 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2001-10-11 01:23
Just out of curiousity, how do you all clean your mouthpiece? I use a q-tip, but the other day I was getting some sort of weird looks from fellow clarinetists while cleaning it.
Just thought I'd ask...
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Author: Kyle
Date: 2001-10-11 01:43
When I first started on the clarinet, I bought a cleaning kit and it came with a mp cleaning thing. If you know any thing about chem., is looks like a test tube cleaner. Hope this help!
~Kyle~
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Author: Sandra Franklin Habekost
Date: 2001-10-11 01:54
For daily cleaning of your mouthpiece use a mouthpiece swab, sometimes called a "Mouse", which is about 2 1/2 " long. It has fuzzy, yarn-like strands and rubber-tipped ends. It will safely clean your good mouthpiece. I would not recommend using a brush that looks rather like a small bottle brush with stiff bristles. I've seen them in some of the kits. Never use hot water on your mouthpiece because it can possibly lead to warping. No need to use slippery soap either (reduces the risk of dropping that precious mouthpiece). I use vinegar when needed to clean any buildup inside or on the surface of the mouthpiece. It dissolves any unwanted "grunge". You can use expensive, organic cider vinegar or cheap white vinegar. It doesn't matter. However, if you have an antique, wooden mouthpiece.....hm..well, what about that one, fellow clarinetists?
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-10-11 02:03
Some say to just use a mild soap and tepid water solution and a soft cloth. Instead of a soft cloth, I have also used a mouthpiece saver for the purpose.
But if I haven't cleaned the mouthpiece in a while (and I try very hard not to do that) then I also use the mouthpiece brush that comes with the commercial cleaning kits, but very, very gently, to remove any stubborn stains that won't come off otherwise.
I also either soak it in hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes, or use the commercial #1885 Sterisol Germicide (from Grover Musical Products) on them.
However, I believe the Doctor has a mouthpiece germicidal cleaner that I plan to try as soon as I run out of the other stuff.
Whatever you do, try very hard not to damage or scratch that mouthpiece.
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Author: Sandra Franklin Habekost
Date: 2001-10-11 02:16
I hesitate using anything like a "germicidal cleaner" on anything that goes into my mouth! I was advised by an old Julliard clarinetist years ago to use vinegar, and it does work like magic! It hasn't harmed any of my mouthpieces for 20 years!
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-10-11 02:41
We have had discussions - check back in the posts - about cleaning mouthpieces. Quite a few - including IMHO - do not like to put anything into the MP (ie Q-tips, bottle brushes, swabs, fuzzy things, etc.). If you just rinse out the MP with tepid (80-90 F) to cool water - almost every time you use it then you should not get build-up of grunge or mineral deposits (ususally seen as the white stuff on the inside and around the tip of the MP). Diluted white vinegar treatments every once in a while, perhaps 3% hydrogen peroxide rarely (although I do not like the potential for break down of the rubber using peroxide at all) or a commercial cleaner designed for MP's and proven safe for rubber if you find buildup or either grunge (primarily organic - food, bacteria, mold, etc.) or mineral (calcium, hard-water type minerals, etc.). Each type needs a different type of cleaning approach -or chemical approach however. I have seen MP's that would need a jack hammer to remove the build-up!! The MP should be allowed to dry (at least remove the standing water) before it is put away. If you rinse it with water often you should not get build-up of either type, but once started both types seem to act as a foci (place) for further build-up. If possible, the best approach is not to play (like my grandmother's axiom about going swimming) for an hour after eating - or rise your mouth, or brush your teeth before playing. Many say that they just are rushed or do not have the opportunity --- a drinking fountain or bottled water (your own) are usually always available!
The Doctor
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-10-11 03:21
Dear Jessica - you are not weird but just more thoughtful than the majority of school players. In my recent research - I am friends with the local high school and middle-school band directors in my area (>200 reed players total) - only about 15% of MP's examined were without significant (some needed the jack hammer approach or were suitable a microbiological culture - and smell -experiments) grunge - organic or mineral build-up. This is a true nightmare for these band directors in addition to the "oh do I need a new reed? - I just put one on a couple month's ago" dilemma!
The Doctor
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-10-11 15:23
The doctor doesn't toot his own horn but he has a great product for cleaning mp. I purchased some at the fest and the mp came out clean a new. check the sponsores page it should be there or contact the good doctor directly.
peace
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-10-12 04:50
I use an old plastic pill bottle with lemon juice in it. Then I wash it with water "cooler than my wrist". Be carefull of some of those brushes out there as they have a metal core that can scratch the chamber and damage the tip and rails.
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-10-13 03:36
I second the lemon juice, then rinsing with clean water. If there is a stubborn spot, I'll get it with a Q-tip if I can't reach, a soft cloth if I can.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-10-13 14:14
Whatever you guys want to do with your own mouthpieces. I just want to give you the information - both scientific and practical and you can make your own decisions. The active ingredient in the lemon juice is citric acid - in vinegar, acetic acid. Actually, citric acid will do some cleaning but also form some insoluble compounds - citrates, that will further deposit on your MP. Acetic acid forms fewer insoluble compounds - acetates, and is cheaper. The last time I bought lemon juice that was filered (you definately do not want the chunks of pulp) it worked out to be about $0.50 per treatment if the lemon juice was diluted 1:2 (still not very expensive). Be aware that either lemon juice or diluted white vinegar will not remove many organic deposits (dried food, bacteria, mold, mildew, virus, etc.) completely and will not sanitize the mouthpiece other than the mechanical actions of removing softened residues after long soaking periods and mechanical removal with a brush, cloth, etc.. You can use the latter if you wish but I do not, and many clarinetists will not put any kind of cleaning utensil into their mouthpiece. Rinsing with plain water after every use will drastically slow the buildup of both organic and mineral deposits.
The Doctor
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Author: Laurie H.
Date: 2001-10-13 22:28
Has anyone ever tried denture cleaner like Polident? I haven't tried it but just thought it might work. Maybe the Doc can tell us if it would work or if it would harm the mouthpiece.
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