Flute Cloths The Winner Is

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Flute cloths And the winner is….

This is just a total “teaser” to this article about “The Grossest Flute Cleaning Cloth I Have EVER Seen”.

Here’s the story:

I have a new flute student I’ve been working with for a few weeks, and I’ve been talking to her about the condition of her flute and how to get it (and keep it) in great playing shape.  As many people find out after it’s too late, it’s no fun to play a flute that won’t play for you.  I asked her if I could please watch her clean her flute.  She proceeded to pull out of her bag a cloth that was literally rusted to her cleaning/tuning rod.

Here’s the picture (above) so I can prove it really happened:

(photo not re-touched for added grossness)

I think I could really end this article here while you work on “smell-o-vision”, but I guess I’ll continue so you can learn.

Take a good look at what you’re cleaning your flute with this week

 

After we play our flutes for a few minutes it starts “raining” inside our flute.  This “rain” is full of all things impure in our saliva including the syrup from your waffles this morning.

When we finish practicing or performing we’ll need to run a cloth (un-gross like this one) through our flute to remove as much of the residue left from our rain-spit.

This will leave our flute a much better chance at living a full life.  The mechanism and pads will thank you, and so do I.  🙂

Take a good look at what you’re cleaning your flute with this week, and order a new cloth if needed.

Here’s a link for ya- they’ll mail it right to your door: Silk Flute Cleaning Cloth

If the flute cloth and rod you own already are in decent condition, wash it in the sink by hand with a soap that won’t leave conditioners on your cloth.  Let it air dry and feel happy.

Have any questions? Comment below and I will help you out.

Rebecca FullerRebecca Fuller
Get Flutie with us! Learn and enjoy every musical minute.

14 thoughts on “Flute Cloths The Winner Is”

  1. Rebecca, I noticed there is moisture in the head joint where the cleaning cloth and wood utensil cannot reach. Do I need to worry about that or is there a way to get that moisture out also.?? thanks. Sincerely, Sharon Meyer

    1. Hi Sharon, yes this left-over moisture around the rim of the inside cap in your head joint happens to all of us. I don’t know of an invented device to clean it out. I just wrap my cloth on my cleaning rod and do the best I can. I’m glad you’re concerned with getting all the moisture you can. It helps your flute stay in good condition. Thanks for asking. ~Rebecca

  2. Annie St. Germain

    I used to be a flute player. Back in the day. WAAAAY back in the day. I recently came into ownership of a Selmer closed hole. She’s a thing of beauty! Anyway, I digress. While we’re on the topic, I was wondering what your opinion is on those cotton swab thingies for cleaning. I used to have one of those with my old flute set up. Thanks. I’m really looking forward to getting back in key (pun intended), working on my embouchure, aperture, and playing by ear mostly (can read a bit of music). I would really like to incorporate some flute work in this light rock band that I am lead singer for. I think what you have going on here with online lessons, along with your YouTube vids is pure awesomeness!

    1. Hi Annie! Your band sounds so fun. You can choose from a silk swab http://amzn.to/2ErpiRu or a get fancy with a pretty new cloth one: http://amzn.to/2E4NfQU – The cotton swabs on a stick aren’t my favorite because people tend to swab out the moisture and then stick it right back in and close their case. (!) All that moisture is then trapped inside the flute all night. Not good. Glad you’re back to playing the flute! You’ll be great. ~Rebecca

  3. Hi Rebecca I would like to know I play my flute at the moment in one room that I very cold air conditioning! Do u think this will ruins my flute !? Thank you so much ?!

    1. Hi Marcos, air conditioned rooms are fine for flutes. The cold air blowing across the pads consistently is probably not. We have to protect those pads. Cold air is bad for the flutes if it is really, really cold – like below freezing. Great question! ~Rebecca

  4. Oh my gosh, that picture looks so nasty! Eww!
    Also, I have a question. My flute didn’t come with a silk cleaning cloth, so I have been using the microfiber one to clean the inside. Should I look into getting a silk one, or will the microfiber one work fine?

    1. Oh I know. It was g.r.o.s.s. haha If the microfiber one you have is kind of thick-ish and “fuzzy” then you need to get a different one for the inside. Silk is awesome for the inside. Glad you asked, and good luck! ~ Rebecca

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