How to Care for a Xylophone

Wooden bar maintenance is the key to xylophone longevity.

Xylophones remain in good condition for decades if cared for properly. A xylophone's wooden bars are sensitive to temperature and humidity; the wood expands in hot, humid environments and contracts in cold, humid environments. The wooden bars may also dry out in hot, dry environments. These conditions, along with improper playing and storage techniques, lead to cracked, chipped and dented wooden bars.

Things You'll Need

• Cloth cover
• Non-caustic furniture polish
• Fine paste wax

Instructions

1. Store your xylophone in a temperature- and humidity-controlled room. Use an air conditioner or heater, along with a dehumidifier, to keep the temperature between 64 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity between 30% and 40%.

2. Cover your xylophone with a cloth when storing it and keep the instrument away from heaters, radiators and direct sunlight.

3. Wash the wooden bars with a non-caustic furniture polish when they become dirty and wax the bars once a month with a fine paste wax to maintain the instrument's finish. Follow the directions of the particular polish and wax you use.

4. Avoid using acrylic mallets, as they cause scuffing and dents and can lead to cracked bars.

5. Avoid touching xylophone bars with your hands. Salt from human skin degrades the finish of wooden bars.

Tips & Warnings

• Dry the wooden bars immediately with a cloth if they become wet.

• Store your xylophone in a safe place when not in use.

• Sudden changes in temperature can cause wooden bars to crack. Avoid transporting xylophones from a very cold environment to a very hot environment, and vice versa.

References

• Caring for your Marimba or Xylophone Bars: Graham C. Johns
• Xylophone and Marimba Method; Florence Schaefer; 1985