Continuing the discussion from Introduce Yourself!
CL Kelly here, one year into beginner to boss, an older gal trying to play, and having fun! In the topic cleaning your harmonica I see a lot about lip balm not much about the actual cleaning of the instument. Do you? How do you?
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Loads of different opinions here on this. Ultrsonic cleaning machines. Spray alcahol. My personal preference is to shake them about in warm soapy water then hold it under the fast flowing tap to rinse along all the holes. I wipe the outside with an alcohol based handsanitiser. Not a gummy one. Then I give it a blow all along the holes. I don’t do it that often. Mostly only if they sound off or if I’ve played a lot say more than 10 hours.
I wash mine under the sink with warm water and dish soap.
Really important though - ONLY DO THIS IF YOU HAVE A PLASTIC COMB!!!, As this will damage wood combed harps.
Sometimes I also use a peroxide bath on my harps.
Definitely don’t use an ultrasonic cleaner on a valved (wind savers) harp. It will make them fall off. But if you are intending to replace them, it’s ok.
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I dealt with this issue and lip drag. I no longer have any wooden combs, which helps with air leaks and moisture. I dip my harps in alcohol for about 10 seconds and air dry them when the humidity is +50%. When moist a hair drier on low does the trick. Typically they are dry in less than 10 to 15 seconds with our low humidity. I do tap any excess out lightly holding the harp straight up or down on a rag. Never had to straighten a reed. Cost very little and the harp tech I use mentioned the harps are always clean. No instrument necessary. About every six months I will take them apart and lightly brush the reed plates with alcohol parallel with the reeds from hold down out. I also look inside the edge of the face plates along the edges for any buildup. Alcohol takes this away quickly. Moisture and cooler air do no favors for a harp.
When I clean the they play very well, especially if I run them under a warm airflow. When clean and as warm as your breath they respond very well. I can blow lightly about two inches from the harp from both directions and the reeds sound.
I used all sorts of lip balm but none were good. Chapstick is a disaster as it dries quickly and gums up a harp. I use a small amount of cocoanut oil one the face plates where the lips Contact it and on the inner part of my lower lips. Its been by far the best. Does not get into the harp and enables me to slide the harp easily without any grab.
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