How to Clean an Acoustic Guitar Fretboard
Having a clean fretboard not only extends the life of your guitar, but your strings will last longer as well. Over time, the oils and dirt from your fingers get into the wood of the fretboard, which is often left unfinished or very lightly oiled. Keep the fretboard clean, and your guitar will thank you.
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Things You'll Need
- Acoustic guitar Soft cloth (an old, clean sock works well) Fine steel wool Oil soap or guitar cleaner Almond oil String winder New strings Flat surface with a non marring finish
Instructions
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Preparing the Guitar
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1
Place the guitar on its back on a flat surface with no clutter around.
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2
Unwind the strings, one at a time, and remove them. Cleaning the fretboard is always easiest with no strings on the guitar. If your guitar has a floating style bridge or a saddle that does not bolt down, make sure to mark its location before the strings are off. You can do this with a dry erase marker on thick varnishes, or with a piece of painter's tape.
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3
Arrange everything you'll need for the cleaning so you won't have to go searching for anything. You'll need oil soap and then the oil; if your fretboard is particularly dirty, you'll need an extra cloth or some fine steel wool.
Cleaning the Fret
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4
Get the majority of the dirt off the fretboard. This dirt is usually caked up against either side of the frets. If it's very dirty, you can take your fingernail and scratch it away gently. You can also use the fine steel wool to remove it, but don't rub hard. This method has the added benefit of smoothing any corrosion that may be on your frets. Use the finest steel wool you can find, not the heavy scouring stuff.
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5
Spray the oil soap or guitar cleaner onto a clean cloth, such as an old sock. Gently rub the cleaner with the grain of the wood within each fret, one at a time. Remove any excess moisture by patting it with a dry section of cloth.
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6
Add a little almond oil to a different cloth and gently massage it into the wood, again going with the grain of the wood, one fret at a time.
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7
Put your new strings on, making sure to replace the nut and saddle if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
To reduce the occurrence of spills and damage to the instrument, always maintain a clean work area.
Never scrub with the steel wool; all you need is a gentle rub to remove the dirt. Never use a water-based cleaner, as it can damage the wood. Avoid oiling the fretboard if there is dirt still on it. This will seal in the dirt.
