cleaning nightmare

rubies31 · Oct 29, 2007

I'm a newbie w/ a big problem. I haven't played my sax in a long
time (family issues: new baby, move, etc.). Finally I pulled it out,
ready to start back up & my case & sax are all moldy!
I don't know what happened but perhaps some water was spilled on it?

I can't afford a professional cleaning at this time.

A friend & sax teacher of mine cleaned the pads for me.

My neoprene neck strap was washed in disinfectant but still smells of
mildew.

I would like to wipe down the metal of my sax w/ something just to
keep any leftover spores at bay.

Any my case stinks. Has anyone ever pulled the fabic out & recovered
the inside of the case?

Any suggestions for this struggling musician?

TIA

griff136 · Oct 29, 2007

Hi TIA,
what type of case is it?
it will probably be cheaper to buy a new case than re lining your old one.

you could try wiping your sax down with something like Milton sterilizing fluid ( the stuff for cleaning babies bottles and the like)
its odourless.

put some on a cloth and then wipe the sax down and dry it off.

be careful not to get it on the pads.

you can then go over it with some pledge/mister sheen furniture polish (spray type) again do not spray the metal but put it on a cloth then apply.

as for the case lining most linings are bonded to a polystyrene shell which will be difficult enough to remove.

you could give it a wipe over woth the milton fluid and leave it in the sun for a few days to dry

jadoube · Oct 29, 2007

Tia

I have a spare case. Didn't fit my ancient sax due to keys on wrong side of the bell.

No great shakes but unused, and its going cheap if you're interested. (And if it will fit your sax.) Let me know and I'll put it in the Yard sale for you.

John

justin_chune · Oct 29, 2007

I think that you need to find a better place to store the sax when it's not in use. Try Fabreeze and see if that helps. Leave the case open in the sunshine if you can.

mfox · Oct 29, 2007

Stop!!!! not milton.. it can stain metal .. if you have any unlaqured metal or chromed parts milton can turn it grey..
i know from experience..sorry to butt in griff..
chuck the case or Ebay it..it will always smell and be prone to mold..

what i did was put the sax in a bath of tepid water and with a long bottle brush cleaned the inside.. then showered it down.dried the pads with lint free cloth as best as i could, left it on a stand to dry naturally...this had now ill effects on the horn whatsoever. mould never came back.i did get a new case..i no longer own this sax but the guy who dose still has the same pads on and that was about 6-7 years ago...

a little fact my grandfather told me (he was a pro sax player, and ran a band in the 30s 40s and 50s) it wasn't uncommon for a sax player to put his horn in the bath for 30mins before a nights work. this was to swell the pads to avoid any unwanted leaks,guys were money poor and time poor in them days, they had to be ready to play at anytime of day or night..he told me once how he had to build a guy a set of false teeth just before a concert with some kind of oppoxy stuff.. grim days indeed

rubies31 · Oct 30, 2007

wow, that would be fabulous!
Let me know the details.
thanks so much.

I have a spare case. Didn't fit my ancient sax due to keys on wrong side of the bell.

No great shakes but unused, and its going cheap if you're interested. (And if it will fit your sax.) Let me know and I'll put it in the Yard sale for you.

John

rubies31 · Oct 30, 2007

this is the kind of stuff I really need to know!!!
I am afraid of a general bath bc I thought it would shorten the life of the pads.
I did hear that liquid Lysol is good for mold but what would it do to a sax??
Then there is the herb, tea tree, which is a potent anti-microbial.
So how can I safely clean the mold & not harm the sax??

TIA

mfox wrote:
Stop!!!! not milton.. it can stain metal .. if you have any unlaqured metal or chromed parts milton can turn it grey..
i know from experience..sorry to butt in griff..
chuck the case or Ebay it..it will always smell and be prone to mold..

what i did was put the sax in a bath of tepid water and with a long bottle brush cleaned the inside.. then showered it down.dried the pads with lint free cloth as best as i could, left it on a stand to dry naturally...this had now ill effects on the horn whatsoever. mould never came back.i did get a new case..i no longer own this sax but the guy who dose still has the same pads on and that was about 6-7 years ago...

a little fact my grandfather told me (he was a pro sax player, and ran a band in the 30s 40s and 50s) it wasn't uncommon for a sax player to put his horn in the bath for 30mins before a nights work. this was to swell the pads to avoid any unwanted leaks,guys were money poor and time poor in them days, they had to be ready to play at anytime of day or night..he told me once how he had to build a guy a set of false teeth just before a concert with some kind of oppoxy stuff.. grim days indeed

griff136 · Oct 30, 2007

Ive never had a problem with Milton fluid - i always dilute it well beyond the recommendations. Thanks for the advice though I will keep a weather eye out.

griff136 · Oct 30, 2007

ditch the case and get a new one.

check your pads and felt for mould too.

justin_chune · Oct 30, 2007

All I would do is wipe the instrument clean with a damp cloth. You could then wipe it with a little polish. If you are really worried, take it to a repair tech for advice. A new case sounds like a good idea.

mfox · Oct 30, 2007

yes griif if you get the dilution wrong metal turns grey..i dose come back in time..

griff136 · Oct 30, 2007

thanks for that

justin_chune · Nov 1, 2007

Have you wiped off that sax yet? You could use a clean soft paint brush, as a brush duster to get at parts the cloth can't reach. Mind that the cloth doesn't snag on any springs and unseat them.

As for the case. Here are some suggestions. Use a foam cleaner of the sort used to clean car seats. This will give it a wet wash without soaking it. Baking soda sprinkled over the inside of the case and left for a while was another.

A trip to the pet shop for the next two. Fill the case with Kitty Litter. If you have a cat close the lid 🙂 Fill a nylon stocking with cedar chips, tie off the top and leave it in the case for a bit. Moth balls.

I would use the foam cleaner first, and on the outside as well. Good luck.