Maintaining your clarinet is very important in order for you to get t,he best out of it. Before you start cleaning, disassemble your clarinet into all the parts.
To clean the mouthpiece you need a clarinet brush and warm water, use these to carefully clean the mouthpiece. If you notice any smell or bacteria, you should consider using little amount of vinegar in cleaning. Clean the ligature with a fine cloth to get rid of finger prints. Do not use water on the keys and the bell of the clarinet. Use small amount of instrument oil between the keys, then clean the excess oil after some time.
Return the clarinet into the clarinet box after cleaning. These simple tips will help keep your clarinet clean.
Clean your mouthpiece at least once per week. This can be done by filling a container with a 1:1 ratio of water and white vinegar. Brush off any limescale, rinse the mouthpiece in clean water, spray it with Sterisol, then pat dry. Don't wash the rest of the clarinet like this as it will damage your pads. Drop a cleaning swab down the bell and run it through a few times after each use.
It is important to remove excess moisture after a performance because it can also damage pads. Store your instrument in a case when not in use to prevent dirt and debris from entering or damaging it.
