Clean a Trombone

The trombone is a unique instrument in the band and orchestra. It is the only remaining instrument that uses a slide for finding the notes (pitches). The legendary Vincent Bach predicted that even the trombone would eventually become a "valve" instrument and the slide would be a forgotten relic of the past.

Mr. Bach was wrong on that point. The trombone's versatility has helped it to become an important brass instrument. It is the only brass instrument that can do a long glissando (sliding from one note to another). The slide trombone has become a dynamic part of symphonic bands, orchestras, brass bands and jazz bands.

But to play the trombone in tune, you must do routine maintenance. Even if you have a nice new horn, a slide and the trombone need to be cleaned. Perhaps you need some pointers or reminders. Well here they are! Remember, whether you plan on selling the horn in a few years or keeping it for 30, taking care of it makes it worth something later OR makes it last a long time!

Steps

1. This should be done once Every 2 to 6 Months:
2. Fill a bathtub with lukewarm water. Do not use hot water. It helps to place a dampened towel or cloth at the bottom of the bathtub to avoid dents or scratches. I repeat, WARNING: Do NOT use hot water under any circumstances!
   • Hot water can actually damage the lacquer. Lukewarm water will be just fine.
3. Disassemble the trombone into its two main parts, the slide and the bell section. Next, take the outer slide off the inner slide. You should now have three parts. Then remove the tuning slide (or both if you have a Bb/F trigger trombone).
   • Now you should have four (or five) parts in the water. Include the mouthpiece and you will have five (or six.)
4. Place all the parts in the bathtub of lukewarm water and let them soak. *Gently handle the parts at all times.
5. Once the parts have soaked for five to ten minutes, stand the bell section up away from the other parts and gently rub the bell with the cotton rags on the outside and as much as you can on the inside.
   • Rinse the bell with cold water.
   • Use the beach towel and dry the bell as much as possible. Set it aside in a safe place where it will not be knocked over and let it finish by air drying.
6. Take the outer slide and run the snake back and fourth through inside of it. Make sure the outer slide is filled with water. Do this for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side of the slide.
   • Often junk will come out into the water. That's good! Keep working at it for at least a minute on each side. Using a clean stream of cold water, rinse the inside and outside of the outer slide. Dry with a beach towel and let it air dry with the bell.
7. Pick up the inner slide and using a clean cotton rag, wipe it firmly but gently up and down the outside. Next, take the snake and clean the inside of the inner slide as before with the outer slide. Rinse and dry and place it with the other parts.
8. Use the snake to clean the inside of the tuning slide.
   • Often the tuning slide grease will eventually gum on the part of the tuning slide that fits into the bell section. To clean this, use a penetrating oil like WD-40. Spray the tuning slide with the penetrating oil and let it sit for a few minutes, before wiping away as much "gunk" as possible. If the horn has not been cleaned in a while, you may have to repeat this process several times.
9. Take the mouthpiece brush and push it back and forth into the shank (the part that fits into the trombone) of the mouthpiece. This will only take about 30 seconds or so. Rub the mouthpiece with a cotton rag, then dry it. If the mouthpiece gets gunk in the cup or shank, it will greatly disrupt the airflow when playing, so do not neglect your mouthpiece.
10. Finishing off.
    • After the horn has completely "air dried" you will have a nice clean trombone. You will have to reapply a slide lubricant to the slide, then apply tuning slide grease to the tuning slides. Use both sparingly -- a little goes a long way.
    • Reinsert the tuning slide(s) into the bell section. Wipe any extra grease away with a clean cloth or cotton rag. Now your set to clean your trombone and remember clean well and clean often...  :)

Tips

• To rinse the parts, use the shower head if your bathtub has one.
• Silver plated horns will probably tarnish the next day or so after a cleaning. Using a mild silver polish, clean the horn as directed on the polish bottle. Only clean the outside: the inside is brass or copper.

Warnings

• Be very careful with the parts, especially the inner and outer slide.
• Do not use a blow dryer for any part of the drying process, as a blow dryer can get very hot and can damage the lacquer!
• Do not use abrasive cleaners or cleaning pads, which will rub off the lacquer. In other words, do not use Ajax, Comet, Brasso, SOS pads, steel wool, etc.

Things You'll Need

• A flexible brush commonly called a "snake" which can be purchased at any music store
• A mouthpiece brush -- again available at any music store.
• A bathtub
• A mild soap. Some like to use horn soap (available at many music stores) but this is not necessary. A mild dish soap will be fine. With lemon or orange is even better.
• Some cotton rags (old t-shirts work best.)
• A beach towel to dry the trombone

Related Articles

• Play the Trombone
• Clean and Maintain a Trombone

See also

• Play the Trombone