How to clean mando

[GS7]

Just bought my first mando, a Kentucky 505. I am wondering how to best clean the fingerprint and grease marks of the instrument. It hsa a nitrous-cellous "something or another" finish. What do people suggest?

Thanks!

[Chris Biorkman]

A lot of people will suggest that you use a cleaning product, but after trying just about everything out there, I think the best way to keep your instrument clean is to use one of the Jupiter silkwoven cloths that you can get from jazzmando.com. It picks up grime and cleans fingerprints with ease and is completely non-abrasive. You don't really need anything else, honestly.

[Weagle]

I agree with biorkman. Just a good cleaning type cloth. The wood on the instrument will really thank you with time.

Weagle

[MikeEdgerton]

Here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search&CODE=02&SID=487e509858801372) are a few pages of old threads on the subject. The manual that came with the Loars said to use gasoline to clean them. I wouldn't recommend that http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Mike Bunting]

[QUOTE]Here are a few pages of old threads on the subject. The manual that came with the Loars said to use gasoline to clean them. I wouldn't recommend that http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

--------------
Mike

Especially if you smoke!

[JeffD]

I guess the washing machine is right out. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[MikeEdgerton]

as is high pressure steam. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[JEStanek]

baking when filled with milk works...

Seriously, I just use a microfiber cloth.

Jamie

[foldedpath]

I use a dry microfiber cloth too. You can buy them much cheaper than at retail music stores if you go to an auto parts store like NAPA, or whatever equivalent is in your area. AFAIK, it's basically the same stuff.

[Rick Crenshaw]

Ya'll know you're wiping the tone and mojo right off of your mandolin. If you wipe it down enough, you'll eventually remove all the tone AND it will have no mojo. But, whatever.???

[Santiago]

I just use a little Brillo pad with some Comet, and viola -- I've got an Andy Statman special!

[Dragonflyeye]

Watch out for many of those microfiber cloths - they have an abrasive "tooth," which makes them ideal for scrubbing fingerprints off the wall (and they take a bit of paint off, along with the fingerprint), but less than ideal for cleaning a wood finish, like a coffeetable top or a mandolin.

I vote for the silkwoven cloth, without the gasoline. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Chris Biorkman]

Watch out for many of those microfiber cloths - they have an abrasive "tooth," which makes them ideal for scrubbing fingerprints off the wall (and they take a bit of paint off, along with the fingerprint), but less than ideal for cleaning a wood finish, like a coffeetable top or a mandolin.
I've been using the Jupiter cloth on my Ellis for six months every time I put it in its case and the finish is still as pristine as the day I got it.

[Tim2723]

There are a couple of new companies offering plastic slipcovers in A and F styles. Seriously though, Lemon Pledge and a paper towel. Honest.

[foldedpath]

The "tooth" on the polishing cloths I've been getting at NAPA auto parts store doesn't seem that aggressive. I don't think the car detailing nuts would use these for final polishing and fingerprint touch-up, if they were. It's mainly a function of how much elbow grease you're using. It doesn't take more than a few licks to take arm and finger gunk, spilled beer, BBQ sauce, etc. off a lacquered finish... if you don't let it build up too much.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

When I do let it build up like that, I might use a dab of safe (non-silicone) polish like the one sold by stewmac.com as a solvent. But I try not to let it get to that point.

Edit: I do recommend testing these cleaning/polishing cloths on a hidden area first though, especially if you have a soft finish like French Polish or very thin hand-rubbed varnish. Microfiber cloths are probably safe on MOST modern finishes, but better safe with a test than sorry.

[Dave Hanson]

Dettol and wire brush.

Dave H

[man dough nollij]

There are a couple of new companies offering plastic slipcovers in A and F styles. Seriously though, Lemon Pledge and a paper towel. Honest.
So many useful suggestions here. I wonder which one to go with? I think I do what the Destroyer of Mandolins does! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Bill Snyder]

Pledge (Lemon or other) has silicones in it. Most builders and repair persons would tell you to NOT use anything with silcone in it.

[Dragonflyeye]

"I've been using the Jupiter cloth on my Ellis for six months every time I put it in its case and the finish is still as pristine as the day I got it."

I checked the Jupiter out online and it's one of these super-soft, high grade flannel cleaning cloths, that they call a microfiber cloth. You can use it to clean eyeglasses, which would be the deciding factor for me. The microfiber cleaning cloths that have a texture like a washcloth are the ones I was warning about. They clean so well because the surface has little barbs on it. The packages often warn you away from wood surfaces. Anything that can be used on eyeglasses would be fine, I imagine. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[billkilpatrick]

i use a chamoix (chammy, shammy, shamoy) cloth without detergent, wax, soap, etc. pretty regularly after playing and clean the strings every now and then with a cloth carrying a drop or two of pure alcohol to remove oil and ... bits of HUMAN FLESH! ...

[Steve Ostrander]

FYI: It's called nitro cellulose lacquer finish. Don't use any solvents like acetone, mineral spirits or especially lacquer thinner as it will take the finish off.

I also would not recommend paper towels as it contains wood fibers that will scratch it.

[red7flag]

At the recommendation of Tim Scheerhorn I use a shammy with the simple glass (as in eyeglass) cleaner from Wal-Mart. Works fine with a Nitro finish.
Tony

[Rick Schmidlin]

See photo of Guthrie the cat on avator, after he plays my MF5 he always cleans it too http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[billkilpatrick]

just wrote to mike dulac (mid-missouri/big muddy) and he recommends the following for his instruments:

"Howard's Feed and Wax is the bomb. Available at your local hardward
store. Its a combo orange oil and carnuba and 'other' wax's. It smells
great and one can use it on all of the mando including fretboard."

... his have a natural finish (no nitro cellulose lacquer finish.)

probably not available here in europe:

http://www.howardproducts.com/feednwax.htm

[Bill Snyder]

Bill, what is a natural finish? I have used shellac and I have used nitrocellulose lacquer, but I am curious what a natural finish is.

[earthsave]

Spit shine!!

[mandocaster]

Bill, what is a natural finish? I have used shellac and I have used nitrocellulose lacquer, but I am curious what a natural finish is.
Ear wax

[F5GRun]

Im with Scot...A little spit and shirt Im currently wearing.

[re simmers]

I have used Martin guitar cleaner. #I have used a dry Martin guitar rag to clean the fretboard. #I still use rubbing alcohol on the strings, careful not to get it on the fretboard or anything else.

Now I don't clean anything but the strings. #I'm going for the Bill look. #I'm lookin' for the right pocket knife and broken glass.

[billkilpatrick]

Bill, what is a natural finish? I have used shellac and I have used nitrocellulose lacquer, but I am curious what a natural finish is.
Ear wax
... that will certainly make it easier for the CSI team to match the DNA with all the bits and pieces (ghoulish smiley symbol.)

i meant "natural" as opposed to "high gloss." i can feel the texture of the wood on my mid-missouri. not so with my epiphone, mm-30 with the nitro-what'sit-finish - that feels like butter scotch candy.

[mburkes]

I had some bad grime of unknown origin where the arm rests and the tailpiece cover. Luthier suggested Stelling polish used very carefully would help. It did!
I would have have the nerve to use it on my varnished mando. I just use micrfiber too.

If I had more mandos they would not get dirty so quick..... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[mandroid]

I use a stiff tooth brush on the gunk on the fingerboard that used to be part of Me.

[Five]

Guardsman polish does not have silicon in it. You can find it in some grocery and hardware stores. Guardsman was an old finishing company out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Use this instead of pledge or similar products. If it has grime that won't wipe off you can use naphtha (I wonder if this was what Gibson was referring to. Lighter fluid is naphtha) to clean and then polish with a good polish with no silicon. Silicon causes fish eye in lacquer when repair work is required and is a nightmare to deal with.

[Eddie Sheehy]

Here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search&CODE=02&SID=487e509858801372) are a few pages of old threads on the subject. The manual that came with the Loars said to use gasoline to clean them. I wouldn't recommend that http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Gasoline as a cleaner? Did my wife put you up to this?

[lovethemf5s]

See photo of Guthrie the cat on avator, after he plays my MF5 he always cleans it too http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
You're lucky if your cat Guthrie likes bluegrass. Mine will play nothing but Cat Stevens songs. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif