How to Clean a Guitar

How to Clean a Guitar

People ask us all the time, “what’s the best way to clean a guitar without damaging the hardware or finish?” We get asked so frequently, in fact, that we decided to make a video to show you some of our favorite methods. Enjoy.

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Polishing Cloth
https://stewmac.com/item/1815

StewMac StewMac String Winder
https://stewmac.com/item/259

String Cutter
https://stewmac.com/item/1608

Color Tone – Naptha
https://stewmac.com/item/0766

Dremel 4000 Rotary Tool Outfit
https://stewmac.com/item/0358

Preservation polish
https://stewmac.com/item/3006

Scratch Remover
https://stewmac.com/item/1998

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50 Comments

  1. Any time y’all use a steel or brass wire wheel or brush make sure to wear glasses. As unlikely as it may sound, the wires will sling out while using. They seem to have an almost uncanny ability to zero in and go right in your eye. I’ve worked in the ER for over 20 years and we get several patients a year with wire bristles from wire wheels and even hand wire brushes impaled in their eye.

  2. When u play a very long concert live such as Nightwish live in End of An Era. the band get really sweaty and that sweat could land on their instrument making them very dirty and messy. So I always wondering how do u clean up instruments? Like the Guitar. it has an inside that u not really get access to, and if u want to clean the guitar how do u get inside of it? Are u forced to get off all the strings and use some spray or vaccum, coz I dont think u can fit ur fist inside the guitar in order to clean it. It feels it needs some kinda technic and skill to do that. And then what about the other instrument. A piano may take a long time coz its very big. Drums may take times coz there so many stuff on it u have to take off and clean from inside out.

  3. Anyone know the most effective way to clean dark discoloration on binding? This question was asked on the Les Paul Forum.

  4. Help! I have a 25 year old Takamine guitar with a cedar top
    and I think a satin finish. I haven’t cleaned it for about 20 years and the top
    has a thick layer of smudge. What is the best way to clean off the smudge and
    restore the finish?

  5. What if I want to clean the decorative tape on the side of a Danelectro? I have a 60s Silvertone 1448 body, and I don’t want to accidentally remove the tape with water. Then again, I already got it pretty wet; it was painted over, and I sanded the non-original paint off.

  6. Have strings in a box from thirty plus years ago. never throw strings away.
    Use Gibson Guitar polish, use your deep method on old basket case guitars.
    After every use, focus on the fret board and neck, strings and pickups and bridge.
    I just make a lot of racket, organized noise within the scale……….Thanks.

  7. I’m never the guy who dislikes a video but cleaning your guitar with saliva is disgusting I rather leave my guitar build dust for 5 years

  8. Thanks for the video, i was looking to clean a guitar i haven’t used in one year. The body has some kinda film on it, probably cigarette smoke? I think i’ll try warm water and micro-fiber towel first

  9. I will never mess with the body whatsoever. Last time i cleaned the body it lost its character on my 62 reissue. Ill rub out major issues but will never polish that guitar again. Plus I like the look and feel. I know I’m wrong but I don’t care.
    And hey… what about PLEDGE on a fingerboard? Asking a question…don’t try and sell me a product unless you can give me pros and cons. After 25 years of playing and owning and still own damn near every guitar I have I just don’t feel comfortable taking advice from someone whos probably younger than my newest guitar. No offense. Im stubborn in my ways. Thank you.

  10. I hate watching people who cut guitar strings when they could give them to the the poor, homeless and buskers. Bad move. Else this is one of the better ones about guitar maintenance that I’ve watched today. Thanks

  11. Always have a cloth to wipe strings from above and below. Whenever I do it, the strings remain shiny, and when I don’t the strings corrode pretty fast. I have sweaty palms.

  12. He says he wants to give it a shot making buff & polish videos to put on YouTube.
    I told him, I can’t subscribe to that. What will the neighbors think?

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