 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2001-09-09 01:47
During the fall it gets very dry & dusty where I live & my reeds have started getting grotesquely dirty in a matter of hours--how can I prevent this and/or clean the reeds afterward?
TIA, - Jessica
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-09-09 04:12
Throw 'em away if they are really dirty OR try & clean 'em.
CLEANING: The simplest thing is to rinse them off. I do so under a STEADY stream of water and I go up and down, front & back, with my thumb .... base to tip (of reed).
NOW, that said ... some young players have a habit of getting there TEET involved somewhat <heck we're all normal & at sometime or other every player probably had some teeth in a place they shouldn't have been >
Reeds that had teeth involvemnent have a tendency to look dirtier at the VAMP area upwards to the tip (on the top side, not the side that contacts the table & rails directly) .... I have NOT been successful in getting that DIRT out washed out.
You might try using the product called Reed Life, although I have not used it as a cleaner & don't know how you would fare.
Perhaps Omar Henderson can shed some light.
mw
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Author: Luanne
Date: 2001-09-09 05:37
I use hydrogen peroxide for clarinet and oboe reeds. (Doubler) I soak them in it and then rinse them off. I will only do it on clarinet reeds if it was a reed I adored. LOL
Luanne :o)
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2001-09-09 06:43
Could you elaborate on "getting their teeth involved"? Do you mean, like, putting them on the reed or biting to hard? And how would that cause a reed to get dirty?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-09-09 09:55
I think that the rinsing them with water is the trick. You do not want to get the dirt embedded in the reed. Reedlife will, in my experience, clean the reed and it will retain moisture when wetted to a greater extent. It sounds like you are playing out-of -doors, just a medicine vial full of water and a paper towel should work. The hydrogen peroxide will clean the reed but also tends to dry it out. It is difficult to suggest a one size fits all approach to this subject because everyone has different conditions and I have not played where you play so you will just have to take our suggestions and see if they work for you.
The Doctor
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-09-10 10:52
Hydrogen peroxide not only cleans reeds but also seems to bring fading reeds back to life, in my experience. You could also try dipping reeds in a solution of mouthwash and water. At least it makes the taste good.
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Author: Mike_M
Date: 2001-09-10 19:21
I've had good results with soaking reeds in peroxide like others have suggested. I like to follow-up by soaking for a prolonged period in warm water to flush out the peroxide.
A bassoonist friend recommending soaking in boiling water; however, I found that this will kill a clarinet reed!
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Author: Mike_M
Date: 2001-09-10 19:24
By the way, does anyone know what is in Reedlife? It feels slippery like silicone.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-09-10 19:44
Jessica, nothing is pure as the driven snow. Our Teeth have lots of stuff on them .. small food particles, etc. SO, the TEETH if placed on the reed GRIND what ever is on the surface of the reed INTO the reed. That's my best guess on how the my son's reed gets dirty. I wash mine after use & they never seem to get dirty ... mw
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Author: Casey
Date: 2001-09-11 18:53
i know this sounds grose...but take your reed after your done playing and take your index finger and middle finger and ring out the juicy spitty crap from your reed and keep it in a good closed reed case.and it might help to store your reed case in your clarinet case!!!!
~~~~~CaseY~~~~~~
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