How can you really clean a flute?

MvAuMsPrInCeSs06 · Post by **MvAuMsPrInCeSs06** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 5:04 pm

How can you clean a flute inside and outside,
how can you make it smell pleasing and not like metal, and how can you keep your
mouth piece clean? Is the polishing cloth the only way you can clean the
outhside? Is a polishing gauze the only way you can clean the inside? I really
just wanna stop it from smelling like metal... any tips?

embum79 · Post by **embum79** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 6:09 pm

The only thing you need to clean your
flute is a clean, soft cloth, like a strip of flannel or a t-shirt. Clean your
flute out every time you play to keep it clean (and in good working condition),
and just clean the outside gently by rubbing the fingerprints off. If you
consistently keep your flute clean it shouldn't stink, but it will always have
that metal smell (depending on what your flute is made of). I seem to remember
that my old flute that was silver-plated smelled a little differently from the
one I have now, which is solid silver. There really isn't an odor from my
current flute.

sakuramimato · Post by **sakuramimato** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 6:10 pm

[quote] ---------------- On 2/3/2004
5:04:30 PM How can you clean a flute inside and outside, how can you make it
smell pleasing and not like metal, and how can you keep your mouth piece clean?
Is the polishing cloth the only way you can clean the outhside? Is a polishing
gauze the only way you can clean the inside? I really just wanna stop it from
smelling like metal... any tips? ---------------- [/quote] Well, from your
comment, you want to "make [the flute] smell pleasing and not like metal."
Pleasing in a candy-smelling kind way? I wouldn't want my instrument to smell
pleasing on the inside but it's better if it smells like metal or nothing at
all. Of course, if it's a strong smell of metal, then your instrument might not
have been swabbed out correctly. I use a special unscented swab that takes out
the moisture and removes any unwanted smells from the inside, but I'm not
really sure what the brand is. Aside from using polishing cloths to clean the
interior (if it's a silver, I don't really see the need for using a silver
polishing cloth for the interior of the flute), you can use swabs to clean them
out. Some companies make special swabs to clean out the headjoint, as well. I
don't recommend getting those swabs that you keep inside your flute that retain
moisture because it does retain moisture, but where else does the moisture have
to go if it's inside your flute just sitting in your case?

MvAuMsPrInCeSs06 · Post by **MvAuMsPrInCeSs06** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 6:23 pm

it doesnt smell bad, but it smells
like metal if you really smell it, it's my sisters flute from college, and its
kinda brand new

minsmusic · Post by **minsmusic** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:40 pm

Speaking of cleaning flutes, my
husband bought me a second hand flute two days ago (Suzuki)It's pretty beat up
- (I can still get sound out of it!) But it didn't come with anything to clean
it. I've never had a flute before, but shouldn't they have some kind of long
cleaning tool to get the cloth inside? I know recorders do. Any advice what to
use?[:)]

MvAuMsPrInCeSs06 · Post by **MvAuMsPrInCeSs06** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 7:33 am

[quote] ---------------- On 2/3/2004
8:40:16 PM Speaking of cleaning flutes, my husband bought me a second hand flute
two days ago (Suzuki)It's pretty beat up - (I can still get sound out of it!)
But it didn't come with anything to clean it. I've never had a flute before,
but shouldn't they have some kind of long cleaning tool to get the cloth
inside? I know recorders do. Any advice what to use?[:)] ----------------
[/quote] You need a cleaning rod, they cost less than 5dollars, and you also
need to buy a cleaning kit which is like 10-15 dollars from yamaha, you can get
it from a music store

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 8:48 am

Yep, You need a cleaning rod. You
should be able to pick one up at a local music store pretty cheap. As far as the
cleaning kit goes...they really are not a necessity. Usually a cleaning kit will
come with a polishing cloth which many people don't recommend using. We do have
a polishing cloth but it is not used often at all. You will also sometimes get a
bottle of polish, a bottle of key oil and a small brush. I don't use any kind
of polish on our flutes that we have, and any oiling I would have a professional
do. All that you really need are a couple of soft cloth's like flannel and the
cleaning rod. Use one cloth for the cleaning of the outside and the other for
wiping off the outside. If you do decide to get a polishing cloth be very
careful with it so that the cloth does not come in contact with the pads. Also a
pack of pad papers can come in handy for dealing with sticky keys. You can pick
these up at your local music store or pick up beauticians papers at the beauty
supply store

HTH, Kim [quote] ---------------- On 2/3/2004 8:40:16 PM
Speaking of cleaning flutes, my husband bought me a second hand flute two days
ago (Suzuki)It's pretty beat up - (I can still get sound out of it!) But it
didn't come with anything to clean it. I've never had a flute before, but
shouldn't they have some kind of long cleaning tool to get the cloth inside? I
know recorders do. Any advice what to use?[:)] ---------------- [/quote]

MvAuMsPrInCeSs06 · Post by **MvAuMsPrInCeSs06** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 5:35 pm

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTIPS ON WRITING
MUSIC IN MINOR KEYS?

minsmusic · Post by **minsmusic** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 7:50 pm

Thank you Makayla and Kim. A cleaning
rod. Okay, that's what I'll ask for. Kim you mentioned paper pads for sticky
keys? Well the G key sticks (I've be lifting it up with with my finger after
I've pressed it[:p] Good habit huh?) What are these paper pads and how do you
use them? Also, do you ever need to use something like Silvo to polish the
flute, or should you be able to get it nice and shiny wih just the cloth? (I was
tempted to use Silvo but I thought I'd better get some advice first. mmmmm,
hope you guys know what Silvo is, perhaps you use a different term. Kim, do you
live in the States? - hope that's not too personal) And Makayla, writing
melodies in a minor scale is very similar to writing one in a major. I'll talk
more about it in your other thread - DESPERATE!!!! We can't have anyone being
desperate, hey? Talk to you there![;)]

MvAuMsPrInCeSs06 · Post by **MvAuMsPrInCeSs06** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 8:33 pm

[quote] ---------------- On 2/4/2004
7:50:45 PM Thank you Makayla and Kim. A cleaning rod. Okay, that's what I'll
ask for. Kim you mentioned paper pads for sticky keys? Well the G key sticks
(I've be lifting it up with with my finger after I've pressed it[:p] Good
habit huh?) What are these paper pads and how do you use them? Also, do you ever
need to use something like Silvo to polish the flute, or should you be able to
get it nice and shiny wih just the cloth? (I was tempted to use Silvo but I
thought I'd better get some advice first. mmmmm, hope you guys know what Silvo
is, perhaps you use a different term. Kim, do you live in the States? - hope
that's not too personal) And Makayla, writing melodies in a minor scale is very
similar to writing one in a major. I'll talk more about it in your other thread
- DESPERATE!!!! We can't have anyone being desperate, hey? Talk to you
there![;)] ---------------- [/quote] if your g key sticks, you might need to
clean your pads, and/or ajust your screws

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 8:52 pm

Hi~ It sounds like your G key is
sticking in another manner and is in need of adjustment. A good tech person
should be able to adjust that for you fairly cheaply. "Sticky Keys" that I was
referring to is when you can hear a "sticky" sound when the key opens or closes.
This is caused by moisture of some kind in the pad on the key. Pad Papers are
similar to cigarette rolling papers...they also can be used but be sure to cut
the gummy part of the rolling paper off before using them. What you do with
these is open the key and place the paper in between the tone hole and the pad
and then open and close the key. Don't pull the paper out without opening the
key first or you risk tearing the pad. Online you may hear of people saying that
they use a dollar bill for this purpose but that generally is a bad idea as
dollar bills are not exactly clean. I have never heard of Silvo. I don't
recommend using any kind of silver polish on a flute. If your flute is heavily
tarnished you could purchase a polishing rag like I have that has a tarnish rag
attached. tight. I would probably take a polishing cloth to it before I used a
polishing cream of any type. Oh, yes I live in the states. I live in VERY cold
and snowy Minnesota. Kim [quote] ---------------- On 2/4/2004 7:50:45 PM Thank
you Makayla and Kim. A cleaning rod. Okay, that's what I'll ask for. Kim you
mentioned paper pads for sticky keys? Well the G key sticks (I've be lifting it
up with with my finger after I've pressed it[:p] Good habit huh?) What are
these paper pads and how do you use them? Also, do you ever need to use
something like Silvo to polish the flute, or should you be able to get it nice
and shiny wih just the cloth? (I was tempted to use Silvo but I thought I'd
better get some advice first. mmmmm, hope you guys know what Silvo is, perhaps
you use a different term. Kim, do you live in the States? - hope that's not too
personal) [/quote]

minsmusic · Post by **minsmusic** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 9:40 pm

Thanks for the advice! I won't use
Silvo and eventually when I earn more money (c'mon kids don't cancel any
lessons on me now!!!) I'd like to get my flute completely serviced. Has anyone
heard what sort of reputation a Suzuki flute has?

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:37 pm

<<Has anyone heard what sort of
reputation a Suzuki flute has?>> I haven't heard of that brand of flute. I just
did a Google search and did come up with Suzuki Recorders though. I like your
new avatar [:bigsmile:] Kim

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:43 pm

Hi again...I found this site and
thought that maybe you could contact them and they might be able to tell you
more about your flute ? Kim http://www.suzukimusic.com/

minsmusic · Post by **minsmusic** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 3:01 am

Thank you Kim. I'll do that.[:)]