 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Guy
Date: 2012-03-14 06:32
Older horns come in cases that, for wont of a better term, are foul--mildewed, stained with cork grease where tenons rested, and other types of funky stuff we need not identify,
My question: How to spiff up? I took a small cup of laundry detergent, poised The case over the kitchen sink, and methodically attacked each section in order. First, blast of hot water to soak a particular area, then worked in the detergent gently with an old toothbrush. I let stand for a bit then rinsed thoroughly. I allowed water to drain, then went after another section.
Results were pleasing enough, All the gunk gone! Smell ALMOST gone, the rest emanating from what lurked beneath the instrument support rack. the exterior, I ised warm water and sofT cloth and it was amazing how much dirt/grime was loosed. End result, I felt I could at least sell the horn with the original case, without it pulling down the entire value of the clarinet.
One worry remained: Would remnants of the ordinary laundry detergent have a deleterious effect on the norm itself, perhaps bleaching parts of the wood or having a corrossive effect?
I was tempted to just place the whole thing in the dishwasher--anyone try that before? It's a satellite subject but wonder if any of you have dealt with it.
Guy
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-03-14 07:18
You can still use some carpet cleaner and vacuum it, this should take care of detergent traces.
In case of the dishwasher - I'd probably clean it by hand, as you did, then just take it into the shower for a thorough final rinse.
Be sure to generously sunbathe the open case for several days.
--
Ben
Post Edited (2012-03-14 09:20)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-03-14 13:32
This has been the subject of a recent thread on the Yahoo Musical Instrument Tech. board. Here's my summary:
– The Doctor's Case Odor Eliminator – http://www.doctorsprod.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=49
– activated carbon – baking soda doesn't work well odor control – use activated carbon (purer than activated charcoal) <http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Pharmaceuticals-76A-Activated-Aquariums/dp/B0002A\
SJ2O/ref=sr_1_13?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1305478579&sr=1-13> – slow – wrap in a coffee filter for fridge
– ExStink – removes urine, smoke, etc. odors http://www.exstink.com/
– Febreze substitute – 2 cups baking soda, ½ cup cornstarch, 5 crumbled bay leaves, 1 tablespoon ground cloves – sprinkle mixture over entire case interior. Leave overnight or longer; vacuum.
– What Odor http://www.amazon.com/What-Odor-Eliminating-Product-6-Ounce/dp/B003DNSRA6%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJASE6HSSVXTNREYQ%26tag%3Dsmtfx1-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB003DNSRA6
– Mary Ellen's AtmosKlear <http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Ellen-Products-OE-18-AtmosKlear/dp/B004GFKRIA/ref=sr_\ 1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1296354599&sr=8-2>
– Nature's Miracle (pet odors) http://www.ilovenaturesmiracle.com/home/index.php
+ Amazon
The following is from a posting by Lelia Loban:
I buy my instruments at yard sales and flea markets and am an expert on stinky cases.
First, throw away all swabs, reeds, loose fabrics and other stuff and vacuum out the fluff and crumbs.
Second, put dish detergent on a damp sponge and scrub the lining, rinse it well and then dry the case open in the sunlight, rotating it every few hours to let the sun hits all parts.
Carpet foam plus a vacuum cleaner can also work.
Resolve or another enzyme cleaner + strong sunlight can help.
Dryer sheets and Febreze help, but the perfumes are awful. If you use them, get the unscented.
If washing doesn't work, rip out the lining and padding. With a case in this
condition, the glue has weakened enough to make it easy to pull the fabric out intact. Use the old lining as a pattern and replace it with washable cotton velvet from the fabric /sewing/notions store. Don't use foam rubber for padding, since it breaks down after a year or so. Use silicon foam or whatever the store recommends.
If the wood smells, give it the detergent and sun treatment.
If the instrument smells, make a disassembly board, with pilot holes drilled for each key, screw and rod. Make another for the upper and lower joint tenons. Remove the keys, screws and rods and give the body a bath with dish detergent and a nylon brush, with pipe cleaners doubled over a couple of times for theholes. Wipe the springs and posts completely dry, blow the water out of the body holes and screw holes and finish drying with pipe cleaners, swab the bore and and dry the body in the sun.
If any pads smell, measure and then remove and replace them. The same with corks.
Practice good hygiene. Swab after every practice. If the humidity is high, let the swab, reeds and mouthpiece air-dry outside the case. I keep a little wooden box with a mesh screen top, big enough for a mouthpiece and a reed holder, so they're out of sight, out of mind when my cat comes lurking around looking for mischief.
Ken Shaw
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2012-03-14 15:25
My tech guy also recomended putting cedar in the case, the small pieces you put in a clothes drawer. This helps keep the pad mites out.
Laurie
Laurie (he/him)
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2012-03-14 15:33
Isn't the support structure for the colored velvet actually made of cardboard? When I tap on the velvet it sounds like the sound that would be made from a very compressed paper fiber base. Wouldn't a lot of water possibly cause the understructure to collapse?
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: Guy
Date: 2012-03-15 03:34
Helpful tips, gang. The sum of them applies to pretty much any issue. Thanks!
Post Edited (2012-03-15 03:35)
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2012-03-16 14:29
>>Isn't the support structure for the colored velvet actually made of cardboard? When I tap on the velvet it sounds like the sound that would be made from a very compressed paper fiber base. Wouldn't a lot of water possibly cause the understructure to collapse?
>>
If the case isn't allowed plenty of time to dry out in open air after washing, then cleaning with water or wet cleaning products can lead to rot, mold and mildew. You're quite right that this mess is much more likely if the velvet or other fabric is glued down over cardboard or heavy paper. In some cases, the fabric is glued directly to wood or plastic. Usually the dirtiness in a case is fairly superficial and it's possible to sponge the fabric clean without drenching it. If the fabric is deeply moldy or has tattered and rotten places, I prefer to yank the fabric out of there and replace it.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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