Clean Your Brass Instrument From Home

This Instructable is mainley for young musicians who's parents don't want to have to drop off thier brass instrument to the shop every week to be cleaned. Truth be told you probably have all the supplies at home to clean it youself! This instructable is'nt just for young musicians though so definently use this little trick!

The first thing you must do is get all your supplies together: Your disgusting Instrument, your bathtub, your soap, cleaning kit, oils and lubricants, and your warm water (not too hot not too cold). Remember this can be done with any kind of BRASS instrument, please don't do this with a woodwind please! Be sure your soap dos'nt have any BLEACH in it!

After you have your supplies disassemble your horn. Be sure all fabric is removed from your instrument, it could grow mold!

After the horn has been disassembled you can now put it in the tub. Also keeping in mind that you don't have any fabric on the horn! Be sure to get all the small parts of the horn, especially near the valves!

After cleaning let the tub drain out and rinse the horn!

After cleaning you will obviously dry the instrument. For those who have an air compressor near by you can blow dry the instrument for streak free shine:). WARNING: IF YOU HAVE AN OILER ON YOUR AIR HOSE TAKE IT OFF THE HOSE!!! Do'nt use more than 80 pounds of pressure on your horn! If you need to move the instrument disassembled may I suggest putting it in your case for safe transportation. If you don't have an air compressor :( you can towel dry and it works just as well :)!

After drying take a polishing cloth and polish any little streaks.

After you have completed all the past steps, be sure to lube your instrument again. Be sure to get all tuning sildes and valves. Slowly reassemble. Clean excess lube off with a towel, not your polishing rag!

Once you are done you should tune your instrument if you can. You can buy a tuner at you local Music Shop.

Once you have completed all the above steps you result should be a nice shiny, clean horn! (If you don't get the same results you may consider bringing you instrument to the music shop to have them put it back together!)