Post by Admin on Jan 11, 2014 6:03:02 GMT -5
Cleaning
Some harp-players clean their 'harps' often, some never. Most of the time the harmonica wears out before it even needs some heavy cleaning. If someone else used your harmonica, or it was on the shelf for a long time, it's a good thing to do. If your harmonica is chromatic stay away from water! There are specific cleaning instructions for chromatic harmonica's. If your diatonic harmonica has a plastic comb (versus a wood or metal comb), you can do a quick cleaning by running luke warm water through it and then rapping it firmly (mouthpiece side down) against your leg or palm to knock out the excess water.
For a more thorough cleaning, disassemble the cover plates, reed plates, and comb. You may clean the plastic comb with warm water, soap, and an old tooth brush. If your comb is made of wood, skip the water and soap and merely rub it down with the old toothbrush. If your comb is metal, be sure to dry it thoroughly upon completion ot avoid rust and tarnish. Clean the reed plates with warm water and soap and your fingers. Don't wash the reed plates with an old toothbrush. Dry as completely as possible before re-assembly. A good way to clean the reed plates is with q-tips and Hydrogen Peroxide Solution, this will sanitize, clean, disinfect, and is perfectly safe. Then re-attach the reed plates back on the comb and replace the cover plates.
Some harp-players clean their 'harps' often, some never. Most of the time the harmonica wears out before it even needs some heavy cleaning. If someone else used your harmonica, or it was on the shelf for a long time, it's a good thing to do. If your harmonica is chromatic stay away from water! There are specific cleaning instructions for chromatic harmonica's. If your diatonic harmonica has a plastic comb (versus a wood or metal comb), you can do a quick cleaning by running luke warm water through it and then rapping it firmly (mouthpiece side down) against your leg or palm to knock out the excess water.
For a more thorough cleaning, disassemble the cover plates, reed plates, and comb. You may clean the plastic comb with warm water, soap, and an old tooth brush. If your comb is made of wood, skip the water and soap and merely rub it down with the old toothbrush. If your comb is metal, be sure to dry it thoroughly upon completion ot avoid rust and tarnish. Clean the reed plates with warm water and soap and your fingers. Don't wash the reed plates with an old toothbrush. Dry as completely as possible before re-assembly. A good way to clean the reed plates is with q-tips and Hydrogen Peroxide Solution, this will sanitize, clean, disinfect, and is perfectly safe. Then re-attach the reed plates back on the comb and replace the cover plates.