Klarinet Archive - Posting 000169.txt from 1997/02

From: melissa marie brosnan <mbrosnan@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Mouthpiece cleaning
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1997 11:08:53 -0500

Frank,
I was once told by a fellow clarinet player that soaking your mouthpiece
in hydrogen peroxide removes the white plaque-like build up. I have done
this and had some success; while it does not completely remove the stuff,
it does do a pretty good job. I just fill a small cup with the H2O2
and let the mouthpiece sit in there for a few minutes, then I clean it
out with soap and water (which I agree, does nothing to remove those
stains, and I have been told that it may be damaging to your mouthpiece to
scrub away with one of those cone-shaped brushes, but old habits die hard).
Anyways, it's worth a try.
-Melissa

-------------------------------------
> I have a wierd question. Some of my students have expressed their disgust
> at the appearance of my mouthpiece which has a white, chalky ring around
> it. I joke around about it with them, calling it "barnacles" and "cheese".
> I Have never been able to get totally rid of this stuff. I have tried
> scraping it, vibrating it in a jewelry cleaner and plain old soaking in
> soap & water, but none seems to do the trick. Any suggestions? Are there
> any chemicals I could use that are non-abrasive, won't discolor the
> mouthpiece and won't kill me?
>
> Frank Garcia
>