What's Appropriate to Clean Mandolins With?

[Nalapombu]

Hey all,

As I was changing my strings the other day I noticed quite a bit of dull looking areas of my mandolin. It's nothing bad, it hasn't been wiped down in YEARS. It has been in its case for maybe 8 or 9 years and only taken out a few times when my nephew would horse around with it and try to play. I never really cleaned it in all the time I had it.

So...I'm pretty sure it's in need of a good cleaning. I wanted to ask you all to make sure I am not going to put anything on it that would not be good for it.

My mando has the exact same finish as this Weber Gallatin. A spruce top and a Mahogany back and sides and neck.

I need to know what do I do to clean it really good. Do I use any kind of polish or furniture polish on it or anything like that?

Any help and suggestions are appreciated.


Sorry...here's a link to the Gallatin that has the finish like mine if you want to see what you are talking about.
http://www.themandolinstore.com/scri...idProduct=9966


Thanks

Nalajr

[JeffD]

This thread might be of interest: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...ng-maintenance

Other than wiping the instrument and strings down with a microfiber cloth before returning it to its case after play, I have never cleaned the mandolin.

[mandotim1955]

This recipe for cleaner/polish was given to me by the person I bought my 1920 A2 from. It works really well on the A2, the F5 and lots of guitars.
Musical instrument polish
Mixture;
2 parts olive oil
4 parts white wine vinegar
3 parts essence of turpentine (from art shops)
Mix and shake well to emulsify. Apply with a cloth and buff with a dry clean cloth.
Note; this is essence of turpentine, not raw turpentine!
Tim

[bart mcneil]

Any abrasive cleaner will remove the finish, gradually but surely. Some instruments have very thin finishes. As a rule a slightly damp cotton cloth should be all you need.

I believe in the school that says the less you mess with the finish the better.

[mandotool]

sweat works pretty good..or if you have a real stubborn refinish ..some folks like to use a pocket knife to scrape it off..

[SincereCorgi]

I would use some generic instrument cleaner spritz like Dunlop 65 and a very clean cotton rag. I would be very wary about using things like food oils.

[Tobin]

I would be very wary about using things like food oils.

Well, dang. I was about to post my bacon grease & bourbon mandolin-cleaning recipe, but there's too many critics in here.

[Steve Ostrander]

This recipe for cleaner/polish was given to me by the person I bought my 1920 A2 from. It works really well on the A2, the F5 and lots of guitars.
Musical instrument polish
Mixture;
2 parts olive oil
4 parts white wine vinegar
3 parts essence of turpentine (from art shops)
Mix and shake well to emulsify. Apply with a cloth and buff with a dry clean cloth.
Note; this is essence of turpentine, not raw turpentine!

Substitute some Rosemary and ground peppercorns for the turpentine and you got yourself a nice salad dressing

[LongBlackVeil]

What do you need to clean it for? You taking it to a wedding?

[Denny Gies]

I have found that Martin Guitar polish works well for me.

[Barry Wilson]

I bought window cleaner concentrate for detailing cars. a gallon of the stuff. 2 oz with water makes a gallon. 7 yrs and 1000's of cars and I barely made a dent in the concentrate. I'll have that stuff for the rest of my life... so I pit that Sh>> on everything

[fatt-dad]

Lighter fluid.

f-d

[doc holiday]

Fatt-dad ....... you're right on the money. It worked great for Jimi Hendrix

[fatt-dad]

that is funny Doc. No joke naptha (Ronson liquid lighter fluid) works just fine. Overall though I use damp micro-cloth.

f-d

[Nalapombu]

My mando, a Bitterroot with the natural finish in matte on the top and mahogany sides and back. So, it's not like the mandos you guys/gals have with that beautiful burst or other great looking finish on it. Mine is plain, nothing shiny on it anywhere. I don't think the back and sides need to be cleaned, that orangish wood doesn't show dirt or dust very mush at all. I just wiped it off with a T-Shirt. I did that too on the top and didn't put anything on it. There are still a couple spots that look like they need a little something extra to get off. There are also some dirty areas on the fretboard that need to be wiped down too.

Thanks all for the help.

Can I get a bottle of that Salad Dressing?

Nalajr

[spufman]

I like the Gibson pump polish lightly sprayed on a soft rag, once in a while. I have an older gloss Gallatin and it works really well.

[jim simpson]

I like to use Naptha as well.