Year-End Clean-Up: Top 10 Maintenance Items

This year is ending soon.
Many of you might be thinking about doing a thorough year-end clean-up before kicking off the New Year.
It’s also a great time to maintain and clean your musical instruments and equipment to start the new year fresh.
Here, I present 10 essential products for maintenance and cleaning.

1. PLAYTECH / PTC30 Cleaning Cloth

First up is the PLAYTECH cleaning cloth. It’s cost-effective, so it’s a good idea to always have several on hand. With three colors available, you can use different ones for different purposes, such as for instruments and for equipment.

2. Morris / Cleaning Cloth

Another cleaning cloth is this one from Morris. The main difference from the PTC30 is the finer texture of the material. It’s recommended for surfaces with delicate finish on musical instruments. It’s a good idea to use different cloths for different items.

3. Ken Smith / Pro Formula Polish for Musical Instruments

Simply wiping your instrument with a cloth can clean it, but using a polish like this one will make it shine even more!
It’s commonly used for guitars and basses, but can be used for other instruments as well.

4. Beesman / Beesman Wood Balm

This 100% organic beeswax is perfect for protecting unpainted wood parts. Beeswax can be taken out from beehives and mixed with plant-based oils, it becomes an excellent wax. This item can also be great for leather products. I use beeswax not only for musical instruments but also for wooden furniture and cork grips. It’s versatile and highly recommended.

5. Ohtsuka Brush Manufacturing / Puragure Brush, 50mm

Although brushes are typically used for painting, they are extremely handy for cleaning. Brushes can easily reach dirt in corners and gaps that cloths can’t. With three sizes available (30mm, 50mm, 70mm), it’s good to have them on hand for different purposes.

6. Electro-Harmonix / Metal Contact

If you’re having contact failures with volume pots or faders, a contact cleaner is highly recommended. It can also restore smooth control to stiff pots and faders. However, be careful not to overuse it as it can have adverse effects.

7. Fernandes / Dr.Dry 3-Pack Humidity Control for Instruments

Managing humidity is crucial for instrument care. Dr.Dry maintains a constant humidity level by both dehumidifying and humidifying as needed. Winter is a particularly dry season, so starting to use Dr.Dry when you clean up at the end of the year is a good idea. The 3-pack kit is a cost-effective option.

8. PICKBOY / AA-150 Hygrometer

If you’re using humidity control products but aren’t sure if they work properly, a hygrometer can be very helpful. It provides a convenient way to monitor and manage the humidity levels for your instruments.

9. VSGO / V-B01E Dust Blower with Built-In Filter

For dust in places that cleaning cloths and brushes can’t reach, a blower is the best solution. It’s particularly useful for tight spaces around switches and camera lenses. It’s also great for removing dust without generating static electricity.

10. NAGAOKA / CLSET-2

This is the go-to record cleaning kit. The CLSET-2 includes a record cleaning brush, cleaning spray, and cleaning solution for the tip of the stylus.

These are my top 10 recommended products for maintenance and cleaning.