Cleaning Valved Brass Instruments
(Baritone/Euphonium/Tuba/Trumpet/etc. )
Keeping our instruments clean helps ensure they last a long time, work correctly and easily, and also keeps us healthy. A euphonium is used for illustration here, but this process can apply to any valved instrument. These instructions are for a full cleaning of piston-valved instruments. While much of this can apply to instruments with rotor valves as well, you should not disassemble a rotor valve unless you know what you're doing.
Supplies you'll need*:
(Baritone/Euphonium/Tuba/Trumpet/etc. )
Keeping our instruments clean helps ensure they last a long time, work correctly and easily, and also keeps us healthy. A euphonium is used for illustration here, but this process can apply to any valved instrument. These instructions are for a full cleaning of piston-valved instruments. While much of this can apply to instruments with rotor valves as well, you should not disassemble a rotor valve unless you know what you're doing.
Supplies you'll need*:
Supplies for cleaning a euphonium
1) Valve Oil. I prefer Al Cass Valve Oil for most applications.
2) Tuning Slide Grease. Though many brands work well, I have used Schilke Tuning Slide Grease for many years.
3) Cleaning Rod. A short cleaning rod like the Selmer Trumpet Cleaning Rod is a great tool for this job. You can also substitute something like the Leblanc Metal Flute Cleaning Rod.
4) Flexible Cleaning Brush (aka a "Snake"). This Trombone Slide Snake will work well in most baritones and euphoniums. Choose a snake sized for your instrument.
5) Cheesecloth. Cheesecloth is used in conjunction with the cleaning rod to remove old tuning slide grease and other buildup. Cut-up strips of an old, clean, soft, undecorated T-shirt can also be used.
6) Paper towels. Any paper towel will do, as long as it doesn't scratch the instrument's finish or leave behind excess lint.
Getting prepared:
Always work in an environment free of obstacles and distractions. Have all your supplies handy. Remove the mouthpiece and store it safely out of the way. Use a clean tub with a drain stopper for this. It will help if there is also at least a shower head, if not a handheld shower head/wand you can use.
Cleaning the instrument:
2) Tuning Slide Grease. Though many brands work well, I have used Schilke Tuning Slide Grease for many years.
3) Cleaning Rod. A short cleaning rod like the Selmer Trumpet Cleaning Rod is a great tool for this job. You can also substitute something like the Leblanc Metal Flute Cleaning Rod.
4) Flexible Cleaning Brush (aka a "Snake"). This Trombone Slide Snake will work well in most baritones and euphoniums. Choose a snake sized for your instrument.
5) Cheesecloth. Cheesecloth is used in conjunction with the cleaning rod to remove old tuning slide grease and other buildup. Cut-up strips of an old, clean, soft, undecorated T-shirt can also be used.
6) Paper towels. Any paper towel will do, as long as it doesn't scratch the instrument's finish or leave behind excess lint.
Getting prepared:
Always work in an environment free of obstacles and distractions. Have all your supplies handy. Remove the mouthpiece and store it safely out of the way. Use a clean tub with a drain stopper for this. It will help if there is also at least a shower head, if not a handheld shower head/wand you can use.
Cleaning the instrument:
An assembled euphonium (minus mouthpiece)
1) Remove the valves/springs and set them aside. I use a Tupperware bowl to keep things together.
2) Fill the tub with lukewarm water. For silver plate you could probably go hotter, but lukewarm is always safe. As the tub is filling add in some mild dish soap, something advertised as being gentle on your hands. Dawn works well.
3) Remove all the tuning slides. Wipe off any tuning slide grease with a paper towel or an old cloth you don't care about. Place the tuning slides in the water.
2) Fill the tub with lukewarm water. For silver plate you could probably go hotter, but lukewarm is always safe. As the tub is filling add in some mild dish soap, something advertised as being gentle on your hands. Dawn works well.
3) Remove all the tuning slides. Wipe off any tuning slide grease with a paper towel or an old cloth you don't care about. Place the tuning slides in the water.
Wiping grease off the slides
4) Wipe off any tuning slide legs on the main body of the instrument that might have grease on them.
5) Put the body of the instrument in the water and let it soak. I've done soaks anywhere from an hour to overnight, depending on how dirty I think an instrument is.
5) Put the body of the instrument in the water and let it soak. I've done soaks anywhere from an hour to overnight, depending on how dirty I think an instrument is.
Soaking in the tub
6) Take the main body of the instrument out of the water. Using the shower head or wand, do your best to run water through each slide/tube/down the bell to rinse it all out. This can be awkward with big instruments, but the goal is to remove all soap residue.
7) Run the snake through everything you can on the main body of the instrument (especially the leadpipe) to knock out debris. Never force the snake through an opening or a tube or around any bend. Things can get damaged and the head of the snake might break off inside the instrument. Rinse the instrument again if you're knocking a lot of debris loose.
8) Wind cheesecloth/t-shirt through the eye of the cleaning rod, around its head and down the shaft so that no metal is exposed. Adjust how much cloth is around the head so it fits the tube you're cleaning.
7) Run the snake through everything you can on the main body of the instrument (especially the leadpipe) to knock out debris. Never force the snake through an opening or a tube or around any bend. Things can get damaged and the head of the snake might break off inside the instrument. Rinse the instrument again if you're knocking a lot of debris loose.
8) Wind cheesecloth/t-shirt through the eye of the cleaning rod, around its head and down the shaft so that no metal is exposed. Adjust how much cloth is around the head so it fits the tube you're cleaning.
Wrapping cheesecloth around the cleaning rod
9) Use the covered cleaning rod to swab out everything you can reach with it, including the valves casings and anywhere a tuning slide plugs in. Note: Be careful to not get anything stuck or push too hard. Make sure the cloth covers the rod at all times as well.
Swabbing out the casings
10) Remove tuning slides from the water, rinse them, drain the tub. Use the snake and cleaning rod on them. Snakes do well with chunky debris; the rod/cloth do well with old grease.
Using the snake on a tuning slide
11) Grease the tuning slides and put them back in.
12) Wipe off the valves, oil them and re-install the pistons/valve springs.
12) Wipe off the valves, oil them and re-install the pistons/valve springs.
Wiping off a piston
13) The outside of the instrument can be wiped off with a clean soft cloth. Silver-plated instruments can be polished with a gentle silver polish (like Wright's or Hagerty's) or with a silver polishing cloth if desired. Lacquered instruments should not have any metal polish or metal polishing cloth used on them.
Your instrument is now clean and ready for use. How often you should clean it will depend on many factors, including whether you brush your teeth before playing, whether the instrument is played outdoors, and your body chemistry. If in doubt, clean the instrument. Your health, and the instrument's usefulness and value, are worth the effort.
*Links go to Amazon.com. This site earns a small commission for any items purchased as a result of following these links.
Your instrument is now clean and ready for use. How often you should clean it will depend on many factors, including whether you brush your teeth before playing, whether the instrument is played outdoors, and your body chemistry. If in doubt, clean the instrument. Your health, and the instrument's usefulness and value, are worth the effort.
*Links go to Amazon.com. This site earns a small commission for any items purchased as a result of following these links.
