How to Keep Guitar Strings Clean

Keep your strings protected from corrosion!

Playing guitar can provide countless hours of enjoyment, but all of that time spent jamming can really start to wear on your strings. The oils in your fingers and the dirt and grime that stick to them can shorten the life span of your guitar strings drastically. The following tips will teach you an easy way to keep your strings in good working order, and you probably already have the necessary items in your house.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Rag
• WD-40 (or other lubricating spray)

1. Spray a rag (new or old, just as long as it isn't dirty) with WD-40 or another lubricating spray. Don't use too much; you don't want the rag dripping wet, just wet enough to moisten the strings well.

2. Wipe the rag over the guitar strings, being careful not to accidentally get any on the guitar body. Rub fairly hard, as this will loosen up dirt and crud that has dried on the strings.

3. Allow the strings to dry before playing again. If you don't, you'll get the oil all over your hands and you'll spread it up the fretboard and onto the body and pickups, which is not where you want it to go! Just the strings!

Tips & Warnings

• Use just enough oil to dampen the rag. Don't drench it

• Allow the strings to dry or you'll have an oily mess everywhere!