How To Clean Guitar Fretboard At Home?

How To Clean Guitar Fretboard At Home
The Ultimate Guide to Guitar Cleaning – Andertons Blog Generally, cleaning is an unpleasant activity. Dishwashing, vacuuming the house, and cleaning the automobile are all repetitive tasks. However, if you’re a musician and you want your guitars to last a lifetime, you must clean them!

  • What causes dirt to accumulate on your guitar and how to prevent it.
  • How to clean a guitar properly.
  • How to clean a guitar without causing damage to its finish.

The below-mentioned issues will be discussed in length later in the text. But if you want to go straight to the point, follow these short methods to make your guitar seem brand new!

  1. Please wash your hands: It is obvious, but it is also the most crucial factor!
  2. It will be much easier to clean the body and fretboard if you remove the strings.
  3. Apply lemon oil to rehydrate Rosewood/Ebony/Pau Ferro fretboards after removing obstinate grime with fine steel wool. Clean Maple fretboards with a wet cloth.
  4. For poly-finished (gloss) guitars, spray guitar polish onto a soft cloth and wipe down the guitar’s body. Utilize a dry portion to buff the polish. For guitars with matte, satin, or nitro finishes, use only a dry cloth.
  5. Use a soft cloth and a small bit of guitar polish to remove dirt and dried perspiration from the hardware in order to restore its luster. WD-40 may be used to eliminate rust and dirt.

What common household materials may be used to clean the fretboard of a guitar?

Are you among those who possess very remarkable guitars? If so, you understand how difficult it is to clean a guitar’s fretboard. As a guitar owner, I have found maintaining the fretboard clean to be one of the most challenging tasks. Most of us dread cleaning it with store-bought items owing to the cleaner’s chemical composition.

But do you know how to utilize common household objects to clean a guitar fretboard? Using lemon oil, vinegar, vegetable oil, and water is the best way to clean a guitar fretboard using common home products. You may use a cotton swab dipped in these common household substances to gently clean the fretboard.

Therefore, if you want a nice and clean fretboard, adhere to the instructions in this article.

\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 10, 2007, 8:21 AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n For those about to rock \n \n \n \n \n 72 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n oh my gosh WD40!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lemon oil yes, motoroil / lubricant hell nay It will harm the guitar.

Gradually \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 10, 2007, 8:24 AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 40 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What do you think about Maple necks? Can it hurt them? \n \n\n \n Anger is Human, Forgivness is Divine, Masturbation is Fun.

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 10, 2007, 8:24 AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 60 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 10, 2007, 8:30 AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 40 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Do I just squeeze a lemon and then apply it on the fretboard? \n \n\n \n Anger is a human trait, forgiveness is divine, and masturbation is enjoyable. \n \n \n \n That would be lemon juice instead. Here is where we are. I’ve heard that you can purchase this item at an even lower price in a supermarket, but I wouldn’t count on it. Ibanez RGT42DXBoss GT-10 Marshall AVT275X Ibanez RGT42DXBoss GT-10 Last modified by sanderd at 8:42 AM on Dec 10, 2007 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 10, 2007, 8:36 AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Like \n \n \nmasterkulot likes this \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 60 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Wd40 is a petroleum substance and will damage the finish of a guitar; it is also a penetrating oil, and the chemical that makes it such will also damage the finish.

It will ruin a car’s paint, thus it cannot be used on a guitar. You may get lemon oil from a hardware shop for three dollars. The identical product is sold as lemon oil for guitars at a higher price due to the bottle’s label. \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 10, 2007, 9:49 AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Like \n \n \nmasterkulot likes this \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 40 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n No petroleum-based oils, no silicone.

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\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 10, 2007, 10:12 AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 20 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The debate is whether prolonged use of WD-40 may degrade guitar wood.

It had a fingerboard made of rosewood) YES ! DO NOT USE WD40 ON YOUR GUITARS EXCEPT ON METAL PARTS! IMMEDIATELY REMOVE ALL SIGNS FROM WOOD AND LACQUERED PARTS! At least 80% of WD40 is solvent, 10% is tallow oil, and 10% is light oil. WD40 was designed to be used on METAL, NOT WOOD. Guitarwood absorbs moisture (water).

The fact that guitar wood is NOT completely dried is a positive quality. As the organic material compresses around the mineral ingredient that makes up wood, wood that is completely dry loses flexibility, fractures, and splits. “WD” in “WD40” stands for “Water displacement.” Before the solvent evaporates, WD40 “pushes” the water located inside the wood out of the wood.

  • The issue is that wood has numerous blind holes through which water permeates.
  • When WD40 permeates into wood, the microscopic gaps and tunnels between wood cavities are filled.
  • When it comes into touch with water trapped in a blind cavity, the water will exert pressure on the cavity walls in an effort to escape.

This pressure is sufficient to cause cavities to grow and rupture. Add the pressure of the WD40 solvent trying to evaporate to the pressure of the water trying to escape. If water is trapped within WD40-filled cavities, the WD40 cannot evaporate, and when the temperature rises, even by a few degrees, the WD40 will EXPAND and exert pressure within the cavities, causing them to explode.

  1. Experience: gently pour a can of Coca-Cola into a very soft balloon or condom (I suppose condoms are easier to acquire today) and knot the balloon’s open end.
  2. Now, jiggle the balloon to cause the diluted gas to expand; you should observe the balloon growing somewhat and feel additional pressure on the balloon’s outside.

WD40 is a cleaner and degreaser, a lubricant with low durability, and it does NOT replace oil. Eventually, WD40 may be used to clean the metal components of a guitar and the metal-to-metal connections. If the metal pieces are still attached to the instrument, do not spray.

  • Utilize a Q-tip, cloth, or toilet paper/Kleenex to apply to affected areas.
  • As a solvent, WD40 dries up and damages rubber parts, such as joints on certain tuners, and softens and degrades nylon parts, such as gears on tuners.
  • Eventually, it may be used to clean unclean strings by rubbing each string with a WD40-saturated cloth.

Do not wash the fretboard in an attempt to clean all strings simultaneously. You will not only have cleansed only one side of the strings, but you will also have stuck dirt in the fret corners. You would be MUCH better off cleaning your strings with a dry towel after use, ultimately using some “Fast Fret,” or simply installing a new set of strings.

\n \n\n \n \n Last modified by ColdGin at 12:15 PM, Dec 10, 2007 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 10, 2007, 10:57 AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Like \n \n \nbrandonch33se likes this \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 40 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n N n n n n “Man, thank you so much, that was quite useful.

\n \n\n \n Anger is Human, Forgivness is Divine, Masturbation is Fun. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 10, 2007, 11:58 AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 10 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n I concur that WD-40 shouldn’t be used. \n \n \n \n Using WD-40 and a toothbrush, I was cleaning the neck of an old guitar that I no longer play. (It had a fingerboard made of rosewood) For fretboard cleaning, a toothbrush or toothpicks are the most convenient tools. – Lemon oil – much superior: NAPHTA Lemon oil is somewhat acidic and destroys lacquer slowly, whereas naphta includes solvents, which damage adhesives.

  • Therefore, wipe clean and dry ONE FRET/FRETSPACE AT A TIME.
  • A few weeks later, lemon oil dries out, and if the fretboard wood is not oiled, it too begins to dry out.
  • WARNING: Lemon oil alone will dry out the fretboard in a couple of months.
  • To keep the fretboard from drying out, seal it with oil.
  • For fretboard sealing: Mid-duration (1-2 years) (1-2 years) Sealing: conventional “Mineral Oil” without additives (the laxative type), synthetic fingerboard oil from Luthier’s Mercantile (lmii.com) (1 bottle for +20 applications).
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Lengthy time (3-4 years) protection: Watco Danish Oil “Fret Doctor” bore oil is the best long-lasting sealant. Avoid linseed oil (which never dries and corrodes) and silicone (breaks cellulose down). For lacquered parts: – a wet towel and polish. A little application of any wax-based furniture sprays would suffice. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thank you for your thoughtful post, ColdGin. I may soon do this on my guitars. Do you still need to apply lemon-oil to your fretboard periodically after you’ve sealed it? And if so, must it be resealed each time? Also, is this completely safe for all types of inlays (for example, abalone)? \n \n\n \n Ibanez RGT42DXBoss GT-10 Marshall AVT275X \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 11, 2007, 2:48 PM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Luthier and pickup maker \n \n \n \n \n 489 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n WD 40 will harm your instrument.

Appearance is not everything. Remove it from your guitar. Far far distant. \n \n\n \n Feeling better every day. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 11, 2007, 3:04 PM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 220 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n N n n n I removed the pickguard from a shoddy old acoustic guitar some time ago.

When I pulled it off there was a bunch of sticker residue and I used wd40 to get it off, and it didn’t cause an issue. \n \n\n \n manliest string guage? barbed wire. The UG Slide Player’s Guild’s Founder, If you’re really feeling the blues, send me a private message.

THE PIT \”better than your typical psychiatrist\” \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 11, 2007, 3:10 PM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The White Garcian Smith \n \n \n \n \n 40 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n WD-40’s principal solvent is used in wood lacquers and varnishes, therefore it will not affect your fret board.

As a paint thinner, it will damage the finish. ColdGin’s article is accurate with regards to petroleum products, however WD-40 is not volatile enough to produce the catastrophes he described. Schecter C-1 Classic n nn n (Antique Amber) Ibanez JEM 7VWHCrate Palamino Class A tube combination Digitech RP80 Multieffects footswitch Ibanez TS9 DX Tube Screamer \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 11, 2007, 4:36 PM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 130 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n When using liquids to clean your fretboard, you need a solution that both nourishes and cleans the wood.

Lemon oil is a prime illustration of this phenomenon. WD 40 cleans wood, but rather of nourishing it, it EATS it. It won’t occur the first or second time, but it will the third time around. \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 11, 2007, 5:02 PM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 20 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thank you for your thoughtful post, ColdGin.

I may soon do this on my guitars. Do you still need to apply lemon-oil to your fretboard periodically after you’ve sealed it? Since a few of years, I’ve had four guitars that I use consistently for rehearsal and performances. In a really busy month, I have about 2-3 2-hour band rehearsals a week, a regular gig once a week, and extra gigs 2-3 times a month, in addition to working/recording at home for 4 to 8 hours each week.

I’ve sealed the fretboards of my acoustic and electric guitars more than two years ago and clean them with very, very little lemon oil no more than two or three times a year. Eventually, I developed the practice of washing the fretboard of the guitar I’ve strapped on with a wet towel while waiting for band members for rehearsals or before beginning a show.

I do not see any reason to deep clean the fretboard with lemon oil, as it is always clean. A year from now, I’ll consider resealing them. However, I am unsure if it is required. Perhaps it makes sense to do it more regularly if you have a single guitar that you play daily.

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And if so, must it be resealed each time? It depends on the amount of lemon oil used. Again, I simply apply enough to make the wood gleam, which indicates there is some. ? Quantity 8-10 drops on a cloth or wiping paper for every 6 frets, moving quickly from one fretspace to the next to apply the oil, and a second pass on the 6 fretspaces, rubbing each fretspace clean, with a toothpick or toothbrush digging the dirt along both sides of the fret, prior to wiping the fretspace dry.

Only if dirt is embedded in the wood’s grooves would I bathe the fretboard with lemon oil and brush away the debris, but instantly wipe the fretboard clean. If lemon oil is used sparingly, the seal should hold. Also, is this completely safe for all types of inlays (for example, abalone)? It is OK so long as the inlays are wiped soon.

Lemon oil is somewhat acidic, yet sufficiently acidic to dissolve natural abalone. If you leave a drop of lemon oil on abalone for a few days, or even a several hours, it WILL leave a permanent mark when you wipe it off. \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 11, 2007, 5:21 PM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 20 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \ A time ago, I removed the pickguard from an old, subpar acoustic.

When I removed it, there was a large amount of sticker residue, which I removed with wd40 without incident. It is OK to use WD40’s cleaning qualities on sticky places. Simply spray on a cloth, not directly on the surface to be cleaned, clean fast, and wipe it off immediately.

And DON’T use it as a normal cleaning on unfinished wood or as a substitute for specific oils on the fretboard. \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dec 11, 2007, 5:27 PM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 10 IQ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n N n n n WD-40 is composed of “60-80% heavy naphtha,” thus it should be safe to use to remove the glue/adhesive residue left behind after removing the pickguard on my Epi EJ Acoustic.

The finish on the guitar’s body is poly and glossy. Thanks for any suggestions. \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Jul 14, 2013, 3:59 PM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Subscribe to this discussion n n n nn n n Recommended posts \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n: Is WD-40 safe to use on a guitar?

What type of oil is used to clean guitars?

Cleaning Your Instrument

  • Part III: Cleaning and Protecting Fingerboards and Bridges of Froggy Bottom Guitars
  • Given an undamaged finish, the outside of the guitar is relatively well protected, and a sound hole cover humidifier will stabilize the interior raw surfaces of the instrument in dry settings.
  • The unfinished fingerboard and bridge cannot be protected by humidifying the interior of the guitar’s body.

Ebony is extremely slow to dry and absorb moisture. However, fingerboards and bridges have been known to shatter under exceptionally dry conditions (and in the absence of little upkeep). A little rubbing with a light, natural oil has long been advised for maintaining fingerboards and bridges, but care should be made to select a product free of waxes, synthetics, silicones, and solvents.

  • You can use a variety of light natural oils, including: olive oil, peanut oil, canola or walnut oil A tiny quantity is applied with a soft cloth, left to sit for a few minutes, and then the excess is wiped away.
  • At home, I apply a small amount with my fingertip, wait a few minutes, and then remove it with paper towels.

I will maintain the fingerboard and bridge whenever I change strings. However, as you may have guessed, I do not alter them frequently. I believe a couple times a year is plenty. /p “To clean the board, use the best Scotch Brite pad or 0000 steel wool before adding a light coat of natural oil.

  1. You desire a light, organic oil devoid of silicone, abrasives, wax, and acids.
  2. – EG
  3. A routine, mild oiling will help maintain these raw wood components on the exterior of the instrument against changing conditions, improve the instrument’s playability, and may prevent fret oxidation.
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