Comments on: How to Clean a Flute

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.

on 6/30/2006 Never put alcohol on your flute. It can damage the finish as well as end up on the pads (if you aren't careful).

on 3/21/2006 Buy alcohol pads. Rub one on the lip-piece. This helps eliminate unhealthy germs and keeps you cleaner and healthier.

on 3/17/2006 Do not use a pipe cleaner to clean a flute. It can bend the springs and cost you a lot to get them fixed.

on 12/8/2005 Use a pipe cleaner to go between all the tight spots between the keys. It actually gets very dirty there.

on 11/22/2005 Dont play your flute with candy or gum in your mouth. This will destroy the inside of the flute and make the keys sticky and disgusting.

on 11/22/2005 If you notice that the joints of your flute are very hard to twist off, take a piece of plain paper and twist it around the joint pretty hard. You will notice that there is black grime on the paper, and that is what was making the joints stick.

on 11/22/2005 Attach a ribbon to your cleaning cloth. CAREFULLY slip the ribbon through the end of a piece. When it comes out the other end, pull the ribbon GENTLY through. Spick and span!

on 11/22/2005 Never clean your flute with water! Water will damage the keys.

on 11/22/2005 Do not slide any sort of cleaning device out from under the pad if it is closed. This is very damaging to the pads. A good set of pads should last around 10 years (if cared for). Sliding the papers, instead of opening the key and removing it, greatly lessens the life of your pads. They are also slightly expensive to repair.

on 11/22/2005 Do not use pad savers. They have fibers on them that come off and get stuck inside, trapping air. They also absorb too much moisture in pads, causing them to warp or fall out.