best way to sterilize?

[Jeffrey Hicks]

I researched the archives and what i found was inconclusive. Can someone tell me a nice way to sterilize my mouthpieces.? Thanks in advance.

[Eric B]

Inject said mouthpiece with high doses of anabolic steroids.

[NickJones]

I would use hot or boiling salted water , maybe a bit of concentrate lemon juice too.

[TubaRay]

Inject said mouthpiece with high doses of anabolic steroids.

Could you please describe this process more thoroughly?

[Eric B]

Inject said mouthpiece with high doses of anabolic steroids.

Could you please describe this process more thoroughly?

Ok. But you must be warned. This could result in mad fits of uncontrollable rage. You don't ever want to put something like that to your lips. I'm sure a thorough search of TubaNet will reveal that these warnings have been issued before...surely!

[TubaRay]

I'm sure a thorough search of TubaNet will reveal that these warnings have been issued before...surely!

I certainly hope so!

[Tigertuba]

this is by far the best way to get the most sterile mouthpiece you've ever had the pleasure to put your lips on!

The drill: 3 octave Major scales
The equipment: horn, you, bottle of cheap a$$ vodka (i personally use Viaka):shock:

Take a shot, do a scale, take a shot, do a scale, take a shot, do a scale, take a shot, do a scale, tak a shot, du a skale, tak shaat, du a sklae, tk st, d...skaal, take..............zzzzzzzzzz.

some day i'll get through all my major and minor scales(if my liver doesn't give out!).
(Seriously, buy bottle of rubbing alch., one of those tiny squirt bottles, dilute with water. works great! (if you want to put a little mint extract in their to give it that minty fresh breath go for it!

[Dean E]

I researched the archives and what i found was inconclusive. Can someone tell me a nice way to sterilize my mouthpieces.? Thanks in advance.

Clorox or similar Brand X laundry bleach. Same thing that IV drug users use to sterilize needles.

Be prepared to repolish, however.

[LoyalTubist]

Use dish detergent, a sponge, and warm water (not hot).

If the plating comes off, get it replated. Bare mouthpieces (ones without plating) can cause nearly deadly blood poisoning. I speak from experience.

This is also the same way I clean a tuba, except that I do that in a bathtub with all the slides pulled out and piston valves out (I leave the rotary valves in). Only in Vietnam, I use a wash tub since my apartment, like most Vietnamese houses, doesn't have a bathtub.

[Toobist]

There is a relatively inexpensive product (and many like products I'm sure) called Sterisol. It comes in a spray bottle and also in concentrated version for use by teachers and anyone with many mouthpieces to sterilize. Follow the directions and voila, sterile mouthpiece. Basically, spray, wait rinse. Very easy.

Now... I don't know if the original poster getting the humour of the responses above, but please understand... It's not really necessary to sterilize the mouthpiece under regular conditions. The above mentioned soap, water and mouthpiece brush is plenty.

[Philip Jensen]

Either 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) will do the trick. See this thread.
viewtopic.php?t=6253&highlight=

It will kill, yes KILL the bacteria. I use it in the lab all the time. That being said, all I ever use on my mouthpieces is soap and water.

[sc_curtis]

I'm guessing you'd like something to use out and about? Obviously warm soapy water with a brush at home will get it clean.

Different people use different recipes. Back in college, I remember Mr. Rose telling me how he use to make his own batch of mouthpiece sterilizer out of everclear and mouthwash. I'm sure that would kill anything!

But if you used ethanol or isopropyl alcohol (as suggested by someone else), it would work as well. I would mix it with something for smell (and taste).

[windshieldbug]

best way to sterilize?

I hear that Michael Vick's looking for a new job...

[gwwilk]

Why will people always freak out over a mouthpiece that one other person has used, when they use nasty-*** silverware at restaurants that hundreds of people with who-knows-what diseases have used...

...and the silverware was extremely quickly washed off by illegal aliens.

Finally...someone pointed out the obvious flaw in the premise behind this thread! Thanks, Bloke.

[windshieldbug]

...and the silverware was extremely quickly washed off by illegal aliens.

[peter birch]

Inject said mouthpiece with high doses of anabolic steroids.

Could you please describe this process more thoroughly?

so long as you are able to avoid random out of season testing...
seriously (and i say this with professional interest in the subject) forget about sterilising your mouthpiece, concentrate instead on keeping it scrupulously CLEAN. There are real differences between the two states, you can clean something without sterilising but can't sterilise without cleaning, nad for a brass instrument mouthpiece, once well cleaned you need do nothing more..honestly.

[jonesbrass]

I always use hot water and antibacterial soap.

[OldsRecording]

I would use hot or boiling salted water , maybe a bit of concentrate lemon juice too.

And, if you just add onions, carrots and celery, maybe some potatoes, (oh, right. Forgot the leeks.) and boil until the mouthpiece is just fork-tender, we're talkin' soup!

[peter birch]

Idiots do not seem to understand that you have to clean off the nasty stuff as much as possible with the lather from SOAP first BEFORE using sanitizer or you are just sanitizing the top layer of filth. And the constant use of antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer causes you to lose some resistance to some bugs that are normally present in your daily life, possibly causing some people to get sick more often.

this is true, if a little harsh. Many medical practitioners(including surgeons), that I know don't understand this so it is not suprising that brass players don't get it.
It is after all clenliness, not sterility, that is next to Godliness.

[windshieldbug]

best way to sterilize?