Brass Education Percussion Repair Specialty Repair String Repair Woodwinds 0

Instrument Cleaning and Disinfecting Procedures

By michael hollisPosted on
Time to Read:-words

Getting serious about Clean

While it has been a growing concern lately, we have always taken cleaning and disinfecting our rental instruments very seriously. Here is the process we use to keep our instruments ready for the next future musician that may be in your family. 

We also offer all of these services to all customers. so if you have an instrument that is new to you, been used at a school or just one that is in need of a good cleaning we’ll go thru these same steps. 

find out more

VOLKWEIN’S MUSIC COVID-19 RENTAL INSTRUMENT CLEANING AND DISINFECTING PROCEDURES

Taking COVID-19 public health concerns into consideration, we have instituted the following procedures in the handling of all of our rental instruments. We believe that transparency is key in giving our students, parents, and teachers peace of mind so that students may continue to participate safely in their musical endeavors, classes, and organizations.

WOODWIND CLEANING AND DISINFECTING PROCEDURES
(FLUTES, PICCOLOS, CLARINETS, OBOES, SAXOPHONES)

 

All incoming rental instruments are quarantined for a minimum of 5 days before being handled, cleaned, or repaired. Instruments are completely disassembled and all components are individually repaired, cleaned and disinfected. The following is the step-by-step procedure that is completed by our technicians. Any active ingredients and cleaning agents used throughout this process are listed for reference below.

 

  1. All woodwind instruments are completely disassembled. (Keys and pads are removed from the body.)
  2. All segments of the instrument body, head joints (flutes/piccolos), and mouthpieces (clarinets and saxophones) are scrubbed by hand with the use of brushes, antibacterial soap, and water.
  3. Body segments, head joints, and mouthpieces are then soaked in a chemical cleaning solution to clean areas that cannot be reached by hand.
  4.  Soap, detergent, and mechanically operated brushes are used for a more detailed cleaning of the instrument interior.
  5. Body segments and head joints are dried and moved on to cosmetic repairs and polishing. Broken or dysfunctional mouthpieces are discarded and replaced.
  6. Keys are buffed by a machine and further polished by hand.
  7. Pads and corks are individually cleaned and disinfected or replaced.
  8. The instrument and keys are reassembled and a technician regulates, adjusts, and tests the instrument.
  9. The instrument is wiped down with a final cleaning agent and then placed into our UV sanitizing station for a final disinfection.
  10. Cases are cleaned by hand and with the use compressed air. Interiors are disinfected with a cleaning agent suitable for fabric and dried. Cases are then placed in a UV sanitizing station for a final disinfection.
  11. Finally, the sanitized head joints and mouthpieces are sealed in an air-tight bag and placed into the case along with rest of the instrument.

List of active cleaning and disinfecting agents used:
• Sulfamic Acid • Naphtha • Isopropyl Alcohol • Hydrogen Peroxide • Lysol disinfectant spray • Hydrogen Peroxide • Dawn antibacterial dish soap • UV germicidal light

 

PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT CLEANING AND DISINFECTING PROCEDURES
(DRUM KIT, PERCUSSION KIT, PERCUSSION COMBO KIT)

 

  1. All surfaces are cleaned and disinfected with isopropyl alcohol.
  2. Sticks and mallets are disinfected with isopropyl alcohol. Broken sticks and mallets are discarded and replaced.
  3. Cases and bags are cleaned by hand and with the use of compressed air. Interiors are disinfected with a cleaning agent suitable for fabric and dried. Cases are then placed in the UV sanitizing station for a final disinfection.

List of active cleaning and disinfecting agents used:
• Isopropyl alcohol • UV germicidal lamp

BRASS CLEANING AND DISINFECTING PROCEDURES
(TRUMPET, FRENCH HORN, TROMBONE, BARITONE)

All incoming rental instruments are quarantined for a minimum of 5 days before being handled, cleaned, or repaired. Instruments are completely disassembled all components are individually repaired, cleaned and disinfected. The following is a step-by-step procedure that is completed by our technicians. A list of cleaning agents and/or their active ingredients can be found below.

 

  1. All brass instruments are completely disassembled. (Valves, slides, and water keys are removed from the body and further disassembled)
  2. Old felts and water key corks are discarded.
  3. The instrument body, valves, slides, water keys, and mouthpiece are de-greased before being scrubbed by hand with the use of brushes, antibacterial soap and water.
  4. The body, valves, slides, water keys, and mouthpiece are then soaked in a chemical cleaning solution to clean areas that cannot be reached by hand.
  5. Soap, detergent, and mechanically operated brushes are used for a more detailed cleaning of the instrument interior.
  6. The body, valves, slides, water keys, and mouthpiece are dried and moved on to cosmetic repairs and polishing. Broken or dysfunctional mouthpieces are discarded and replaced.
  7. New water key corks and felts are fitted.
  8. Valve or slide alignment is checked and adjusted as needed.
  9. The instrument is reassembled and tested by a technician.
  10. Final adjustments are made and the instrument is wiped down with a final cleaning agent and then placed into a UV sanitizing station for a final disinfection.
  11. Cases are cleaned by hand and with the use of compressed air. Interiors are disinfected with a cleaning agent suitable for fabric and dried. Cases are then placed in the UV sanitizing station for a final disinfection.
  12. Finally, the sanitized mouthpieces are sealed in an air-tight bag and placed into the case along with the rest of the instrument.

List of active cleaning and disinfecting agents used:
• Sulfamic Acid • Naphtha • Isopropyl Alcohol • Hydrogen Peroxide • Lysol disinfectant spray • Hydrogen Peroxide • Dawn antibacterial dish soap • UV germicidal light

 

STRING INSTRUMENT CLEANING AND DISINFECTING PROCEDURES
(VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, BASS)

 

  1. Fingerboards, chin rests, and bow surfaces are disinfected using isopropyl alcohol.
  2. Fingerboards are then re-oiled.
  3. Strings are cleaned and changed as needed.
  4. Bow hair is replaced as needed.
  5. Cosmetic repairs are completed.
  6. The instrument is tuned.
  7. All surfaces are wiped and polished.
  8. The instrument is then placed into a UV sanitizing station for a final disinfection.
  9. Cases and bags are cleaned by hand and with the use of compressed air. Interiors are disinfected with a cleaning agent suitable for fabric and dried. Cases are then placed in the UV sanitizing station for a final disinfection.

List of active cleaning and disinfecting agents used:
• Isopropyl alcohol • UV germicidal lamp

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