After playing the clarinet for a while, the mouthpiece will be soiled with white and crusty or brown and gooey material. The white material is mostly calcium deposit, while the brown material… you probably don't want to know what it is. This dirt is not only ugly to look at, but it is also responsible for a bad sound! Also, if the mouthpiece is not cleaned regularly, the clarinet can be damaged.
Steps
Step 1. Remove the mouthpiece from the case
Remove the cap, ligature and, if you have it, the mouthpiece saver.
Step 2. Get a small, shallow bowl
Place the mouthpiece vertically in the bowl and fill it with enough water to wet it to the usual ligature position.
Step 3. Cut or tear a fairly large paper towel into 4 equal parts
Stack the four parts on top of each other and place them on the bottom of the mouthpiece, so as to cover the cork part. Secure them tightly by wrapping a rubber band around the base, below the cork line. This is the only protection that the cork part will have from the water, should the mouthpiece fall off.
Step 4. Dip the tip of the mouthpiece you rest your mouth on in water
Keep it submerged in an upright position for a few seconds, then take it off. Gently clean the grime with the mouthpiece brush. Repeat this until it is clean.
Step 5. Dry the outside of the mouthpiece with a napkin or cloth
"Don't remove the paper towels!" Turn it upside down and, gently shaking it, let the water out of the inside. Finally, use a tissue to remove any water left inside.
Step 6. Remove the paper towels and check that the water has not wet the cork
In case it does, wipe it dry.
Step 7. Let the mouthpiece dry on a table, upside down if possible, for about an hour
Then put it back in its case.
Step 8. Use dry cotton wool to remove any cork grease residue and dirt that has accumulated
Grease the cork before putting the mouthpiece back in the case.
Advice
- If you don't have a brush to clean the mouthpiece, you can also use a fingernail, a small toothbrush, or a cotton swab. Be careful not to scratch the tool.
- Just to be safe, don't grease the cork after washing. Water on the cork (if any) can cause the grease to slide off, prevent it from functioning properly, or it can hold water and cause the cork to rot.
Warnings
- Do not get the cork wet. Exposure to water will cause it to rot, give it a horrible appearance and risk compromising its function, which is to hold the instrument together.
- Especially if you have been playing your instrument for a long time, there will be tooth marks on the mouthpiece. These marks are not due to dirt and cannot be removed, so don't try.
- Remember that any scratches caused by cleaning the inside of the mouthpiece will change the sound produced by the instrument. Even a small change in the size of the mouthpiece, on the order of 1/1000, changes the sound.
- Use room temperature water, not hot and not even freezing. If you use water that is too hot, there is a risk that some mouthpieces will burn or melt! If the mouthpiece is made of hard rubber, hot water will cause it to turn greenish in color.
- Do not scrape or scratch outside the mouthpiece window area (where the reed attaches), as even the slightest scratch in that area can ruin the entire mouthpiece. If you want to remove calcium deposits there, soak the mouthpiece for 10-20 minutes in vinegar. Obviously, it is best to rinse it well after this treatment.
