 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: claren11
Date: 2003-11-20 16:17
Can anyone advise me how to clean my reeds? I had purchased an expensive product called "Reed Life" which would clean the reeds by soaking in a solution for 15 minutes. However, I don't want to continue spending the money for this. I have a tendency to throw away reeds as the wood becomes darker or dirty looking thinking this affect how the reeds performed.
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-11-20 16:40
Reeds shouldn't be getting dark, moldy or dirty looking. With proper daily maintenance they'll stay clean.
Check out the posts under "hydrogen peroxide" or "reed soaking" etc. and you'll find what many people do to keep the reeds in good shape.
I personally use a few drops of either hydrogen peroxide or anti-bacterial mouthwash in my soaking water depending on how I feel that day. Others prefer to use different things as you'll see. You'll want to dry the reed as much as possible before storing it as well to inhibit the growth of off-coloured unwanted guests.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-11-21 14:46
I have a reed in my case that is almost 6 months old. It was an excellant reed in its "prime" and I keep it as "the reed" which will play if all others "go south". And, it looks like new. In fact, none of my clarinet or sax reeds, however old, ever develop that dirty look or start smelling (or tasting strange) and I attribute this to a couple of reasons:
#1) I never soak my reeds in water but rather moisten them in my mouth. And I always rub them down before playing to help prevent the absorbtion of too much saliva and help them maintain their playing "edge". By using saliva only, there is no danger of external contamination from the water source--fungus, alge, mineral, whatever--and your own body's immune system, always at work in your bodily fluids, prevents anything harmful--bacteria, virus, etc--from being introduced via your own saliva. The rubbing also helps keep the cane from absorbing anything harmful. Hint--your fingers should be kept clean.
#2) I always brush my teeth before I play my instrument, even if it is just a small party snack eatten during a break in the gig. I also never drink any beverage containing sugar while playing opting instead for the sugar free colas or just plain water. Alcohol is never recommended while you are playing (or before) for a lot of other reasons--mostly coheriant in nature. (but that's another story, kids)
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Author: Henry
Date: 2003-11-21 15:19
William: I thought that the mouth and its saliva are prime breeding grounds for bacteria, even right after brushing or rinsing with Listerine! That doesn't mean that your procedure isn't an excellent one (I use it myself most of the time). But I do think that some of us are overly concerned regarding bacteria. We couldn't survive without them!
Henry
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-11-21 20:04
You should see what the Doctor orders. Check the Doctor's Products under sponsors.
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Author: martinw
Date: 2003-11-21 21:34
If you leave the reeds out on a flat surface in a warm dry room overnight before putting them away you should n't have this problem. With regards to hygiene try using Sterisol Germicide spray which is not expensive and will not damage the reeds if you wipe it off after about one minute.
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Author: GilliganGirl
Date: 2003-11-23 04:20
I brush them with my toothbrush to get the dirt off. And, they taste really minty afterward.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2003-11-23 06:28
A soak in denture cleaner (e.g. Efferdent) can sometimes rejuvenate old reeds. I have a box of 90 tablets (can't buy anything smaller) if anyone wants some
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-11-23 22:15
(Disclaimer - I sell ReedLife) Some people have solutions or rituals for their reeds. Some work, some do not. Just a few comments - Efferdent is much too caustic a cleaner for reeds and removes carbohydrate and cane wax, Sterisol contains a quaternary ammonium compound as a germacide and is not good for reeds - it is also an awful germacide in general, with a contact time recommended in their EPA application of 15 minutes at 20 C (but not documented on their bottles).
IMHO a reed treatment should not harm the structure of the reed (mechanical abrasion with a toothbrush will only remove surface gunk and not kill bacteria or mold). It should mechanically or chemically remove organic material such a skin flotsam, minute food particles, vegetative growing bacteria and mold. It should contain agents that will kill mold spores. It should not remove the carbohydrate and waxes which make up the structure of cane and maintain moisture canals throughout the reed.
If you figure the cost per playing hour of a "good" or "great" reed it is very expensive (not just the cost of the number of good reeds per box but their longevity as well). A reed treatment that will hopefully extend the life of "great" reeds is cost effective.
The Doctor
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Author: WoodwindThespian
Date: 2003-11-24 16:14
Hmmm...I wounder why that is. As Wm. said, I also only saok the reeds in my mouth. I haven't had any problems either. I may have only been play six years. Some of you are probably saying, Oh youre just a baby. Not really though as I play 10 year pieces. Which I probably shouldn't be at that. Some are symphonic in nature too. But why soak? What does it really do to the reed?
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Author: Luke
Date: 2003-11-24 19:53
The best way to preserve/treat reeds is probably to soak them in a glass of warm water for 5-20 minutes before each playing session. I soak them in a plain plastic cup, resting the middle of the reed on the edge of the cup so that the entire heart and vamp of the reed are fully submerged, while the heel remains open to the air. You really can't get a good soaking from just tossing reeds in a glass of water, as much of the heart and vamp won't get moist.
Sucking on reeds is an overall bad idea. Some people have a high acidity level in their saliva that hastens the breakdown of cane fibers. Also, if you don't brush your teeth before playing.... yeah, you get the idea.
Occasionally I find a reed that gets mold or something along that line. In this case I fill a shot glass with hydrogen peroxide and soak the reed for 3 minutes, then rinse the reed off well. There has yet to be a reed sanitation issue this hasn't fixed. Of course, one can also soak their reeds in vodka or other high-grade alcohol (it greatly increases their life, response, and darkness of tone) but this can be a much trickier business. Best to buy a bunch of ricos and try it on them before venturing on to better stock...
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-11-24 20:28
Luke wrote:
> Some people have a
> high acidity level in their saliva that hastens the breakdown
> of cane fibers.
That has been proven incorrect (PhD. thesis of Dr. Fernando Silveira). There's nothing in the saliva that can enzymatically break down the cellulose of the fibers.
Whether or not soaking reeds in warm water is the "best" way is, of course, open to speculation.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2003-11-25 00:23
A minimum of soaking in saliva and no soaking in water suits me well as I think that excessive soaking and swelling of internal reed fibers makes the reed less able to vibrate freely. I just barely wet the reed in my mouth and they play so well.
To clean them, a single edge razor blade can remove crud, as necessary, on both sides without removing any cane. This cleaning off of debris frees the reed of vibration dampening material and they play better.
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Author: clarinetstudent
Date: 2003-11-25 02:20
I think even if the reeds get dark or discolored, they still sound fine. Don't worry so much about the appearance of the reed but more about the sound.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-11-25 16:29
(Dicsclaimer - I sell ReedLife) The sound of the reed is of course the most important factor but IMHO a reed that sounds fine in a clean state will last longer than one that has turned dark because of mold, bacterial growth, or decaying skin cells. Our skin is constantly shedding cells - hundreds of millions per day. Lips are a great source for shedding these cells which become imbedded in the structure of the reed (especially in this chapped lip weather). These cells and minute food particles become compressed into tiny microscopic folds and crevices in the reed (ever look at the surface of a reed under a microscope? - it looks like the lunar landscape with deep ridges and valleys) and IMO hinder the mechanical vibration of the the reed over time. Unlike silava, these microorganisms do produce enzymes and byproducts which will destroy the structure of cellulose. Simply scraping or brushing the surface (which may imbed them further) will not remove the source or substance of this bacterial and mold growth. Treatment with straight drug store (3%) hydrogen peroxide will remove this material but will also remove carbohydrate and cane oils necessary for reed function and hydration (unless supplemented) with repeated treatments. Good oral hygiene is also a very important factor in reed longevity.
The Doctor
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