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What is the best way to clean a mouthpiece at home?

For many years I have kept a spray bottle of wintergreen rubbing alcohol and used a spray and wiped out with a rag.

Why wintergreen? Well, it smells better than regular rubbing alcohol.

I think daily cleaning keeps things fresh, clean, and healthier.

As for the throat, buy a mouthpiece brush and swab away.

And when I'm out of wintergreen alcohol to use, a little bourbon goes a long way...

JKD

Liquid hand soap (antibacterial iif you prefer), warm water, mouthpiece brush.

Mouthpice brush will do the best or Q-tips? for gunk if you dont have a brush.

crusted slime? you guys should be cleaning your mouthpiece before every use. keeps the metal in great condition, and helps prevent PIMPLES

Lemon Juice , a tiny bit of washing up liquid , boiling water , leave it for 20 mins run the gunk out with a piece of old towel seems to do the trick for me.

When the flotsam and jetsam, along with last night's pizza, are visible within the cup and on the rim, I just rinse it off with warm water.

When I clean my horn (about every two months with full immersion method - and no, we ain't talkin' religion), the mouthpiece goes into the bathtub too.

A mouthpiece brush (they're incredibly cheap and easy to obtain) takes care of the backbore and the throat.

I like the wintergreen idea.

And I don't have pimples either.

Tubist of Time wrote:I simply rinse mine out with water every time I play. I can't stand playing on a dirty mouthpiece... I find that this regular, simple maintenance keeps it particularly clean.

Me too! And I always brush my teeth before I play. And I never have any gunk that needs to be brushed out.

Getzeng50s wrote:crusted slime? you guys should be cleaning your mouthpiece before every use. keeps the metal in great condition, and helps prevent PIMPLES

I've never seen pimples on a mouthpiece, but I'll bet poppin' 'em would be a lot of fun!

I just stick my mouthpieces in the dishwasher. They come out sparkling clean every time.

rosotuba wrote:I just stick my mouthpieces in the dishwasher. They come out sparkling clean every time.

Wouldn't that be damaging to the plating?

Teubonium wrote:

Wouldn't that be damaging to the plating?

I'd actually like to know that too.

Teubonium wrote:

rosotuba wrote:I just stick my mouthpieces in the dishwasher. They come out sparkling clean every time.

Wouldn't that be damaging to the plating?

Do you have trouble with your silverware?

windshieldbug wrote:

Teubonium wrote:

rosotuba wrote:I just stick my mouthpieces in the dishwasher. They come out sparkling clean every time.

Wouldn't that be damaging to the plating?

Do you have trouble with your silverware?

I don't use silverware, but I was always told not to put silver plated dinnerware in the dishwasher.

My Helleberg does show some wear but it's at least 30 years old and I suppose that has something to do with its condition. I've not had any trouble with the plating on my Perantucci mouthpiece. I've been putting them through the dishwasher for years.

cleaning your teeth before playing is always a good thing. V Bach makes a good mouthpiece disinfectant spray.
BTW about boiling the mouthpiece in water or soaking i in alcohol...many people believe in error that this sterilises your MP.. but, you can clean it without sterilising it but you can't sterilise without first cleaning it, the brush and soapy water is all you need.

Not to hijack this threat, but if you grab someone else' mouthpiece for a quick buzz, take into consideration HSV-1 (a.k.a. cold sore). It can go both ways; if you have it, wash the mouthpiece afterwards.

I try to make sure that my teeth are brushed before playing. I remember sitting next to a guy that would be eating just about anything then start blowing away..... ( I won't even drink soda while I play) I usually just rinse it out a few times a week. I did find that my 30 year old Conn Helleburg was more prone to getting dirty as the platting wore. It is now rides in the case as a spare and my new one stays very clean. I would also think that the automatic dishwasher detergent would be rather harsh on the platting. On the silver plate flatware set that I have, they expressly state to not wash in a dishwasher. (it's old, maybe things have changed)
Steve