Cleaning your trumpet is a very critical aspect of its routine maintenance. For your instrument to last long and sound its best, it’s important that you clean it regularly. Without much ado, therefore, the following are a few tips to help you clean and maintain your trumpet.
Oiling the valves
Generally, new trumpets have approximately one month break-in periods during which their valves should be oiled more frequently—every day during the first one month. To accomplish this, apply a few drops of quality valve oil on the valve’s silver section.
A full oil change is also recommended once a week. To do this, remove the valves and wipe them using a lint-free cloth; apply 2-3 drops of the valve oil on the valve’s silver section, and inset the valve into its casing. Tighten the retaining cap slowly—avoid using too much force. For the best results, work on one valve at a time.
After the first month, you can oil the valves 2-3 times a week. However, if you play frequently or several hours in a day, it’s recommended to oil the valves on a daily basis. Again, remember to give the valves an oil change after every couple of months.
Greasing the Slides
Grease or lubricate the main tuning slide once a month. However, don’t apply excess lubricant—you should aim at making the slides move smoothly and not too freely. You need to use a lighter lubricant on the third-valve slide because it doesn’t need to move slowly.
It’s very important to pay a lot of attention when removing the slides. In case they are stuck, use plies or relevant tools to remove them and don’t try to force them out. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to pull the tubing apart, especially in sections that you didn’t intent to (such as solder joint) and ruin your day. In case you cannot pull the slide slowly with little effort, don’t fret—just finish cleaning your device and take it to an expert or a repair specialist to help pull the slides. It also pays to watch out for small parts—stopper nuts, bottom valve caps, screws, and clip-on pencil holders etc —that can easily be misplaced while dismantling the trumpet, and keep them in a safe place.
Silver Plated Trumpets
For silver plated instruments, cleaning the tarnished sections require a special treated polishing cloth that’s specifically made for that purpose.
Bottom Line
Proper cleaning and maintenance of your trumpet is vital in keeping its sound in top shape and goes a long way in protecting your investment. Following the few highlighted tips will allow you to keep your trumpet working optimally.