What Common Household Item Can Be Used to Clean Guitar Strings?
Music is a therapy for everyone, regardless of their age, and genre preferences. Playing music can relieve stress, sharpen your mental capabilities, and promote overall well-being. However, like every musical instrument, guitars are also subject to wear and tear over time. To keep your guitar in good condition, paying attention to the cleanliness and maintenance of its strings is of utmost importance.
Guitar strings can get dirty over time because of oil, sweat, and dead skin cells that accumulate on them from your fingers. Over time, this impacts the sound quality and can make the strings uncomfortable to play. While there are numerous guitar cleaning products available in the market, it is possible that you don’t keep them stocked up in your house all the time. Therefore, what common household item can be used to clean guitar strings?
In this post, we’ll share a few household items that can clean guitar strings and leave them sounding as good as new.
1. Rubbing Alcohol
When it comes to cleaning guitar strings, rubbing alcohol is an effective and inexpensive option. Rubbing alcohol is an essential item in most households and is readily available at pharmacies and supermarkets. Alcohol evaporates quickly, making it a safe choice for cleaning guitars strings.
To use rubbing alcohol, you’ll need:
– A clean microfiber cloth
– A bottle of 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
Start by holding your guitar down and pressing on the fret for the string you intend to clean. By doing this, the string lifts and becomes easy to clean. Carefully rub the string from the top to the bottom using the clean microfiber cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. Once you’ve cleaned the string, don’t forget to wipe any excess alcohol with a clean part of the cloth.
2. Baking Soda
Baking soda is another nontoxic option for cleaning guitar strings. Since baking soda is used as a cleaning agent in most kitchens, it’s also one of the most common household cleaning items. Baking soda improves sound quality by removing oil buildup and grime from your guitar strings.
To clean your guitar strings with baking soda, you’ll need:
– A clean microfiber cloth
– Warm water
– Baking soda
Start by dipping the microfiber cloth in warm water and squeezing it until it’s damp. Then, gently dip the damp cloth into the baking soda and apply it to the guitar strings. Rub the string with the damp cloth dipped in baking soda gently, repeat the process if you have a lot of grime and oil buildup on your strings. When you’re done cleaning your guitar strings with baking soda, make sure to wipe them down with a dry cloth to remove any excess particles.
3. Pencil Eraser
Using a pencil eraser is a straightforward way to clean your guitar strings. Pencil erasers are readily available, and for most people, they’re accessible. You can find one in your pencil case, office supply drawer or kid’s stationary box. Using a pencil eraser is another affordable solution to maintain your guitar strings and is a useful tip to remember when travelling.
To use a pencil eraser, all you need is an eraser and some fingertips. Gently rub the eraser on the top and bottom of each string a couple of times to remove grime and dust accumulated on your guitar strings. When you’re done, use a cleaning cloth or paper towel to wipe the strings down.
4. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is an acidic household item that’s exceptional for cleaning guitar strings. Lemon juice contains citric acid which helps remove grime, dead skin cells and oil build-up on the strings. Additionally, it provides a refreshing citrusy scent that leaves your guitar smelling good and looking like it’s just out of the store.
To clean your guitar strings with lemon juice, you’ll need:
– A clean microfiber cloth
– A bottle of fresh lemon juice
Soak a clean microfiber cloth in the fresh lemon juice and apply it to the strings. Gently rub the cloth up and down the guitar strings until they are free of grime and dirt. Once you’re done, use another dry microfiber cloth to wipe any excess lemon juice off your guitar strings.
5. Vinegar
Vinegar is another nontoxic household item that can be used for cleaning guitar strings. Vinegar is often used in the kitchen for cooking and cleaning, but it also has some surprising uses as a cleaning agent for metal surfaces like guitar strings.
To clean your guitar strings with vinegar, you’ll need:
– A clean microfiber cloth
– A bottle of white vinegar
To use vinegar, mix one part vinegar with one part water in a container. Dip a clean microfiber cloth in this mixture and apply it to your guitar strings while rubbing gently. After you’ve cleaned, use a dry cloth to wipe the strings down.
Conclusion
Cleaning guitar strings is a key part of regular guitar maintenance, and utilizing common household items can accomplish this task. Rubbing alcohol, baking soda, pencil erasers, lemon juice, and vinegar are all excellent household items that can clean guitar strings effectively. Maintaining good cleaning habits can increase the lifespan of your guitar strings and, most importantly, enhance the sound quality of your guitar.
In conclusion, keeping your guitar strings clean with household items is a practical and cost-effective way to keep your guitar sounding great. Try using these household items mentioned above to clean your guitar strings today and notice the difference in sound quality. Remember to clean your guitar strings regularly to maintain them and make them last longer. Happy playing!
Image Credit: Pexels