Cleaning flute with soap and water

[Claiken]

My friend uses rubbing alcohol...She says she dumps rubbing alcohol and swish it around to clean it...I don't know if that's a good thing to do, is it?

You really shouldn't use enough that you can swish it around (enough to slightly moisten a soft cloth will do the trick), but I see no reason why rubbing alcohol should be a problem should be a problem in and of itself. Do keep in mind, however, that most rubbing alcohols contains at least 5% water (or as much as 30%, depending on the concentration), which could cause problems with the cork, especially with the swishing method. I have not been able to ascertain the water content (if any) of denatured alcohol, but given that it was suggested by a flute maker as a disinfectant, I would not regard it as dangerous.

So I should be ok wiht rubbing alcohol as long as I dont want to put any inside the headjoint right? Im just more worried about sanitizing the lip plate itself. Where I want to use it wont even come close to the cork.

[fluteguy18]

In regards to sanitizing, I would worry more about the riser, and the seam where the cork makes contact with the flute tube. So, the swish method should NOT cause any harm [ because if you look, there will be a metal disc covering the actual cork itself. The cork itself wont come into any more moisture than it would if you had been practicing.]

If you do not sanitize the riser, and the interior of the tube [ while flutepicc's method is effective, it wont get into the 'corners' as easily thus leaving possibility for the virus/ bacteria to continue dwelling in the headjoint] you are in more danger of making yourself ill again than you would be if you just sanitized the lipplate. This is because the bacteria is actually going inside the instrument and not just on the lip plate. I would most definately use the swab method with the rest of the flute [ your breath is going through the entire flute afterall] but I have had MUCH more success with the 'swish' method in the headjoint than the 'swab' method.


Go back and make sure you carefully read my previous posts, because it seems that they have been overlooked. But I assure you that if you do go with the swish method that NO harm will come to your headjoint [ as long as you follow the instructions I have given]. But, at the very least, do the method flutepicc advises because leaving the tube unsanitized and only cleaning the lipplate will most surely make you ill again.

[flutepicc06]

So, the swish method should NOT cause any harm [ because if you look, there will be a metal disc covering the actual cork itself. The cork itself wont come into any more moisture than it would if you had been practicing.]

Unfortunately, these disks rarely fit precisely right, so there will likely be a small gap between the edge of the disk and the wall of the head. If you're quick about it, very little water is going to seep into the cork, but there will probably still be SOME effect on the cork, even if it is minimal. I do agree with the suggestion of cleaning the embouchure hole carefully with a Q-tip (this trick is also useful if gunk happens to build up in the embouchure hole and affect how the head plays).

[fluteguy18]

Well, at the very least use the swab method, and use a q-tip to clean the riser and where the disc comes in contact with the wall of the flute.

[Jeana555]

I did that.. biggest mistake EVER. except i didnt do it to my flute i did it to my clarinet. it messed it up big time i had to take it to the shop so they could fix it and it is still not perfect so i recommend you not using soap and water.. im just glad i didnt use it on my flute first because my flute is like my prized possession.. hehe

[sinebar]

I did that.. biggest mistake EVER. except i didnt do it to my flute i did it to my clarinet. it messed it up big time i had to take it to the shop so they could fix it and it is still not perfect so i recommend you not using soap and water.. im just glad i didnt use it on my flute first because my flute is like my prized possession.. hehe

Well I got a new flute (YFL-381) so I don't have to worry about dirty flutes for a long time. I'm going to donate the old YFL-24N to a school.