 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-07-07 11:55
Hi!
I was wondering if any of you that have suffered through colds/ flu and used your instruments during that period have tried methods to either sterilize or decontaminate reds and mouthpieces. Was thinking something as simple as a Listerine dip for the mouthpieces and maybe peroxide and/ or Reed Life for the reeds as the peroxide should knock out most things. Does the Doctor's mouthpiece cleaner also sterilize? Anyway, opinions would be welcome!
Eefer guy
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-07-07 12:32
My husband, who worked for the EPA's Pesticides division for 27 years, assures me that cold sterilants, including not only consumer products such as Listerine but also the cold dips used in doctors' offices, don't sterilize. They do decontaminate in the sense of knocking the germ count way down, but without autoclaving (boiling), no way can we remove all the germs. I don't even try to get everything in my life hospital-clean, because I think a healthy immune system needs its exercise. Okay, I lie, thay's not the real reason--the real reason is I've got better things to do than try to sterilize every-damn-thing, I do rinse the mouthpiece and reed after practice and I almost never get sick anyway, so I don't care about recycling a few of my own germs. But I don't share mouthpieces and reeds with other people unless we dip them in Sterisol or Listerine, and if I do get a bad bug, I toss the reed afterwards. That's just common sense.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2008-07-07 12:33)
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2008-07-07 12:53
(Disclaimer- I sell a mouthpiece cleaner and ReedLife)
Working in the public health arena makes me keenly aware of just how confusing and sometimes misleading claims can be for different commercial products. A little definition is required: Sanitization or sanitizing agents physically remove germs (could be bacteria, fungi or virus) and may or may not be bactericidal, fungicidal, or virus killing agents too. Germicidal agents will kill some or all germs but this depends on a tested contact time and temperature formula. Sterilization is the complete killing of all germs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has strict guidelines and testing procedures for these various classes of agents and also a multi-thousand dollar fee to receive the designation of germicidal, etc. There is a standard test panel of "germs" from the Centers for Disease which they use in their testing. Many companies however advertise but do not have this official designation for their products. You can however advertise germicidal if you can show evidence of using the CDC culture cocktail in your product testing but not the official EPA designation and seal.
Most of the "sanitizing and germicidal" agents on the market and used in the music industry are quantary ammonium compounds or contain various amounts of alcohol - usually 15-30%. Both of these compounds are not good for reeds or rubber mouthpieces in the long term with multiple treatments. Peroxide will also kill bacteria and virus but is not good in multiple treatments for rubber or reeds unless they contain other protective agents and humectants for use on reeds. Listerine contains about 26% alcohol. Doctor MP contains another form of oxygen bleach and other chemicals which is germicidal and sanitizing and is safe for hard rubber mouthpieces. ReedLife contains hydrogen peroxide and humectants. Sterilization is a tough process to achieve and can also be so harsh as to greatly harm mouthpieces or reeds.
We all harbor a number of bacteria in and on our bodies and nature is full of bacteria and fungi which for the most part we tolerate on a daily basis without harm to us. Unless we have a compromised immune system we are usually able to get along without developing disease with most contacts with small exposures to even harmful bacteria or fungi. Most viruses die quickly on impermeable dry surfaces.
Mere rinsing under running tap water is an effective sanitizing procedure which will remove most germs unless they are complexed with the dead lip skin debris in reeds or in organic material lodged in mouthpieces. A clean and dry mouthpiece or reed is also not a good surface or culture media for bacteria or virus growth.
All of this being said it probably is not a good idea to use mouthpieces or reeds of others while they are damp. Colds caused by virus are most often spread however by breathing aerosol droplets dispersed by coughing or sneezing by persons actively infected.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-07-07 13:52
I don’t worry about that either but if you simply use warm soap and water to clean your mouthpiece once in a while, vinegar and water to scrape off the calcium, you don’t have to buy commercial products. You can also do the same with your reeds if you’re concerned and rinse them out and let them dry face down so the flat side dries evenly. I wouldn’t worry about it though unless you’re coming off of a bad cold. I almost never get sick but do get my flu shot every year. I even play my students equipment, after asking them if they have a cold, then I resist. ESP
www.peabody.jhu.edu/457 (Listen to a little Mozart, live performance)
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2008-07-07 14:07
I was thinking about sterilizing my mouthpiece, but decided not to bother after my daughter in law's dog gave me a big kiss.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-07-07 15:56
Very interesting responses!
I play oboe as well and occasionally make reeds for colleagues although I have never made reeds with any sort of flu / cold for anyone else but myself.
Almost took out the Dawn dishwashing detergent to give my mouthpieces a dip but decided against it and I do have the Doctor's products so will give them a treatment. Ditto the reeds in Reed Life.
Ed, like you I'm rarely sick but I did have the flu this spring for the first time in 10 years and that got me to thinking about the reed sterility.
Thanks for yor responses!
Eefer guy
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Author: William
Date: 2008-07-07 16:22
I never have worried about sterilizing my reeds or mouthpieces after being sick because I have always believed that we get over colds, flu, etc as our own immune systems develop enough antibodies to overcome the infection raviging our bodies and make us well again. And those antibodies remain for quite some time to protect from becoming reinfected--from others or from mouthpieces and reeds.
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