July 15, 2024
A Beginner’s Guide to Guitar Care & Maintenance: Cleaning & Storage
At a Music & Arts repair facility, a technician wipes down an acoustic guitar’s strings and fretboard using a microfiber cloth.
Imagine you’ve just purchased your first guitar. You spent hours looking at all the available options and finally chose the instrument that’s right for you—the perfect model, in just the right color. How can you keep your guitar looking and sounding like new?
In this continuing series, we’ll share some easy tips for guitar care, maintenance and minor repair. These simple techniques and guidelines will be helpful whether you’ve purchased a solid beginner’s axe or invested in an heirloom-quality instrument.
Unless otherwise noted, the tips in this series apply to both electric and acoustic guitars, as well as bass guitars, mandolins, ukuleles and other fretted string instruments. Let’s dive in!
The Benefits of Regular Guitar Maintenance
A well-maintained guitar not only plays and sounds better but also lasts longer. Regular maintenance can prevent many common issues, and it doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. Proper cleaning and appropriate storage go a long way toward keeping your guitar in great shape.
How to Clean Your Guitar
No matter what type of guitar you have, routine cleaning is important. You might be surprised at just how much dust and grime can accumulate on the body, fretboard and strings. Plus, cleaning helps instill a sense of pride and ownership that will continue to grow as you care for your guitar.
Body Cleaning
To maintain your guitar’s finish, you need to clean it regularly. After each use, gently wipe down the guitar’s body with a dry microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints and dust. For deeper cleaning, lightly dampen a cloth with water and wipe down the body, followed immediately by a dry cloth to prevent moisture damage. Avoid using household cleaners or abrasive materials, as they can harm the guitar’s finish.
For more thorough maintenance, consider using products like Music Nomad Guitar Detailer. This cleaner safely removes dust, fingerprints and grime while restoring the shine without damaging the finish. Always check the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure your guitar’s compatibility with cleaning products. For more information on guitar-focused cleaners and polishes, read on.
Fretboard Cleaning
No matter how clean you keep your hands, the fretboard and strings will get grimy from sweat and oil. Get in the habit of wiping down your strings after each playing session with a dry cloth. To clean the fretboard, use a lightly dampened cloth during string changes and as needed, if there’s a noticeable buildup of grime. For rosewood, ebony or Pau Ferro fretboards, you can use a specialized fretboard cleaner and conditioner like Dunlop Fretboard 65 Ultimate Lemon Oil. Be careful not to over-condition your fretboard, though, which can lead to fret and fingerboard damage. Once or twice a year should suffice, using a small amount of oil. If you play your guitar regularly, the natural oils on your fingers will work fine for conditioning. If your guitar has a finished maple fretboard, avoid using lemon oil because it can cause damage, and instead use a lightly dampened cloth or any standard guitar cleaner that works on body finishes, such as the Music Nomad Guitar Detailer mentioned above.
Polishing Your Guitar
Use a polish designed for guitars and apply it with a soft cloth, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Polishing should be done sparingly to avoid buildup, typically every few months or as needed. High-quality polishes are manufactured by Gibson, Fender, Ernie Ball, Dunlop, Martin and other brands.
How to Store Your Guitar Properly
Storing your guitar in a stable environment with moderate temperature and humidity levels helps prevent warping, cracking and other structural issues that can arise from climate extremes. Additionally, using a quality guitar case or gig bag provides a protective barrier against fluctuations in humidity and temperature during transportation.
Temperature and Humidity
String instruments are especially sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. Keep your guitar in a stable environment, ideally between 65-75°F and 40-50% relative humidity.
You probably don’t have a temperature-controlled humidor at home, and that’s OK—just avoid storing your guitar in especially damp or dry places, and definitely don’t leave your guitar outside. Bottom line: If you live in a comfortable, climate-controlled space, keep your guitar where you live.
Cases and Stands
When not in use, store your guitar in a hard case like the Road Runner RRMADN ABS Molded Guitar Case to protect it from physical damage and environmental changes. If you play your guitar consistently and prefer to keep it on a stand, choose a sturdy one and place it in a safe location away from direct sunlight and drafts. Hard cases provide the best protection, especially for travel, while gig bags are lighter and more convenient for everyday use.
Storing multiple guitars requires careful consideration of space and protection. Wall hangers can save space (and look pretty cool) while ensuring your instruments are both secure and within reach.
Next Steps
With a few useful tips and accessories, you can keep your guitar looking like you just brought it home from the store. In the next article, we’ll discuss how proper setup and intonation can improve your guitar’s sound and playability.
If your guitar needs more extensive work done, the Music & Arts repair team is here to help. Contact us today!
