Guitar Care and Cleaning
Keeping your guitar clean does a lot more than just keep it pretty and shiny; it also helps it to last longer and play better.
Dust and other air contaminants will settle on your guitar, as well as skin oils from handling it. Metal parts (strings,frets, other hardware) can oxidise, leading to a multitude of problems which can make it difficult or impossible for your guitar to function properly.
For cleaning the body and neck (wood parts), there are many different guitar polishes on the market. No one brand is any better than the other, so we won't recommend a particular one. Just get whatever your local shop has on hand. Squirt some on (just a little bit), rub it on with a non-abrasive cloth (further discussed below) until you have covered the entire guitar, wait a few minutes for the wax to dry, then buff it off. DO NOT put wax polish on the fingerboard of your guitar if it is a bare wood such as ebony or rosewood; it will fill up the pores and have a negative effect on the overall tone of your guitar. If you have a finished maple fretboard, then it is OK to apply the polish.
A WORD ON CLOTH MATERIALS: Do not use typical household face cloths or paper towels to polish your guitar. These are slightly abrasive and over the course of time will make a mess of your guitar's finish. Best bet is to just shell out the $3 bucks or so for a guitar polishing cloth at the music store.
For cleaning strings and other metal parts, we recommend FAST FRET lubricant. This cleans your strings, frets, and other metal parts, lubricates them for smoother playing, and also leaves a thin film behind which will protect from forces of nature that cause oxidation.
For cleaning switches and pots on electric guitars (tone and volume controls), use any brand of contact cleaner. This is readily available at Radio Shack or any other DIY electronics shop; just ask for contact cleaner. DO NOT try to spray contact cleaner into your pots or switches from outside of the guitar. This stuff sprays out at sub-zero temperatures and it will cause "crazing" and other ill effects to most guitar finishes. Unscrew the compartment covers on the back of the guitar to access these from inside.
MUSICIAN'S FRIEND and GUITAR CENTER both offer a wide selection of all of the accessories recommended on this website.
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Dunlop Ultraglide 65 String Cleaner
Delivers a silky smooth conditioning to string and fret surfaces for smotther playing. Shields strings against tarnish and corrosion, extending their playing life.
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Dr. Stringfellow Guitar Polish
Kyser deep-cleaning guitar polish protects wood finishes and even makes playing easier. Does not streak and contains no carnauba wax so you don't have worry about buildup.
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Microfiber Guitar Polishing Cloth
Lightweight non-abrasive microfiber cloth lifts smudges instantly without leaving behind lint.
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