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Later in the article, we’ll go into far more detail about the points below. But if you want to cut to the chase, then follow these concise steps to make your guitar shine like it’s new! It is the one oil that most guitarists would have used at any given point, and when your guitar was made, it was probably the oil that was initially applied by the manufacturer. Windex should not be used to clean your guitar. It's easy to see why some people might want to use household cleaners on their guitars, but many household cleaners contain alcohol, bleach, or ammonia and these are harmful to the wood and polish on guitars. Steer clear of all cleaners, especially Windex. Ways to Prepare to Clean Your Guitar
If your fingerboard is made from an exotic wood such as Hawaiian Koa, or Ziricote, then products made of petroleum distillates such as Gerlitz Honey (see below) are a great option. If you want to play it really safe, try Music Nomad’s F1 which is 100% natural mineral-based, so it won’t harm your wood. When to Use Lemon Oil? What Is A Non Drying Oil? A Non-Drying Oil, (such as Mineral oil), is an oil that does not dry or harden. This type of oil will simply soak into wood, rehydrating parched wood grain. A Drying Oil, (such as Linseed oil or Tung oil), is an oil that will dry and harden into a resin. This type of oil will soak into wood too, but it will also build up a solid coat on the surface of your fretboard. Is Fretboard Oil Even Necessary? The Peavey and Planet Waves lemon oils recommended above contain petroleum distillates. This means that a well-ventilated area is required while they are being used. Otherwise, they can spontaneously combust with the slightest temperature change! In fact, most oils and conditioners that you would use on your fretboard are flammable, and any rags you use are a genuine fire risk. Put them outside to ventilate when you have finished using them. Each section of your guitar requires a specific item and process for a deep clean. It's important to pay attention to where you are putting the chemicals and cloths so that you don't accidentally harm any part of your guitar. How to Clean Your Guitar StringsIf you require or would just prefer oil that’s not lemon-based, but want to keep things as natural as possible, Music Nomads’ F-One or Bore Oil products might be better for you. F-One will be best if your priority is to get a silky-smooth finish, whilst Bore Oil is more likely to increase the life of your guitar. Maple fretboards usually have a hard, lacquered finish on them so they actually don’t need oil. It will have no effect, and could even harm the lacquer. If you have one made of maple, a simple wipe down with gentle cleaner will suffice. Exotic Wood If you’ve ever tried to polish your car and notice it looks pretty bad after, you’ve run into this issue! It’s very difficult to get an even coat of polish applied, and the results are challenging to correct. The acids in lemon oil break down the finish of your guitar … speed the corrosion of the frets, and decrease the life of your strings.” Martin Guitars Before you put any of these items on your guitar, make sure to read on about how to use them. Even something as simple as water could damage the finish and create warping in the wood. Use special care when it comes to older and vintage guitars. These might require more specialized, professional cleaning. How to Clean Each Part of Your Guitar Using Household Items
Better still, when in doubt, use linseed oil. The guitar manufacturer probably did when they manufactured your guitar. Conditioners will work well too, and again, we have recommended a few options above. You can also go for a specialist fretboard conditioner like MusicNomad’ s The F-One Fretboard Conditioner, which is a favorite of ours: Pencil lead contains graphite, which is a dry lubricant. When that graphite is applied to the little notches where your strings sit on the guitar nut, it may actually help the strings move more freely…though it will obviously discolor the nut, which you may not appreciate. petroleum distillates.” This means that any rags used to apply lemon oil need to air out in a well-ventilated area afterwards, otherwise they can spontaneously combust. The “recipe” for WD-40 may be a trade secret, but it does contain mostly paraffins and oils derived from petroleum. In essence, some of these ingredients are very similar to mineral oil. However, there are a number of other chemicals in WD-40 that may not necessarily be harmful to your steel strings, but are to the wood fretboard and guitar body.If your strings don't stay in tune, produce a dull tone, are discolored, feel stiff, or feel dirty, it's probably time to swap them out for new ones. In this case, it's not worth spending the time to clean them.
Related Post: Can You Use Orange Oil To Condition A Dry Guitar Fretboard? (Revealed!) | The Woodwork Place Is Mineral Oil My Only Choice? What Is The Best Alternative To Lemon Oil For Fretboards?
How Do I Keep My Guitar Clean?
Oils and polishes intended for use with furniture are wholly unsuitable for musical instruments because they contain additives designed to bring out a nice shine on wooden floors, desks, and lamps. Before you begin cleaning your guitar with household items, it's essential to know which chemicals are best and which ones might harm it. Depending on the type of guitar you have and its finish, you'll need to use different items to get it clean. General Items to Avoid for Cleaning Acoustic and Electric Guitars The majority of mass-produced guitars are finished in either a polyester or polyurethane finish, which gives a glossy protective layer to your instrument. This makes it the easiest finish to clean as it doesn’t leave the wood porous or absorbent. You can therefore use a variety of polishes or waxes to give your guitar a look worthy of being in a showroom. If you’re shopping for guitar string lubricant or cleaner, you may notice some products contain lemon oil. So it would appear that lemon oil is safe for use on your guitar, right?
Once you are ready to clean the body of the guitar, it becomes imperative to understand which kind of finish is on your guitar. Depending on what was used to finish your guitar, you'll need to use specific cleaning items and steer clear of others. Poly-Finish or Gloss FinishesPut on a pair of gloves. After deep cleaning your guitar, the last thing you want is to find that there are a bunch of fingerprints on your newly polished finish. It's also helpful to use gloves to make sure the polish and chemicals don't get on your hands. If you don't have gloves, make sure to wash your hands before, during, and after cleaning. Guitars that are often used and regularly wiped will need this type of special clean around once a year. It mostly depends on the amount of playing and additional care. You can always inspect your instrument and you’ll see if there is a need for cleaning and oiling. Products You Should Avoid Applying On Your Fretboard
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