How to Clean a Flute

Music and bacteria don't mix well (except maybe in a George Lucas movie). Dry out the interior tube of your flute daily.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flute Maintenance Kits
• Top-grade Key LUBRICANTS
• Cotton Sheets Material
• Small Chamois Cloth

1. Purchase a flute-cleaning rod at your local music store if you don't have one.

2. Cut or tear an old sheet or pillowcase to make a strip of cloth 2 inches wide and between 15 and 30 inches long.

3. Thread this cloth through the needle-like slot in the end of the cleaning rod.

4. Uncouple the flute at the joints so that the mouthpiece pipe, main body and foot joints are separated.

5. Draw the cloth on the cleaning rod through each of the sections so that all the moisture is removed.

6. If you play the instrument a lot, it's wise to have two or three cleaning cloths. Launder and dry them, or replace them. Freshness is important.

Tips & Warnings

• A new flute comes with a 6- to 8-inch-long cleaning rod. It's made of aluminum and has a thumb loop at one end. The other end is flattened and has a 1- to 2-inch-long slot in it.
• Take care when removing the foot joint. It has a very small and delicate key connection that can very easily be bent. This affects the closure of a keypad producing a low register note.
• Mold buildup occurs if moisture and dampness are not removed regularly.

on 8/23/2006 You can use tiny brushes or pipe cleaners to clean between the keys, but be careful not to move any of the springs. If you don't think you can do this carefully, try and take it to a repair shop or music store.

on 8/2/2006 If you play outside during band class, lay it out overnight to dry. If you don't, your pads will shrink and fall out. Always take it apart to let it dry.

on 7/4/2006 Dip your cotton bud in Silvo (same manufacturer as Brasso I think) and clean between the keys and rods, changing buds regularly and polish off with the same, taking care not to get on the pads. Larger areas can be cleaned with soft yellow polishing duster. Flute comes up like new.

on 6/30/2006 Contrary to popular belief, never clean your flute pads with cigarette papers. On your pads there is a very thin skin and the cigarette paper can break this fragile skin and cause air leaks.

Never use silver liquid polish on your flute, no matter how instrument friendly they say they are, they will strip your flute of precious silvers. Only use a silver polishing cloth and nothing else. And try not to clean between the keys, it can knock them off key. If need be, take your instrument to an instrument cleaner who can do it the proper way and without causing damage. Flutes are a lot more delicate than you may think.

on 6/30/2006 Place the cleaning rod into the head joint backwards. The notch in the handle end of the rod should line up with the middle of the hole which you blow across. Tighten or loosen the screw on the back of the head joint to align.