How To Clean and Polish A Guitar
Remember the day you held your guitar for the first time? The shine of the body, the impeccable strings, and the elegant fret waiting to be touched – all went away too soon with your prized possession accumulating dirt and grime in no time. Well, now it’s up to you to keep up the sheen and glamor of the instrument so that it lasts several lifetimes effortlessly.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS INVOLVED IN CLEANING THE GUITAR
Before you learn the nitty-gritty of cleaning and polishing your guitar, try making it a habit to wash your hands before you touch it and store it in the designated storage when not in use. Moreover, our skin is endowed with natural oils in the skin and the instrument is also exposed to various environmental elements which are beyond our control.
* REMOVE LOOSE DIRT
Once the strings are off the board, you will need a soft brush for sweeping over the entire instrument very gently. This will help remove the large particles of loose dirt. If you have an electric guitar, make sure that you work between the pickups and tuning pegs as well.
The bristles of the brush must get down to the fine corners and crevices of the instrument. The type of brush required for the process is very crucial here. A standard paintbrush from the local store isn’t the right choice. Rather you should go for a makeup brush used for applying foundation or a compact. Or if you want you can invest in a professional-grade hardware cleaning tool for your guitar.
Also, as the bristles are extremely fine, these sable tools might shed a few bristles. If you see this, just blow them off the instrument’s body and you are good to go. Make sure you touch the guitar’s headstock and work the brush to get in between the tuners on both sides.
* JUST WIPE IT CLEAN
You will come across a lot of advice regarding how to clean and polish your guitar and each guitarist will have their own set of opinions regarding how they go about it. But there’s one thing that all luthiers unanimously swear by – a clean damp soft piece of cotton cloth.
You will only need a microfiber cloth or even an old T-shirt will do a great job of wiping away oil, smudges, and grime. You will be surprised (read shocked) to know that an old baby diaper that’s washed a few times can solve the problem almost instantly.
* TIME TO REMOVE THE STUBBORN GUNK
Now that your loved instrument is devoid of all the loose dirt, it’s time to bid farewell to sweat, fingerprints, and oils. If you have pets around, don’t be surprised to find their nose-print on your guitar. This is where you will need the piece of cloth again with some warm breath.
If you see gunk stuck on the guitar’s body, don’t go for buffing and rubbing motion. Rather hold your microfiber cloth in a scooping motion. Try fog spotting with your warm breath. In most cases, fogging a spot with accumulated grime and immediately wiping the condensation with a cotton cloth will remove the gunk.
You can wet the cloth with some water so that it becomes a little damp. Next, you have to blot those spots against a dry spot on the cloth in a scooping motion for removing the gunk completely.
POLISHING YOUR GUITAR
As the surface of the instrument is pristine and spotless, it’s time to apply polish. But it’s worth noting that over polishing will eventually ruin the surface of the instrument. Therefore, stick to polishing it once every 3 to 4 months even if you play it very frequently.
* GLOSSY FINISH
Most store-bought automotive or guitar polishes will be effective in polishing the glossy areas of UV-finished guitars. These polishes are also good for models with glossy finishes. If your guitar doesn’t have a glossy finish, it’s better that you rule out this step. Wiping the surface with a microfiber or cotton cloth can serve the purpose.
* NATURAL FINISH
Most people love the natural finish of the guitar since it gives a personalized touch to the instrument. But the problem with this finish is that, over time, it starts losing color and gets darker. And the sad part is that you won’t be able to do much about it.
You should never use water, synthetic cleaners, or any kind of polish for your guitar with a natural finish. Although the natural finish is protected with a coat of varnish or oil-varnish mix, it is only basic and wears out in some time. This indicates that the polish you use on the surface will find its way into the grain and stain it permanently.
No matter which polish you choose, eventually, it will make some areas lighter or darker than the rest of the body. This is how natural finishes work and if you select a guitar with such a finish, you have to accept the fact that the guitar will pick some personal charm over time. And you got to be proud of your guitar’s charm.
Before squirting any amount of polish on your guitar’s body, make sure that the surface is wiped clean. It’s common sense that if there is too much dirt on the satin finish, you will only end up smearing everything. It will micro-sand the lacquer and in worse situations, the dirt will scratch against the guitar’s body. This is the reason why dark-shaded guitars eventually develop dull and hazy parts after a few years of use.
FINAL WORDS
Didn’t you see your guitar neatly tucked in its case this morning? What you didn’t see is the dirt lurking behind the seemingly perfect surface. And you think that the regular wipe is all your guitar needs? Hold it under the source of light and you will discover all sorts of craps. When it comes to guitar polish, make sure that this step is preceded by thorough cleaning. The first step always involves the removal of sweat, dirt, dust, and oils. And this detailed guide will surely help you turn your guitar into a new piece once again.