I have heard so many interesting flute maintenance over the years, but this one keeps recurring.
I think it’s high-time I help the world put a stop to spreading this “poor” flute cleaning information. Do NOT clean your flute pads with a dollar bill!
Band teachers in certain areas seem to think that a dirty old dollar bill is the best thing to clean a sticky pad with.
Um. Does this seem strange to you? It does me for sure. Let me explain.
We can’t clean our flute pads with something that is probably going to leave more dirt than remove.
The best thing to “blot” your sticky pads with is some sort of a paper that doesn’t give off fibers.
It’s true that money bills are made to last, so they are constructed so the fibers won’t “fluff” off so much. This makes it last longer.
BUT, here’s the problem. Money bills are passed from person to person, fall on the ground, stuffed in pockets, spilled on, coughed on, etc. etc. They are DIRTY.
We can’t expect to clean our flute pads with something that is probably going to leave more dirt than remove.
The SOLUTION:
Get yourself some cigarette papers from your local Walmart (the checkout with cigarettes) or smoke shop. Just do NOT use the glue side on your pads. This is a cheap solution that works fabulous! And one pack will last a lot of years.
- Place a new cigarette sheet of paper between the pad and tone hole.
- Press the key down on top of the paper.
- Slightly and gently “pull” on the paper a tiny bit so the dirt or sticky stuff transfers from the pad to the paper.
- Open the key and remove the paper
- Blot a few more times on different parts of the paper and then throw away. Do not reuse.
**Be careful not to push down the key and then rip the paper out from under there.. this will fray your pads [read: bad problem]
Just so you know, sometimes we have phantom stickies. Somedays they are there, and then somedays they are not.
Best way to prevent them is to wash your hands and brush your teeth before playing your flute.
Happy Fluting!!
Any Questions? Leave a comment below.
Dear Rebecca thank you much for yet again another gem. I really appreciate all the valuable information gained sinced joining this course. Self taught i missed so much at last i am catching up. looking forward to my next lesson.
Kind regards Maxine
That so much for this information, Rebecca! As a newbie, I had never even contemplated such a problem. Very good to know.
So glad you read this then, Kathy. I’m always surprised at how many band teachers tell their students to use dollar bills. ~Rebecca
Dear Rebecca,
Thanks a lot for the good flute care tips .They are
good tools . For me, personally as a nurse ,I keep my hands and flute clean. Good hand washing and mouth hygiene are basic practices that everybody should be aware and practice daily.
Sincerely,
Jocelyn
Hi Jocelyn,
I love to hear that! The better we take care of ourselves and our flutes, the longer they will keep their beautiful silvery shine 🙂 Keep up the amazing work, I’m glad that you’re here – Rebecca
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When would it be time to change your pads or just change one or two what is the signs that we’re looking for
Hi Ron, this is a great question. If you have to push really hard on any certain key to get a particular note out, then you have a pad leaking. (you shouldn’t have to press hard at all) Even if there is a pad leaking it doesn’t mean it needs to be replaced though- it’s possible that it’s just sitting on the hole ‘crooked’ and needs to be reseated. If your pads are inflated and peeling then you probably should have them looked at. It’s the more expensive part of a flute repair (time consuming), but if done well it’ll last a long time. I do have other trainings on this in the membership areas. Keep following the Gold Level lessons. ~Rebecca
Thanks a lot for the info! I never knew that there was such an inexpensive alternative. Will try it right away!
Good Good. It’s easy and cheap for sure. 🙂 Rebecca
I use oil absorbing sheets…. is that okay? 😛
Thank you for this information. I have used the dollar bill technique to unstick pads on my clarinet and sax as well as the flute. Won’t do that anymore. I even admit to holding the pad down and pulling the dollar bill thru the closed key pad. Oops. Also, I have had some people recommend baby powder and I would assume that we have the same problem with contamination. What do you think about the sheets of paper that you can purchase at music stores for sticky pads? I also like the idea of the hairdresser perm papers. Thanks, Rebecca.
baby powder? That’s a new one. I think the best thing to do with your pads is nothing if at all possible. Keep your flute clean by having a clean mouth and fingers when you play. It seems like common sense to me. 🙂 Rebecca
Hi Rebecca, another great paper to use for cleaning sticky pads is the perm papers that hairdressers use , they don’t have the sticky edge of cigarette papers and if you have a friendly hairdresser they will give you all you need . I’m a UK flute repair specialist.
LOVE IT. I actually have used those before as well. I just wasn’t quite sure if they let fibers off or not. But, you’ve sparked me to the idea that I need to get a little package and find out. 🙂 Thanks!!