7 Steps to Effective Guitar Cleaning

Show your guitar some love! Explore the best steps to effective guitar cleaning and keep it looking and sounding its best. Let’s make it shine!

The Cleanest Sound

A well-maintained guitar, properly set up with fresh strings, can produce a cleaner sound with improved resonance and sustain.

A clean guitar not only looks stunning but also performs at its peak. Regular cleaning enhances its appearance and preserves its longevity and sound quality.

To attain the cleanest sound possible, several factors come into play. However, before delving into further technicalities, let’s begin with the basics.

Keeping it clean is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to show your guitar some love. A clean guitar is more likely to produce a clean sound.

So, grab your guitar cleaning supplies and give your guitar the TLC it deserves!

How to Clean a Guitar?

Let’s begin with the fundamental guitar cleaning tasks you’ll likely perform frequently, possibly daily.

• Wash your hands – Our hands come into contact with various substances throughout the day, including oils, dirt, sweat, and bacteria. By washing your hands before playing your guitar, you minimize the transfer of dirt, oils, and bacteria onto the instrument’s surfaces.

• Wipe your guitar – After playing the guitar, gently wipe the entire body with a dry, soft microfiber cloth paying attention to the body, neck, and strings. Exercise extra caution when cleaning areas where your hands directly contact the guitar, such as the fretboard and bridge

These simple steps alone are sufficient to maintain your guitar in good condition for an extended period. Consider it your basic routine—an essential task that should be faithfully carried out.

Essential Steps To Effective Guitar Cleaning

Now, let’s dive into the process of guitar deep cleaning. With these steps, you can clean away dirt, grime, and residue, restoring your instrument’s shine and keeping it in top playing condition.

So, let’s roll up our sleeves and explore the thorough guitar cleaning process that your beloved guitar deserves.

Here’s a list of best practices for cleaning guitar:

1. Gather the Necessary Tools and Supplies

While it’s tempting to improvise and make do with what’s available, there’s no substitute for thorough and proper deep cleaning of a guitar using the right tools and materials. By doing the task correctly, you’ll ensure a more effective guitar cleaning process.

Here are the best guitar cleaning products and tools:

• Microfiber Cleaning Cloth (soft, lint-free)
• Guitar Cleaner/Polish (specifically formulated for guitars)
• Guitar String Cleaner/Lubricant
• Paint Brush (with soft bristles)
• Fretboard Cleaner & Conditioner
• New Set of Strings
• Nut & Filer
• String Winder/Cutter/Bridge Pin Puller
• Steel Wool (ultra fine 0000)
• Neck Rest & Work Mat
• Fretboard guards
• Frine Fret Polish
• Fret Eraser

If you’re planning to set up your instrument after guitar cleaning, here’s a list of items you’ll need:

• Understring Radius Gauges
• String Action Ruler Gauge
• Hex Key (allen wrench) set
• Knob Puller
• Assorted Flat and Phillips head screwdrivers 
• Straightedge
• Feeler Gauges
• Strobe Tuners
• Assorted Socket Wrenches
• Truss Rod Tool
• No.2 Pencil & Sharpener

2. Prepare Your Workspace

Before cleaning the guitar, find a firm surface and a well-lit area to work on your guitar. Lay down a soft cloth or towel to protect the guitar’s finish from accidental scratches.

Use a neck rest to support your guitar during cleaning. This accessory provides stability and prevents accidental slips or damage. It helps keep the guitar in a safe and balanced position.

3. Remove the strings

For a more thorough guitar cleaning, remove the strings.

Loosen the tension on each string by turning the tuning pegs. This reduces the pressure on the bridge and makes it easier to remove the strings without causing any damage.

Start unwinding with the low E string (thickest string). Once the string is loose, you can pull it out from the bridge and repeat this process for the remaining guitar strings.

4. Clean and Polish the Fretboard & Fret Wires

To start cleaning the guitar, begin with the fretboard. The fretboard is the most prone to dirt, oil buildup, and grime part of the guitar since it’s where your hands or fingers come into direct contact while playing.

Begin by cleaning dirty and rusty frets. The frets can accumulate dirt, grime, and oxidation over time, affecting the smoothness of your playing.

👉 Follow these steps to clean the frets effectively:

• You will need a soft microfiber cloth, a small brush (or a toothbrush), and a fret polishing compound or cleaner formulated for frets.
• Before cleaning the guitar frets, protect the fingerboard by using fretboard guards or placing a strip of masking tape on each side of the frets. This will prevent any accidental scratches or damage to the fingerboard.
• Use the small brush to gently remove any loose dirt or debris from the frets. Brush along the length of each fret, paying attention to the spaces between the fret wires.
• Fret erasers are also great to use.
• If using a fret cleaner compound, apply a small amount to a clean section of the cloth. Gently rub the cloth on each fret, applying light pressure to remove any oxidation or grime. Ensure that you cover the entire surface of each fret.
• Using a different clean section of the cloth, buff the frets in a circular motion. This will help to remove any remaining residue and bring out the shine of the frets. Continue polishing each fret until they appear clean and smooth.
• After polishing the frets, use a clean cloth to wipe away any excess cleaner or residue from the frets.
• Carefully remove the masking tape from the fingerboard.

After cleaning the guitar frets, gently clean the fingerboard with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove any surface debris. Before deep cleaning the fretboard, it’s essential to identify the type of wood and finish on your guitar.

👉 Here are some guidelines for cleaning common types of fretboard wood:

Rosewood, Ebony, and Pau Ferro Fretboards

• Use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe away any surface dust and debris.
• You can use fine steel wool, but protect the pickups by covering them with masking tape. Wear gloves, gently rub the steel wool in circular motions on the fingerboard, and remove debris by wiping the area afterward.
• For stubborn grime or buildup, lightly dampen the cloth with water and gently rub the fretboard. Once clean, wipe off any excess moisture and allow the fretboard to dry.
• Condition the wood (if desired) using a small amount of lemon oil or a specialized fretboard conditioner in a circular motion, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Allow a few minutes for the fluid to soak before wiping any excess.

Maple Fretboards

• Maple fretboards have a lighter wood tone and a sealed finish, requiring minimal cleaning. No additional conditioning is necessary for maple fretboards. However, you can still effectively clean off dirt using ultra-fine 0000 steel wool.
• Wipe away dirt and smudges using a soft, dry cloth or a slightly damp cloth. Dry the fretboard thoroughly afterward to prevent any moisture from penetrating the wood.

Lacquered Fretboards

• If the fingerboard is lacquered, avoid using steel wool or conditioners that may damage the finish.
• Instead, use a dry or very slightly dampened microfiber cloth for cleaning.
• On a heavily lacquered fingerboard, use a small amount of guitar polish to remove stubborn dirt and grime buildup.

Remember, always exercise caution when cleaning the guitar’s fretboard. Avoid excessive moisture, harsh chemicals, or abrasive materials that could damage the wood or finish.

4. Clean and Polish the Guitar’s Body

Next to cleaning the fretboard, giving attention to cleaning the guitar’s body is equally important. 

Take the soft cloth and gently wipe the entire guitar body, including the top, back, and sides. Avoid using excessive pressure that could cause damage. Take extra care when wiping around sensitive areas such as the pickups, bridge, and knobs. Use gentle, circular motions to remove any fingerprints or smudges without applying excessive pressure.

Similar to the fretboard, a guitar’s body may be crafted from different guitar finishes, requiring specific cleaning methods to ensure the best results without causing damage. 

Here’s how to clean and polish guitars with different finishes:

Gloss and Poly-Finish Guitars

• Apply a small amount of polish to a clean cloth and work it into the surface using gentle circular motions.
• Buff the polish residue off the guitar’s body using a clean cloth until a glossy shine is achieved.
• Do not use abrasive polishes or materials that could scratch the finish.

Matte and Satin-Finish Guitars

• These finishes are the most delicate and can be easily damaged by traditional polish or abrasive materials. Therefore, it is best to avoid using any cleaners or polish on them to prevent potential harm.
• Gently wipe the guitar’s body with a soft, dry cloth to remove any surface dust or smudges.
• For stubborn marks or smudges, use a slightly damp cloth. Avoid excessive rubbing or pressure to prevent altering the matte/satin appearance.
• Use a clean, dry cloth to remove any remaining moisture and restore the original appearance.

Nitrocellulose-Finish Guitars

• Nitrocellulose finishes also require extra care as they are more delicate and prone to aging.
• Use a soft, dry cloth to remove dust or smudges from the surface. Avoid using water or damp cloth, as they can damage the finish.
• To restore shine and remove light scratches, apply a small amount of nitro-safe polish or cleaner to a soft cloth and gently work it into the finish.
• Be cautious not to apply too much pressure or excessive amounts of polish, as this can cause the finish to become cloudy or damaged.
• After polishing, use a clean cloth to remove any excess residue and buff the finish to a lustrous shine.

5. Clean the Hardware

• Remove any dirt or debris carefully. Use a small brush, a cotton bud, or a toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas around the bridge, pickups, tuners, and other hardware.
• For stubborn stains or built-up grime, you can apply a small amount of mild cleaner specifically designed for guitar hardware.
• After polishing, use a clean cloth to remove any excess polish or cleaner residue from the hardware surfaces.
• For heavily corroded or rusted guitar hardware, remove the affected components. Apply WD-40 using a toothbrush, but be careful to prevent any contact between the WD-40 and the guitar to avoid potential damage.

6. Restring the guitar

If you removed the strings, restring the guitar with a new set of strings. Take your time to ensure proper tension and alignment.

7. Final Wipe-Down

Give your guitar a final wipe-down with a clean, dry cloth to remove any excess cleaner or polish residue. Admire the gleaming result of your efforts. 

Cleaning with Confidence

Are you ready to give your guitar the cleaning it deserves?

Clean your guitar correctly to experience the joy of a clean and well-maintained instrument. A clean guitar not only looks great but also feels and sounds better.

Happy cleaning!