Woodwind Mouthpiece Cleaning

Mouthpieces WILL get dirty…and if left alone, they WILL get nasty! If you see a white build-up beginning to form inside the mouthpiece….you’ve not been taking care of your mouthpiece. And if it’s brown….ick!!! But it’s not too late.

BASIC RULE FOR CLARINETS & SAXES: Do NOT leave your reed on the mouthpiece after you’ve finished playing. Doing so will eventually become a health hazard. Wipe the back of the reed off & put it into a reed holder.

Wipe out the inside of the mouthpiece.

REALLY cleaning your mouthpiece requires a few everyday items and a few minutes of your time, approximately every 2 weeks.

Stuff you need:

Mouthpiece brush or old toothbrush (NOT the one you’re using now)

Bottle of white vinegar(NOT brown) OR lemon juice

Small juice glass(or plastic medicine bottle)

Pour enough vinegar/lemon juice into the glass or bottle so your mouthpiece will be covered about two-thirds of the way up. (Clarinets -DO NOT submerse the cork!)

Place the mouthpiece into the container, tip first. Let it set for about 10 minutes.

Take the mouthpiece out; scrub the outside with the brush; then scrub the inside of the window area. Stick the mouthpiece back into the vinegar for another 3-5minutes; scrub again.

Now rinse the mouthpiece in WARM water (NEVER hot) and wipe it with a paper towel. If you still see some deposits, repeat the entire process. DO NOT scrape the mouthpiece with any object. (No, you can’t put mouthpieces in the dishwasher!)

Be sure you’ve rinsed the mouthpiece thoroughly…unless you just like the taste of vinegar or lemon juice

If your mouthpiece begins to look brown/green, that means it’s made of hard rubber and is not plastic. That’s good. The color is just the reaction of the sulfur in the mouthpiece with the vinegar or lemon juice. It will NOT affect the playing.