I was wondering , do any of you use some type of cleaning apparatus for your whistles? I have been rinsing mine after I play but should I be doing this? Or something else? I tried a search in the archives but came up empty handed.
[ This Message was edited by: cowtime on 2002-05-27 22:55 ]
I seem to remember there being a thread on cleaning techniques thats now linked in the Matrix.
See if that answers your questions.
Kev
Well, I will clear the air way by blowing into the wind-way (on Non-tuneables), or by taking a Q-tip and cleaning the mouthpiece (on my tuneables) after playing. I also occasionally clean the shaft of mine with a cleaning rod with a rag attached to the end. Unfortunately, this only works on my cylindrical bore whistles… my Clarkes have too small an opening on the end for that.
Does that help??
Most expensive wooden whistles should be cleaned using the special techniques for wooden instruments that a good music store can tell you all about and set you up for. Most metal and/or plastic whistles can be run through the dishwasher on the top rack or cleaned in the sink with the dishes with a bottlebrush.
Cotton handkerchief run up the bore with a plastic cleaning rod from a Yamaha recorder. Careful around the mouthpiece end.
I use the wooden cleaning rods sold by Hall Crystal Flutes for swabbing and oiling the bores of my whistles. These rods come with a cloth covered foam tip that won’t scratch the inside of wooden instruments.
For cleaning the windway itself, I use a cut and folded business card - first dry, to srub out the larger crud, then slightly damp with some soapy water to finish the job.
Loren