 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: HBO
Date: 2009-02-25 12:51
I've heard about four different ways to wash mouthpieces, and now I am confused about which way is the right one..
1) Cold water, no soap.
2) Warm water, no soap.
3) Cold water, with soap.
4) Warm water, with soap.
I sticked with (1) for a long time, because I remember hearing a lecture from my first teacher about the harms that will befall on your mouthpiece if you use either warm water or soap to wash it. However, I recently a lot about other methods, especially (4).
With which method do you wash your mouthpiece?
(...and I foresee at least one person will talk about the chemicals to get rid of the buildups on the mouthpiece...)
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-02-25 15:04
Depends on whether they're really my mouthpieces. If so, I just rinse them with cool (not frigid) tap water and no soap, after I'm done practicing, then blot them dry and let them finish air-drying before putting them in a closed case.
But, if a mouthpiece is mine because I just dragged it home wriggling and squirming from a flea market, and if it appears the previous owner was some filthy little orc who never brushed fangs and left the same reed on for five years in an unventilated case that smells like a dead snake, then I try soaking the mouthpiece in lukewarm water with liquid dish soap to see if that'll get the crud out. If that doesn't work, or if there's hard, white calcification, then I replace that water with fresh likewarm water and add a few drops of vinegar. I don't use soap and vinegar at the same time. I'd rather not use a mouthpuiece brish for fear of doing some damage, but if it's the only way to get the grunge out, then I do use the brush. After first cleaning a new-to-me used mouthpiece, I dunk it in mouthwash briefly, then rinse it again with cool water.
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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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-02-25 18:09
"which way is the right one.."
all of them - provided the water is only warm and not hot and the soap is really soap with no abrasive in it. The only problem with soap, I would think, is that you have to be careful to get it rinsed out thoroughly - a buildup of residue could be a problem.
I personally use vinegar - full strength - as a soak for 30 minutes to an hour or so, and then rinse the mouthpiece with tap water and wipe it dry with a soft towel. (I guess that's what you foresaw reading about in the way of chemicals). I stand the mouthpiece up in a shot glass of vinegar so the cork is not submerged (and I don't waste too much vinegar). I have no idea how much soaking of any kind the cork or the cement holding it can take.
Karl
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-02-26 12:39
That's a great idea about propping the mouthpiece in the shot glass, Karl! Even on filthy flea market mouthpiecs, often there's only serious crud that needs soaking from the tip down to about where the reed opening ends.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2009-02-26 12:39)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-02-27 02:28
I agree with Carl except I use about a third to half vinegar and the rest water. Not soaking the cork is probably a good idea. I only soak it for 5-10 minutes and then it's easy to scrap all the calcium off with your finger nails. As far as basic cleaning, warm water and a mild hand or dish soap is fine. It works just fine. You don't have to jump over hoops to clean a mouthpiece, it isn't rocket science. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2009-02-27 03:08
I wash the MP after each use. I rub the outside & some of the inside first with warm water under the tap. Then, I run hot water through it, holding the cork end under the tap. Then I dry the cork, if it got wet. I put on cork grease if it got soaked. Then I hold the reed under hot water, then rub it under warm or cold water. I put the reed back on the MP, cap it, and keep it moist/wet until the next time I practise/play.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-02-27 11:43
I imagine using hot water from the tap while holding the mouthpiece with your fingers, the water won't get hot enough to damage the rubber - you'd burn yourself first. But I did have a student once whose mother took this one step further and tried to boil the mouthpiece (in a saucepan of water). I don't know what that particular mouthpiece was made of, but it melted at the tip.
There's also the danger that the water will become hot enough to hurt your fingers and you might accidentally drop the mouthpiece.
I doubt if you can stand water hot enough to kill microorganisms. Is there a reason why you use hot water?
Karl
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