Cleaning cloth and rod stuck!

[Aberdeen]

Hi - My 5th grader started flute lessons last week and was given a plastic cleaning rod and standard handkerchief by his instructor. Long story short, in attempting to clean the flute body piece at home, the cloth bunched up around the rod and both are stuck. (Really really stuck.)

I can see the handkerchief through at least 5 of the key holes. Would it be safe to try to snip some of the fabric away with manicure scissors through the keyholes to try to reduce the bunchiness of the cloth?

[pied_piper]

DO NOT SNIP AT THE CLEANING CLOTH UNDER THE KEYS!!!

The pads are extremely delicate and can be easily damaged. Take the flute to your nearest music repair shop. They know how to remove stuck swabs and cleaning cloths without damaging anything. Even if they charge you, the cost will be far less than repairing damaged pads...