How do I get tarnish off my flute?
To clean a tarnished flute, start by rubbing down the flute with a silver polishing cloth and then use an anti-tarnish silver polish with a microfiber cloth to rub the area until the tarnish slowly disappears.
What causes a flute to tarnish?
In the case of the silver on your flute, the tarnish comes from the silver reacting with hydrogen sulfide, a gas which is present in extremely small and usually harmless quantities due to air pollution. The process of tarnishing is sped up by oxygen, various oils in your skin, and heat.
Can you play a tarnished flute?
There will be no sound change from a tarnished flute. If it is corroded, you may have a problem. It is more likely that corrosion in the key mechanisms would impede your playing. My beginner flute doesn’t have a lot of silver left (it flaked off after a while) but it still plays ok for its quality.
Can you use rubbing alcohol to clean a flute?
Never use silver polish or any other cleaner on your flute. To clean your flute use “saliva” or rubbing alcohol on your cloth. To keep pads clean, don’t eat candy or chew gum before playing and never while playing.
Can I use silver polish on a flute?
When you’re polishing a flute, don’t use silver polish or other liquids. Although it can be tempting to give your instrument an extra shine, liquid polish isn’t recommended because it can damage the instrument’s finger pads and cause the metal to rust.
How do I remove tarnish?
Clear space on your table or counter for a glass baking dish lined with aluminum foil (shiny-side up) or an aluminum baking dish. Combine the baking soda and salt. Then add vinegar and boiling water. The simple (but fun-to-watch) chemical reaction should begin to remove the tarnish immediately.
Can you wash a flute with soap and water?
To sum it all up, cleaning your flute is typically best done with anti-tarnish silver polish and rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. You can also use soap and water but in small amounts so as to not destroy the pads or the headjoint cork either. While Windex isn’t necessarily harmful, it also isn’t recommended.
Why does my flute have black spots?
This discoloration on the flute is silver sulfide, a product of the silver on the surface of the flute combining with sulfur components in the air.
What can I clean a flute with?
Use a soft cloth to wipe off moisture and finger marks after playing. Never use silver polish or any other cleaner on your flute. To clean your flute use “saliva” or rubbing alcohol on your cloth. To keep pads clean, don’t eat candy or chew gum before playing and never while playing.
Why did my flute turn black?
What causes tarnish? The very dark almost black looking tarnish is caused by exposing the silver to sulfur. In the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere, silver forms a film of silver sulfide which is black in color. When silver sulfide forms on the surface of your flute, it darkens the silver.