As time passes, sweat, dirt, and oil accumulate on the guitar’s finish and then slowly dissolve.
The finish will create a hazy film and eventually turn discolored.
Furthermore, suppose the sweat contains high acid levels (low the PH balance). In that case, this can result in the appearance of the finish deteriorating, particularly around the area you place on your arm.
Sweat is a mixture of water, acid salts, and other minerals that can be corrosive to hardware and finishes.
When you factor in environmental concerns like pollen and dust is no wonder that guitars become dirty.
So, How to Clean a Guitar?
To clean a guitar, use a lint-free cloth and guitar-specific polish to clean it properly.
Never use kitchen products like vinegar or lemon, or baking soda on your guitar, as they can do damage due to abrasive or acidic content.
Clean your guitar spotlessly using the below steps:
Follow these steps to clean your guitar efficiently and properly. And don’t forget to see our guitar cleaning tips below this.
- Begin by keeping your guitar upright from its neck and most likely in your workstation in order to safeguard it from falling or getting any injury.
- Then, begin by cleaning its main body, string, and the bridge area with a soft and damp cloth that has no lint.
- Use a cotton ball or an earbud to clean the inside and outside of strings for any dirt or debris.
- For sweat-related places on the guitar, on grumps clearly visible, use an organic cleaner or the one that comes in a guitar cleaning set.
- Oil your fretboard and wooden areas of rosewood or related makes with linseed oil or similar. Avoid using acidic oils like olive.
- End the cleaning by polishing the fret and bridge neck with a wax-based cleaner.
- If your guitar is vintage and has a nitrocellulose finish on it, kindly pay more attention in such a case.
The most exquisite tips for cleaning your guitar:
These Fender recommended tips will help you clean your guitar and stay ahead of your peers.
- Cleanse the neck, the strings, and the bridge frequently with a clean, lint-free cloth.
- Clean metal surfaces using a soft dry polishing cloth.
- There is no need to spray anything on them; simply wiping them clean should suffice.
- Only use polishes for guitars and that too in little amount. Don’t use vinegar or silicon products.
- Use nothing other than the ones we mentioned to clean wood surfaces after finishing.
- Avoid using glass cleaner (or anything that has ammonia) or products that contain silicone or abrasives (as certain paste cleaning products contain).
- Make sure you stick to polishes and cleaners made specifically for guitars.
- Avoid exposing lacquer finishes for a long time to synthetics, plastics, and medical rubber tubing (stop from snickering, it’s used on many guitars, stands, and straps), and all of them are opposed to lacquer.
Step by Step Cleaning of fretboard and hardware of a guitar:
Fretboard care:-
- Wearing gloves to protect your hands, gently use the steel wool to rub in a circular motion over the fretboard.
- Repeat this process until all the fretboard is covered, and then wash away any remaining dirt or grime.
- Apply a cleanser to revive the wood.
- Use a large amount on a little damp cloth, then clean the fretboard thoroughly.
- Lemon oil is an option that can be that is used to wash the fretboard. It is used in the same manner.
- And this is a good option for all fingerboards.
- However, any maple instrument that has been lacquered needs to be cleaned using a moist cloth only.
- Lemon oil or steel wool will strip the lacquer’s shine leaving a dull, matte finish.
Hardware Care and cleaning steps for a guitar:-
- Metal is susceptible to rust, as is sweat, which can be a destructive substance, and you must be cautious when taking care when cleaning your equipment.
- If your equipment isn’t showing evidence of corrosion or rust and is clean, then a soft cloth and some polish can keep the hardware in check.
- If you see indications of corrosion, it is recommended to take off the hardware and apply the stronger cleaner.
- Many guitar makers recommend Naptha (lighter fluid) or WD40 for giving your equipment a thorough clean.
- Apply either one to a damp cloth, and then rub the hardware.
PS – These are harmful to your guitar. Therefore, you should remove your instrument before applying the substances.
Some recommendations:
Fender Guitar Super Care Kit Bundle – $36.75 to $42.90
- The four-step kit includes every Fender Custom Shop Guitar Care product: Cleaner, Polish Quick Clean Fingerboard Remedy
- The high-quality carnauba formulations have none of the resins, silicones, or silicones commonly used in bonding agents, polymers, or alcohol.
- The streaking and fingerprinting on black surfaces are drastically diminished, and there is absolutely no cloudy build-up.
- This Fender Speed Slick guitar string cleaner extends the lifespan of your guitar’s strings.
- The user-friendly and easy to use application tool is easy to apply
- You can get that factory-fresh shine genuine Fender Factory Microfiber Cloth and the Fender Dual-Sided Super Soft Microfiber Cloth with two sides that can be used for cleaning and polishing with accuracy
- Bundle includes Custom Shop Deluxe Guitar Care System 4 Pack and the Speed Slick Cleaning Tool for Guitars Ultra-Soft, Dual-Sided Microfiber Cloth, and Fender Factory Microfiber Cloth.
02. Jim Dunlop Body & Fingerboard Cleaning Kit – $12.98to $13.99
- Dunlop’s two most sought-after maintenance products are together in one package.
- Fretboard 65 Ultimate Lemon Oil and Formula 65 Polish are favored by professionals and players worldwide.
- And this is to ensure their instruments are in good condition, so it only seemed natural to bundle these two fantastic products together.
- Formula 65 Polish has become the standard for daily use cleaners because it produces a true shiny shine with no residue quickly and has the right chemical balance to maintain any finish.
- Its Fretboard65 Ultimate Lemon Oil is the perfect supplement as it removes dirt from your fingers and restores your fretboard to its original shine.
- Both products provide an invisible sealant that protects against moisture and stains. This kit comes with two polishing cloths (one for each item).
Some other questions,
Related Questions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q1.) What are some tips for cleaning a guitar?
Answer: You can use some household polishes or all-purpose cleaners like Pine-Sol, Windex, or the 409, but they will damage the finish.
A dash of White vinegar can work well, too but are you ready for that pickle’s smell?
Use a guitar polish for the best results.
Q2.) Can a guitar be cleaned with water?
Answer: Firstly, cleaning a guitar doesn’t require a lot of materials. One can use a soft cloth like a cotton sock and water, glass cleaner, and wax polish.
This advice is true for both electric and acoustic guitars.
Q3.) How do baby wipes help in cleaning the guitar?
Answer: Make sure they are water-based, and then you can use them without an iota of worry.
If it is alcohol-based, be prepared to lose some of its shine.
Q4.) How to completely clean a guitar?
Answer: First, clean the main fretboard and use the fine steel wool for removing that gunk from rosewood fretboards.
Or use polishes of wax and gloss.
Q5.) What is the alternative for a guitar polish?
Answer: Then, use the furniture polish because the by-product of lacquer or shellac is often a finish on guitars.
Q6.) Are there any household products that can clean my guitar strings?
Answer: Some items can help clean your guitar strings, like Windex and isopropyl alcohol, so use them for your needs.
Q7.) What household items can clean your fretboard?
Answer: Use a Q-tip or cotton swab and remove dirt easily. Make sure to use some cotton balls for cleaning the parts between each fret.
Q8.) How to clean stubborn gunk off my fretboard?
Answer: Follow these points.
First, prepare your workspace, remove all guitar strings, and protect the sensitive parts of the guitar with masking tape.
Then, scrape the scum, use a vacuum, and rub with a steel wool ball.
Q9.) Is baby oil safe to use on the guitar’s fretboard?
Answer: No, rather go for a mineral oil available at most pharmacies, and you can apply it on any unfinished ebony or similar materials.
Q10.) Can I use olive oil to clean my guitar?
Answer: No, DO NOT use OLIVE, COCO, LEMON, or VINEGAR on fret or strings!
Why? Because they are acidic oils and will cause irreparable damage to your guitar.
Q11.) Is there a quick way to clean guitar strings that is affordable as well?
Answer: It must be Hand Sanitizer!
As per the guitmain, the sanitizer kills bacteria and removes any harmful oils on your guitar.
Q12.) Can one use the rubbing alcohol for guitar cleaning work?
Answer: No!
If it reaches the neck of the guitar, it will suck some humidity from the wood there, and for this purpose, use natural conditioners and cleaners.
Q13.) How to remove sweat stains from my guitar?
Answer: Wipe and remove using a soft and damp cloth dipped in some hot water.
And use some polish to remove any residue remaining.
Q14.) What are some general tips for giving good care to acoustic guitar?
Answer: First, putting down the guitar in an improper format will spoil it, so make sure you don’t repeat this mistake.
Oil the fretboard and ensure your guitar from future spills beforehand.
Q15.) Can one use the vinegar for cleaning the guitar and its fretboard?
Answer: NO, DO NOT do this!
Why? Kitchen items like baking soda are abrasive, and lemon/ vinegar is acidic, which can damage your guitar.
Q16.) What are some good alternatives for lemon oil?
Answer: Liberon Linseed oil and Fret Doctor conditioner for fretboard are two good choices.
And so is the Gerlitz conditioner for Fender/ Gibson.
Q17.) Can I use wax on my guitar?
Answer: Yes, one can easily wax their guitars because it will make their guitars water-resistant, scratch-resistant, allow them to dry then.
Q18.) When should one boil their guitar strings?
Answer: You can boil the strings of an old guitar to make them sound better and help them in the stretching process.
Final Verdict:
If you’re a player with oily skin or who might sweat more than normal while playing may need to switch strings and clean your fretboards more frequently.
It’s not a problem, and it’s the way of life. Many players discover that their playing routine almost justifies buying stock from the manufacturer of the strings.
However, it’s much better than losing the sound quality on the sound of a dirty guitar.
If you’re beginning your journey or are a pro traveling the world, If you care for your guitar, it will be in good hands.
Cleaning your guitar is a straightforward process. Refrain from using any acidic or abrasive cleaners.
For the best of both worlds, regularly cleaning guitar with a lint-free cloth and occasionally polishing it with a special cleaner is the best way ahead.
Have fun!
Thanks For Reading!