How to Polish an Acoustic Guitar

Acoustic guitars are beloved instruments, and like all prized possessions, they deserve a little bit of tender loving care. If your acoustic guitar has lost its new instrument shine, here are a few tips to help you polish your guitar and get it looking like new.

Things You'll Need

• At least two soft, clean cotton cloths
• Lemon oil (optional)
• Guitar polish (no paste wax or heavy polish)
• Fingerboard polish or oil (optional)

Instructions

1. Use a soft, clean cotton cloth, such as a strip of an old T-shirt, to remove and dirt, grime and dust from your guitar. If your guitar needs a bit of extra cleaning, particularly on the fingerboard, use a light mist of lemon oil. Make sure that the oil dries completely before you add polish. For easy polishing and best results, remove your strings so that you can get to those hard-to-reach areas.

2. Apply a very light amount of guitar polish to your cloth and begin on the body of the guitar. It is important that you use polish specially designed for guitars, since heavy polishes used on furniture can muffle the sound of your guitar.

3. Apply the polish in a circular motion, working over all the edges and into the cracks along the bridge. Don't forget the bridge and bridge pins as well.

4. Polish the sides of the guitar before moving to the head stock, working around the tuning heads and pins. Once finished, flip the guitar over and polish along the sides of the body and the back, working up the back of the neck, as well.

5. Decide if you will use the same polish for the fingerboard or a special polish made to keep the fingerboards slick for easy sliding. How you work the fingerboard is up to you. Many people use the same polish and then apply an extra polish directly to the strings; others use only special polish for fingerboards on the board and strings.

6. Reapply polish where necessary to get your desired shine. Once finished, use a soft, clean cloth to buff the service.