What household product can you use to clean a guitar?

Author: Prof. Kolby Feest I  |  Last update: Thursday, March 20, 2025

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.

What is a good substitute for guitar cleaner?

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.

What household items can you use to clean guitar strings?

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.

Can I use Windex to clean a guitar?

Windex is fine -- I would spray a dampened soft rag to clean with, and not directly onto the body of the guitar -- just to avoid it getting down inside the body, messing up your label, spotting the ebony bridge, etc.

Can I use rubbing alcohol to clean my guitar?

You can but you might mess up the finish. Rubbing alcohol is supposed to be OK to use on lacquer and polyurethane finishes, but there plenty of reports online of people damaging these finishes with alcohol. So you shouldn't do it, especially since there's no need to.

Guitar Cleaning Myths

What household cleaner can I use on my guitar?

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.

Is it OK to clean guitar with wet wipes?

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.

Can I use vinegar to clean my 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.

What can I use around the house to clean my guitar?

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.

Is it OK to clean guitar with water?

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.

How often should you clean your guitar?

How Often Should You Clean Your Guitar? We recommend getting in the habit of wiping down your guitar after you are done playing it for the day and doing this every time you play it. This is very easy and only takes a few minutes.

What is the best oil to clean guitar strings with?

  • GHS. GHS Fast-Fret Guitar String Cleaner & Lubricant. ...
  • Music Nomad. Music Nomad STRING FUEL String Cleaner and Lubricant. ...
  • D'Addario. D'Addario XLR8 Guitar String Cleaner & Lubricant. ...
  • The Swipe. The Swipe Guitar String Cleaning Tool And Cloth. ...
  • Ernie Ball. Ernie Ball 4249 Wonder Wipes String Cleaner Individual Sachet. ...
  • Big Bends.

Can I use dish soap on my guitar?

about a drop or two of dish soap to one quart of water has always been a pretty good mix for me. This seems to be gentle enough to not dry out the board. You can wrap some tissue or paper towel around a toothpick to get right up against the frets.

Can I use olive oil to clean my guitar?

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.

What is a substitute for Naptha?

Turpentine is a slower drying solvent, usually distilled from wood. It is very different chemically than naphtha, paint thinner or mineral spirits, but it performs similar jobs, so many folks put it in the same category of solvents.

What household product can you use to clean guitar strings?

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.

What is safe to clean a guitar?

Play it safe by sticking to cleaners and polishes made specifically for guitars. Do not expose lacquer finishes for very long to plastics, synthetics and surgical rubber tubing (stop snickering; it's used on many guitar stands and straps), all of which react adversely with lacquer.

Can Windex clean a 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.

Is rubbing alcohol good for cleaning a guitar?

Not just no, but hell no. Isopropyl alcohol is a solvent. You will lose the strength of the strings.

Can I clean my guitar with wet wipes?

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.

Is oil good for cleaning guitar?

No, mustard oil - and vegetable oils, in general - are not recommended for use on a guitar. Lemon oil (not lemon juice) is good for fretboards, such as this one specially made for guitars.

Can you wash a guitar with water?

Fortunately, the cleaning process is much simpler for guitarists with finished fingerboards. A clean, dry microfiber cloth or a clean cloth with lukewarm water will often do just fine.

Should I clean the inside of my guitar?

Cleaning your guitar is essential to its maintenance, as it helps keep it in good condition and sound quality.

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