10 Woodwind Instrument Maintenance Tips for Beginning Students

Woodwind instruments have lots of moving parts, so they require plenty of care. Whether you’re playing a flute, clarinet, saxophone, or other woodwind, it’s essential to maintain your instrument to ensure it keeps working long-term.

If you’re new to playing, it might be a lot to think about. So we’ve put together a few tips to help you maintain your woodwind instrument and prevent unexpected trips to the repair shop.

1. Assemble and Disassemble with Care

Be gentle when putting your sax, clarinet, or flute together. Mishandling it can bend keys out of place, create dents, or cause other types of damage.

If you need, talk with your instructor about the proper way to assemble and take apart your instrument.

2. Use Cork Grease

Most woodwind instruments have cork joints, like on the saxophone’s neck or on each piece of the clarinet’s body. Greasing them will make assembling and disassembling your instrument much easier to do.

If these cork joints aren’t properly lubricated, you risk tearing the cork. As a result, the instrument might not work properly.

Should the cork break or tear off, take your instrument to a qualified repair technician to have it replaced.

3. Swab Your Instrument When You’re Done Playing

As you play, moisture builds up inside your instrument, creating a potential home for mold and germs. If left unchecked, these can eventually damage the pads and cause other issues.

Whenever you’re done playing, use a swab to remove any moisture and debris from inside the instrument. Sax, clarinet, and double reed players should use a swab to clean out the inside of their instrument. Flute players should use a cleaning rod with a microfiber cloth attached.

Bonus Tip: Keep Your Swab Nice and Clean

Your swab will eventually get dirty from repeated cleanings, so be sure to wash it every now and then! You can hand wash most swabs with soap and water.

4. Wipe Any Moisture Off the Tenons and Sockets

After swabbing the inside of your instrument, there may be some leftover moisture on the tenons or inside the joint sockets. Wipe them out to prevent any buildup.

5. Clean Your Mouthpiece

Clarinet and sax players should also swab or wipe out the inside of their mouthpiece when they’re done playing. Just be sure the swab isn’t too big and won’t get stuck inside!

From time to time, you should also clean your mouthpiece with soap and water. Use only a small amount of mild soap and room temperature water.

6. Oil Your Keys

Oiling your keys keeps them moving smoothly and prevents them from feeling stiff or sticky. This should only be done once or twice a year.

For beginning players, we recommend having an experienced repair technician or teacher oil your keys for you. But if that’s not an option, you can use key oil yourself. Use it very sparingly — you only need a few small drops at a time.

7. Store Your Instrument Properly

Always keep your instrument in its case when you're not playing. The case protects it from dust, humidity, and potential damage.

Be sure to close the case properly to keep it secure inside the case. Also, avoid exposing your instrument to extreme temperatures or leaving it in direct sunlight. Do not leave it in your car.

8. Take Care of Your Reeds

Clarinets, saxophones, oboes, and bassoons all use reeds, which have their own care requirements. If they’re chipped or cracked, your instrument may not work properly.

Here are some quick tips for maintaining your reeds:

• Make sure they’re properly attached to your mouthpiece and ligature
• Pat your reeds dry when you’re done using them
• Keep your reeds in a protective reed case
• Rotate between multiple reeds to prolong their lifespan

9. Brush Your Teeth, Rinse Your Mouth, and Wash Your Hands Before Playing

Food and debris can get inside your instrument, creating obstructions in airflow and creating a home for mold and germs that can spread illness or damage your instrument.

Avoid eating or drinking sugary drinks while playing. When possible, brush your teeth before playing. If that’s not an option, at least rinse your mouth out with water.

Your hands can also leave dirt and oils on the instrument’s surface, which can leave debris inside the instrument’s tone holes or cause cosmetic issues.

10. Visit a Qualified Woodwind Repair Technician At Least Once a Year

Your instrument is like a car. A car needs regular oil changes and maintenance from a qualified mechanic to keep it working properly.

The same thing applies to woodwinds. Your instrument experiences natural wear and tear from regular use, and should be inspected at least once a year.

Regular visits to your local repair shop can prevent many issues before they happen. As a result, you’ll save yourself from costly repair issues and the headaches that come with them.

If you live in and around Salt Lake City, you can stop by our band repair shop and we’ll help you take care of your instrument.