Repair Instrument Cleaning


Repair Instrument Cleaning

Paige’s Music has always been an industry leader in cleaning and sanitizing musical instruments. In order to meet the cleaning and sanitation demands of our current times, and to offer some peace of mind for educators, students, and parents, Paige’s Music repair now has even more cleaning options to offer. With 150 years of experience in the music business, you can count on Paige’s Music for your instrument repair needs.


Understanding Cleaning

In today’s environment, there is growing concern of the cleanliness and possible contamination of items we come in contact with. It is important to understand some terminology as we clean and care for musical instruments.

Sanitization – This term refers to the cleaning and removal of dirt and biomaterial from the surface of the instrument. Most sanitization procedures involve cleaning with water, detergents, degreasers, and manual or mechanical labor. For instruments used by one individual, sanitization is most often all that is needed to feel confident in the cleanliness of the instrument.

Disinfection – This level of cleaning goes the next step in eliminating contaminates. Disinfection is the removal or destruction of harmful microorganisms, not usually including bacterial spores. After an instrument is cleaned of the dirt and biomaterial, it can be disinfected with the use of chemical cleaners that eliminate the majority of viruses and microorganisms.

Some instruments are limited on the level of disinfection that can be achieved. Specifically, the finish and materials on most wooden instruments are sensitive to many of the chemicals and processes used for disinfection and thus have to be treated with care to not damage the instrument.

Sterilization – This term is often misused in cleaning contexts, as it is primarily only used concerning surgical and medical equipment. Sterilization is the complete destruction or removal of all living microorganisms on a surface. An item is either sterile, or it isn’t. There is no gray area. Once a sterilized item is exposed to air or handled, it is no longer sterile.

For this reason, sterilizing items like musical instruments is extremely difficult and very costly. Many of the processes used in the sterilization process; extreme heat, steam, gas, and chemicals would be harmful to the materials and finishes on musical instruments.


Our Sanitization Processes

Cleaning Solutions

  • Detergent
  • All Purpose Cleaners
  • Commercial Degreaser
  • Disinfectants
  • Proprietary Alcohol Based String Instrument Cleaner
  • Denatured Alcohol
  • Isopropanol
  • Artic Clean (Ultrasonic Solution)

Woodwinds – Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone

  • Flutes(Piccolos)
    • Head joint sanitized with Isopropanol
    • Keys and body cleaned with all purpose cleaners
    • All touch points and inner bore sanitized with denatured alcohol
    • When re-padded, the entire instrument and keys are sanitized in the Ultrasonic cleaner*
  • Oboe
    • Keys and body cleaned with all purpose cleaners
    • All touch points and inner bore sanitized with denatured alcohol
    • Wood instruments are treated with bore oil afterward
    • When re-padded, the keys are sanitized in the Ultrasonic cleaner*
  • Clarinet (Bass Clarinet)
    • Keys and body cleaned with all purpose cleaners
    • All touch points and inner bore sanitized with denatured alcohol
    • Wood instruments are treated with bore oil afterward
    • When re-padded, the keys are sanitized in the Ultrasonic cleaner*
  • Saxophone (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bari)
    • Keys and body cleaned with all purpose cleaners
    • All touch points, neck, and the inner bored sanitized with denatured alcohol
    • When re-padded, the entire instrument and keys are sanitized in the Ultrasonic cleaner*
    • In some instances, depending on the pad materials and the finish, Soprano, Alto and Tenor saxophones can be sanitized fully assembled in our Ultrasonic cleaner.*
  • Clarinet and Saxophone Mouthpieces
    • Cleaned with warm water, detergent, and a mouthpiece brush
    • Sanitized in the Ultrasonic cleaner*
    • Rinsed thoroughly with warm water

Brass - Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone/Euphonium, Tuba

  • Trumpet
    • Slides and valves degreased and cleaned
    • Entire instrument sanitized in the Ultrasonic cleaner*
    • Valve casings and inner slides cleaned with brush and detergent
    • Rinsed thoroughly with warm water
    • Final wipe down, with all touch points sanitized with denatured alcohol
  • French Horn
    • Slides and rotors degreased and cleaned
    • Entire instrument sanitized in the Ultrasonic cleaner*
    • Rotor casings and inner slides cleaned with brush and detergent
    • Rinsed thoroughly with warm water
    • Final wipe down, with all touch points sanitized with denatured alcohol
  • Trombone
    • Hand slide, tuning slide, and rotor(F-trigger only) degreased and cleaned
    • Entire instrument sanitized in the Ultrasonic cleaner*
    • Rotor casing and inner tuning slide cleaned with brush and detergent
    • Rinsed thoroughly with warm water
    • Final wipe down, with all touch points sanitized with denatured alcohol
  • Baritone/Euphonium
    • Slides and valve/rotors degreased and cleaned
    • Entire instrument sanitized in the Ultrasonic cleaner*
    • Valve/rotor casings and inner slides cleaned with brush and detergent
    • Rinsed thoroughly with warm water
    • Final wipe down, with all touch points sanitized with denatured alcohol

*Ultrasonic Cleaner

  • This device uses ultrasonic waves to clean hard surfaces. The ultrasonic waves create cavitation bubbles, which removes buildup and material from the inside and outside of the instrument.
  • Effectively removes a wide variety of contaminants, even if present only in trace amounts.
  • Arctic Clean – This is the chemical used in our ultrasonic cleaner to assist in cleaning the surfaces of the instruments and mouthpieces. This is a low pH or acid cleaner and degreaser primarily used on commercial ice machines. We choose this product specifically because it is food safe and does not leave harmful residue.

 


String Instruments (Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass)

  • Debris removed from strings and fingerboard, then cleaned with disinfected
  • Ebony fingerboards cleaned and reconditioned with mineral oil
  • Body, neck, and scroll cleaned of debris and rosin buildup
  • Depending on finish, instruments are carefully wiped down with disinfectant or with our proprietary string instrument cleaner
  • Final wipe-up and polish
  • Depending on construction materials, bows are cleaned with all-purpose cleaner

Cases

  • Interior is swept and cleaned
  • Exterior and handles are cleaned and sanitized

Download a printable document of this information.


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