Use a soft cloth dampened - not wet, just damp - with water and rub the fretboard. A little elbow grease is all that's needed. After you've cleaned it, apply a little bit of mineral oil (available at any drug store) to another cloth and rub it all over the fingerboard.
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. Note: Never take all of your strings off at once while restringing.
All you have to do is wipe down your fingerboard with a slightly damp towel, and use a pick or a razor blade to GENTLY scrape away the dirt and grime. You may also dab a bit of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol onto a paper towel and wipe it down and this will dissolve the dirt a little quicker.
DO NOT use alcohol on your fretboard it will overly dry the wood. Many companies such as Dunlop and Ernie Ball make thing that will clean and co diction the fretboard safely.
A veteran tech dishes on how sliced salami, chapstick, or 3-in-1 oil can fix your sticky fretboard. Just don't use WD-40!
If you do want to oil or condition your fretboards, products made especially for the purpose are probably a safe bet. Lots of people swear by Fret Doctor. I think you're also pretty safe with mineral oil based products or pure mineral oil (yes, the same stuff grandma uses to get her bowels going).
Do not use glass cleaner (or anything with ammonia in it) or products containing abrasives or silicon (as some paste cleaners do). Play it safe by sticking to cleaners and polishes made specifically for guitars.
Now you can clean the frets and fretboard with the cloth, using gentle motions to get rid of dirt, grime and grit. If your cloth becomes dirty, remember to rinse it occasionally in water and to wring it out. If you encounter some tough spots, you may also use a cloth with a bit of distilled white vinegar on it.
Yes , you can use water to clean your fretboard. I use a DAMP cloth , dampened with warm water. Don't wet the fretboard , and dry thoroughly with a dry soft cloth. I have been doing it for years to get rid of the dead skin that gets into where the fret meets the fretboard.
No, wet wipes can leave residue and a fragrance on your instrument. Some wet wipes contain strong chemicals that can leave marks or discoloration. Using a damp, clean cloth to wipe down your guitar is best. For difficult smudges, you can use a gentle guitar cleaning agent.
Most players should plan on changing strings about once every 3 months or 100 hours of practice—whichever comes first. If you're late by awhile, it doesn't matter. Your strings may last twice this long, or more. They will continue to wear and you can continue to use them, as long as they don't break.
All you need is a soft cloth, some lemon oil, and a toothbrush. Apply the lemon oil to the cloth and rub it onto the fretboard, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. Then use the toothbrush to gently scrub away any dirt or grime.
If your rosewood or ebony fingerboard isn't in too much need of a complete overhaul, a clean damp (definitely not sopping!) cloth and a healthy dose of elbow grease may be enough to dislodge the grime that's sitting on your fingerboard.
DON'T USE HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS! Sorry we had to shout there, but you don't want to use a household cleaner as they're full of chemicals that can damage your guitar like acid, bleach and ammonia.
Household furniture polish and all-purpose cleaners—such as Pine Sol, Windex, and 409—will also damage your finish. The only household product that's safe to use to clean your guitar is white distilled vinegar.
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.
Nothing more extreme than guitar polish or lukewarm soapy water should ever really be necessary to clean a fretboard, and even those should be used sparingly. In general, unless you are a professional, avoid using any kind of solvent on your guitar.
A clean, dry microfiber cloth or a clean cloth with lukewarm water will often do just fine.
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.
Lemon Oil. Planet Waves Lemon Oil is a natural cleaner and conditioner formulated to remove dirt, grease, and build-up from unfinished woods on all string instruments. It's particularly recommended for use on fretboards and unfinished woods.
I wouldn't recommend either as they're quite heavy oils and won't absorb or clean the wood thoroughly. A tiny drop of baby oil is good for strings however.
Use Pure Formula 65 Coconut Oil Fretboard Conditioner to keep your fretboard in top condition for healthy tone and a refreshing playing experience.