com/
NFI

[chordbanger]

What does anyone think about using Windex and water to clean an instrument? I know a lot of musicians who do that.

[JEStanek]

Here are some older threads on the topic (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search&CODE=02&SID=484b3fe641e56372) I searched for clean AND your AND mandolin. I usually use a soft damp cloth followed by a dry soft cloth on the rare occasions mine need it. I wipe down the strings after use with a microfiber cloth. Maybe once a year or two I'll give the fingerboard a little oil couple of drops on an old t-shirt rub over then wipe off excess. That's it.

Jamie

[Rick Crenshaw]

People clean their mandolins?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Where's the love for the mojo? Ya'll gonna wipe th'mojo off???http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[John Flynn]

Here's a question: What would you use to clean a distressed mandolin? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Rocky Top]

I like the Gibson instrument polish. Cleans really good and it don't leave any residue. That and a couple of flannel polishing cloths along with Mr. Myagi's wax on wax off routine will fix you right up.

[man dough nollij]

Here's a question: What would you use to clean a distressed mandolin? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
A fireplace poker. Yep.

[Dave Hanson]

Everybody knows you use sandpaper to clean a distressed mandolin.

Dave H

[Mr. Loar]

I like the Gibson instrument polish. Cleans really good and it don't leave any residue. That and a couple of flannel polishing cloths along with Mr. Myagi's wax on wax off routine will fix you right up.
I used Gibson polish on a Martin 5-28 and it screwed up the finish by causing permanent streaks.

[kestrel]

A 2500 PSI Troy Bilt pressure washer.

Oh, "mandolin". I misread. That's the sidewalk. The mandolin just gets dirty. Free distressing. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Gene

[burcher]

I used 'guitar polish' back in the day and, not realizing it at the time, essentially sealed in the gunk I was trying to wipe off under the wax. THat mando (long gone now) had a nice cloudy finish all over where I had done this. Aside from that, I've been able to keep my other mandos clean by NOT USING polishes and just wiping them off. Maybe soapy water on a cloth when there's something nasty. If your finish doesn't come clean from wiping, you might have done something similar to what I did above.

[mandroid]

I use a stiff bristle tooth brush to clean off the fingerboard , every once in a while.

[Gutbucket]

People clean their mandolins?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif #Where's the love for the mojo? #Ya'll gonna wipe th'mojo off???http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
I was just at a festival this weekend and accidently dropped my mandolin in a puddle of mojo. Man, is that stuff hard to get off! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[jim simpson]

steel wool and gasoline (though with gas prices, I might have to cut back!)

[emitfo]

I clean all my instruments with a lemon oil (about $3-4 at your local drug or grocery store) soaked t-shirt that I keep in jar. None of my instruments are varnish so I don't know how it would affect them. Otherwise it's the best way to treat any wood instrument. I have friends I've known for years that used to jokingly mock me about "making my instrument smell good" who now. years later admit that they sound and look great.

Rub instrument with Lemon Oil soaked rag, rub dry with a soft, lint free or low lint cloth. I have a pair of the very diapers (yea, I'm giving away my age!) I wore as a young-un that me mum turned into a rag that I still use exclusively for that purpose.

Be kind to your instruments--just think of all they give to you!

[allenhopkins]

People clean their mandolins?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif #Where's the love for the mojo? #Ya'll gonna wipe th'mojo off???http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
You sound like a customer for this stuff, courtesy of Lark Street Music (http://www.larkstreetmusic.com/stock.html) in NJ:

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[violmando]

I use lemon oil on my '20s upright bass and it's varnished so that's OK. Hey, no matter what you use, just test it out a bit first to make sure it does what you want, OK? I LOVE what lemon oil does--takes off the dirt, but leaves the patina and shine. Yvonne

[Steven Stone]

Everybody knows that lemon oil isn't oil from lemons right?

It is a generic name and different lemon oils can have very different formulations.

One person's lemon oil can be great for everything while the next could be good for nothing...

How do you know which is which? #You don't unless you try it.

The safest way to clean a mandolin is water and a soft cloth.

Anything else involves some degree of risk...

I always start with water and then move onto stronger stuff, just like when I go to a bar... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[jbrwky]

Spit. And one of those microfiber cloths from walmart.

[catmandu2]

Just make very sure that the business end is pointing AWAY from you while cleaning it...

[RobP]

What works best for a satin finish?

[mandroid]

Satin, finish lacquer? probably go with the Damp cloth [water] or leave it be.. .

keep the accumulated dead skin cells on the fretboard to a reasonable level.

[frankenstein]

What works best for a satin finish?
gloss & distressed lemons.