Best way to clean a harmonica?

[David De]

Best way to clean a harmonica?

I recently found an old harmonica my grand-dad gave me over 25 years
ago. I looks like mildew and mold might be on it. What is the best
way to clean it so I can use it again? Boiling water? Soaking?

[David Hajicek]

Don't do the boiling water or soaking. Most harmonicas have wood parts and
that would destroy them.

You need a harmonica guy to give you advice though. I'd remove the side
covers to see what is inside and get at the parts better. That would
protect the covers from corrosion during the following. The reeds are
easily damaged. I would rinse/wipe with a dilute chlorine bleach solution.
Then rinse it with alcohol. Then dry it well. Then put some vegetable oil
on the wood to protect it. Then reassemble.

Dave Hajicek

Post by David De
Best way to clean a harmonica?
I recently found an old harmonica my grand-dad gave me over 25 years
ago. I looks like mildew and mold might be on it. What is the best
way to clean it so I can use it again? Boiling water? Soaking?

[JimLowther]

Post by David De
Best way to clean a harmonica?
I recently found an old harmonica my grand-dad gave me over 25 years
ago.  I looks like mildew and mold might be on it.  What is the best
way to clean it so I can use it again?  Boiling water?  Soaking?

There is a Usenet group--alt.music.harmonica--that would be a good
place to post your question.

I personally do not like soaking harmonicas in (cold) water. There
are those who do to keep the wood comb from drying out, but my
uderstanding is that they do so since the harmonica is new, not to
clean an old one. Often after the comb has swollen, players will trim
back to comb and keep it demensionally stable through continual
soaking. I tried this with one chromatic harp I have, and I am
convinced it was to the determent of tone. I would not boil it at
all.

Some even soak a harp in their favorite distilled spirits, which I
suupose would kill bacteria and mold.
Depending on the brand and model, you might be able to replace the
comb with a new one, keeping the reeds and reed plates and the
exterior plates.

Best wishes,

Dr. Jim Lowther