The big thing is to wipe the strings, neck and pickups down with your microfiber cloth before and after you play. You should also wipe off the fretboard and body post-practice. Before playing, wash your hands with soap and water to remove oils, food debris or anything else that may be lingering.
I'd use an old, cotton rag and either white vinegar for the smell or windex. Lightly moisten rag and wipe the strings off. Let dry and play.
You should never put rubbing alcohol anywhere near any part of your guitar. The acids in your hands corrode the string and speed up rusting and degredation. Rubbing alcohol is also acidic and while it may clean the oils it could also speed up string degredation as well.
Its 100% perfectly fine to loosen or entirely take off guitar strings when changing the strings, working on the instrument, or cleaning any normal acoustic or electric guitar.
Yes , as well as lemon oil, WD40 of any metal cleaner to get the gunge and dirt off BUT you will not revive the original 'tone' of the string if it is dead.
If you want to do a heavy duty cleaning on your guitar, you can use white distilled vinegar -- this is a safe product that won't damage the finish on your guitar.
Fast Fret: A veteran in the world of guitar care, GHS's Fast Fret is renowned for its dual-action formula. It cleans as it lubricates, ensuring optimal string performance. Mineral Oil: A more generic solution, mineral oil, when used correctly, can be an effective lubricant.
I don't think I'd use olive oil, linseed oil, waxy furniture polish, and WD-40 contains some solvents that could interact with some glues and finishes. Before going any further, why put anything on a fretboard? Several reasons; bring out the beauty of the wood, darken the wood, and to preserve the wood.
To make your guitar strings slippery and reduce friction, consider using guitar string lubricant or a guitar-specific lubricating product. Apply a small amount to each string, then use a clean cloth to spread it evenly along the string's length.
Can I use baby oil on guitar strings? No. Strings should be clean of anything and some people I know boil their strings rather than change them which will, to a degree actually clean them somewhat.
Is it OK to clean a guitar with wet wipes? It is not safe to use wet wipes to clean your guitar. Depending on the type of wet wipe, it might have harsh chemicals that can cause damage to the guitar.
In general, you want to stay away from household cleaners, things like PineSol or Windex or furniture polish, these things generally don't do well on a guitar finish.
Microfiber cloths are ideal to clean guitar strings since they do not leave a residue or lint material. In addition to wiping the instrument down, wash your hands regularly to remove excess oil and residue (or grease, sauce, etc.). Keep a small towel around to dry sweaty hands mid-show.
Dab vinegar onto a cotton ball.
I use rice vinegar, but any neutral vinegar will do (don't use balsamic) because it is a wonderful cleaning agent. Rub the vinegar over the fret board carefully as you replace each string.
Basic cleaners remove oils and build-up while string conditioners also partially restore the strings and add a layer of protection against future corrosion. Though not necessary, you may also want guitar string lubricant. This gives the strings a slicker feel so you can play faster and smoother.
Don't use rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol, if it gets on the guitar's neck, can end up sucking out some of the moisture from the guitar's wood. A guitar that is overly dry can become damaged overtime.
Most luthiers (the people who build and repair guitars) will tell you that the best cleaner is simply a soft, damp—wrung out, not dripping wet—cotton cloth, such as an old tee shirt. Use it to wipe skin oil, grime, and smudges from your guitar and then use a soft, dry cloth to absorb excess moisture and buff.
Apply cleaning solution: There are many commercial cleaning solutions available for guitar strings, or you can make your own using a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. Apply the solution to a clean cloth, and then rub it onto the strings. Be sure to get every part of each string.
Once you've got a decent quantity of lead on there, take a small amount of petroleum jelly and dollop it right on top of the lead powder. Try to use as little as possible, while still being enough to “absorb” the pencil lead powder.
Use a string cleaner, like String Fuel to do a deep clean. Rub the applicator over the strings to remove the dirt and oxidation. String Fuel's special formula not only removes the dirt, it rejuvenates and lubricates the string for a faster feel with less finger noise and squeak as you play.
Question: Is lemon oil good for guitars? Pure lemon oil is not good for guitars, but the lemon oil produced by reputable companies such as D'Addario, Dunlop and Planet Waves are perfectly safe. Lemon oil should only be used on Rosewood, Ebony and darker coloured woods.