Speaking of caustic chemicals, some solutions can dry out unfinished fretboards if used improperly. Rubbing alcohol is fine to use for disinfecting unfinished woods like rosewood, ebony, and maple. If you have a lacquered board, a cloth very lightly dampened with soap and water will do the trick.
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.
Any mainstream guitar cleaning spray and a proper microfiber cloth. Don't cheap out on a microfiber cloth, a shitty cloth can and will scratch the lacquer on your guitars.
For instruments that are metal use alcohol swabs and/or mix a solution of 70% isopropyl alcohol with water in a spray bottle, apply it directly to a cloth to snake through the inside of your brass instrument and wipe down all exterior metal surfaces. Also, use it to spray both the inside and outside of your case.
Flammable Surfaces
Rubbing alcohol is a highly flammable substance, so you should never use it to clean flammable surfaces, or areas that are exposed to open flames (such as a fireplace). It's also a smart idea to steer clear of surfaces that routinely get hot.
It's Not a Friend to Wood or Leather
You can use rubbing alcohol on some surfaces like marble, limestone, or terrazzo, but not on wood. The chemical will damage a wood finish.
Isopropyl alcohol evaporates quickly and it's relatively non-toxic. Isopropyl alcohol removes oils, adhesives, fingerprints, soldering flux and other contaminants, making it ideal for cleaning electronics.
Isopropyl alcohol wipes are safe for most materials. They are NOT recommended for use on hard rubber mouthpieces. A solution made with 50% water and 50% white vinegar or 50% water and 50% hydrogen peroxide can be safely used on plastics, hard rubbers, and metals.
For any plastic mouthpieces like beginner clarinet and saxophone, we'd recommend using steri-spray, since alcohol can make a plastic brittle or discolor. Spray down the entire mouthpiece and let it air dry. Then rinse it off with water.
The main difference between isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol is the concentration. The concentration of isopropyl alcohol is 100%, while the concentration of rubbing alcohol is less because of the addition of water. Otherwise, the two liquids have similar properties.
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.
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.
This and many other guitar-cleaning and polishing products will be available at your local music store and online. Avoid waxes with petroleum-based chemicals and other harsh materials. If there are some heavily soiled spots on your guitar, keep a little white distilled vinegar close at hand too.
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.
However, if isopropyl alcohol is left in contact with metal for an extended period of time or is used in excessive amounts, it may cause damage to the metal surface, such as discoloration or loss of shine. Therefore it is recommended to wipe off after using it as a cleaner.
Can I use alcohol to clean my bass guitar? In general, alcohol can damage the finish of any wood, including a bass guitar. However, alcohol diluted with warm water and applied gently before wiping it away can help clean particularly difficult and hard-to-reach places.
Don't use rubbing alcohol
A guitar that is overly dry can become damaged overtime. You don't want this. If you're trying to get the grime off of the strings, you can use cleaners made specifically for guitar strings. We recommend Stringjoy's Natural Guitar String Conditioner.
According to APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology), ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol are not effective in sterilizing instruments because they lack sporicidal activity and can't penetrate protein-rich materials.
Using the soft, clean cloth, wipe the outside areas to remove all fingerprints and smudges. Wipe the keys with this cloth also. Do not put anything (oil, Vaseline, rubbing alcohol, etc.)
Wipe the strings, neck and bridge often with a lint-free cloth. Wipe metal parts clean with a soft, dry polishing cloth. You don't need to spray anything on them; simply wiping them off will usually suffice quite nicely.
If you allow dirt, moisture, and other debris to accumulate in your instrument, it can destroy the pads, finish, rust the springs, and corrode strings and other metal parts.
Isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol are not the same. Rubbing alcohol consists of isopropyl alcohol and some water. Sometimes it contains other additional ingredients. On the other hand, isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol with little to no water and other ingredients.
It leaves no residue, evaporates quickly relative to water, and does not cause corrosion. It is low toxicity compared to alternative solvents and is similarly relatively environmentally benign, being ozone safe with excellent “green solvent” scores.
Isopropyl alcohol itself is not conductive. A 99% or even 70% alcohol/water solution will only be as conductive as the water portion, inhibited somewhat by the alcohol. It is conductive enough to worry about, though, so don't run the electronics involved until they're completely dry.