cleaning out the horn after being sick

[elimia]

I am getting over a cold right now. Beyond taking the horn apart and running hot water through it, anyone have any extra care suggestions for how to get your horn non-funky again?

I did play on it the night I was coming down with this and am sure it has a cold too!

[Uncle Buck]

My Jr. High band director always told us to boil our mouthpieces regularly. Is that a good idea? Is it hard on the plating?

[brianf]

I'm in the same boat - got back from the ISU conference only to have the doctor put me on antibiodics. I've been wondering what to do with the mouthpieces I used in the last few days. Think boiling them is overkill. Been thinking of soaking them in alchol overnight or just putting them in the dishwasher.

Suggestions??

[Captain Sousie]

Put the mouthpiece in the dishwasher and take the horn to a carwash, dont use the hot wax though.

Sou

[elimia]

The mouthpiece is easy enough - any surface agent like rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide should do the trick there. It's the question of what can be done throughout the dark and damp tubes inside the horn, beyond hot water.

Maybe hot water is enough (?)

[Lew]

The mouthpiece is easy enough - any surface agent like rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide should do the trick there. It's the question of what can be done throughout the dark and damp tubes inside the horn, beyond hot water.

Maybe hot water is enough (?)

Just don't use HOT water on a lacquered horn because it can disolve certain lacquers. Warm water only.

[Anterux]

Do not worry too much about this.

If the problem is a cold (or other similar virus sickness), it is not a problem because you cant have the same cold twice.

I wash my mouthpeices with hot water (not boiling!) with soap from dishes (anti-bacterial).

If, in your live, you can get some 200 colds, you are vacinated.

sorry for strange English.

[JayW]

I would caution against boiling water....that seems a bit too hot for a micro thin layer of silver plating.......

as for cleaning out the horn...just some mild dish detergent.....some white distilled vinegar a tub and you are set.

[Dan Schultz]

Do not worry too much about this.

If the problem is a cold (or other similar virus sickness), it is not a problem because you cant have the same cold twice.

I wash my mouthpeices with hot water (not boiling!) with soap from dishes (anti-bacterial).

If, in your live, you can get some 200 colds, you are vacinated.

sorry for strange English.

At last.... a comment that makes sense!

[mTaUrBkA]

Make sure you never put your mouthpiece in alchohal, I ruined the finnish on my trombone mouthpiece that way.

[JCalkin]

The temperature of the water will make no difference, really, since any water hot enough to effectively kill bacteria and viruses would literally have to be boiling hot and therefore would not be good for your horn.

I suggest a bath in warm water (or cool water, whatever) with a mild antibacterial dish soap (Dawn, for instance). Do the same with the mouthpiece. Problem solved.

-J

[JCalkin]

The temperature of the water will make no difference, really, since any water hot enough to effectively kill bacteria and viruses would literally have to be boiling hot and therefore would not be good for your horn.

I suggest a bath in warm water (or cool water, whatever) with a mild antibacterial dish soap (Dawn, for instance). Do the same with the mouthpiece. Problem solved.

-J

[sinfonian]

Is there an issue with the hot water and the various solder connections on the Tuba? I seem to remember a warning from my first band director in Junior High to never use Hot Water on my horn because it might damage the solder.

[Gorilla Tuba]

I bather some marching baritones in hot water several years ago. The lacquer came right off. That was bad.

[Rick Denney]

Is there an issue with the hot water and the various solder connections on the Tuba? I seem to remember a warning from my first band director in Junior High to never use Hot Water on my horn because it might damage the solder.

No, it won't damage the solder. Even the lowest-temp solder has a melting point much higher than the boiling point of water, and you can't get water hotter than that. There is a metal called "Cerrobend", I think, that melts at a low enough temp so you can melt it in a double boiler, and I think Chuck told me once to use that for filling tubes prior to bending them, but it would never be used to assemble the instrument. I think 60-40 lead solder has a melting point of something like 275 degrees.

But hot water will do a number on nitrocellulose lacquer. The epoxy and other catylized lacquers are probably okay, but you won't know by looking which is which.

Rick "thinking sudden temperature changes might pop a brace, but that's different" Denney

[Anterux]

above all, dont panic about this.

[AndyL]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned two products made expressly for disinfecting horns and mouthpieces: Sterisol Germicide and Roche-Thomas Mi-T-Mist (formerly "Sanimist"). Both are apparently "topical antimicrobials".

This is the stuff I see local orchestras using when they have "instrument petting zoos", where children (and curious adults) have an opportunity to play a variety of instruments before concerts begin.

I've used both products; the Sterisol is considerably less expensive. I know of professional musicians who use these products regularly in their studios.

Pay attention to the instructions, Mi-T-Mist warns: "Do not use on rubber mouthpieces or other rubber based parts. May not be safe for some composite materials."

The Sterisol bottle says: "Sterisol germicide will not injure metals, lacquer, wood, hard rubber or plastic."

Ingredients as listed on the bottles:

Sterisol:

diisobutylphenoxythoxyethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, monohydrate 0.06 percent, inert ingredients 99.94 percent.

Mi-T-Mist:

70 percent Proponal by volume.

The following are "technical overviews" from the WW/BW website:

(begin quote)

Sterisol Germicide

Keeping your instrument clean and sterile inside and out is important for your health. This Sterisol Germicide is the perfect product for keeping unwanted germs away from your instrument. To use, just wash any wind instrument, mouthpiece or reed thoroughly then spray the Sterisol heavily on the item and let it sit and dry for one minute. Your instrument, mouthpiece or reed will then be completely germ-free and safe for use!

Roche-Thomas Mi-T-Mist

Mi-T-Mist (formerly known as Sanimist), a topical antimicrobial, is designed to disinfect the mouthpiece and provide a cleaning refreshing agent that will remove residue build-up from the instrument. Easy to use: apply the fine mist spray to the mouthpiece and let evaporate (about 45 seconds). To freshen and clean the inside of the instrument, spray liberally into the instrument and immediately swab. Mi-T-Mist evaporates quickly and assists in eliminating moisture.

(end quote)

FWIW, I discourage the use of soap products on mouthpieces. No matter how well I rinse afterwards, soap residue causes my lips to become dry and sore.

[crbarnes]

Disinfecting with something is a good idea. Use a CPAP machine at night and was instructed to use white vinegar as a disinfectant. Oo theMP sprays that music stores sell are also disinfectants.

Doctors have finally figured out that ahtletes who use the same water bottle day after day without cleaning them frequently can reinfect themselves so it makes sense that your horn could do the same. There are safe disinfectants available that can be made in bulk to create enough quantity to flush a horn. Janitorial firms have them. They are used in hospitals. They are mild and don't smell funky, etc. Flushing a horn with something like this should probably help.

[Chuck(G)]

How about plain old hydrogen peroxide? Won't bother brass, silver or lacquer and is non-toxic (you pour it into an open wound, right?). Odorless, tasteless.

[crbarnes]

How about plain old hydrogen peroxide? Won't bother brass, silver or lacquer and is non-toxic (you pour it into an open wound, right?). Odorless, tasteless.

Always tasted like bleach to me. Would work, I also find the bleach like smell a bit much.