Mouthpiece cleaner

RandyTX · Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 9:56 am Post subject: Mouthpiece cleaner

I discovered this recently and thought I'd pass it along.

That Roche'-Thomas Mi-t-mist spray that people sometimes use to clean mouthpieces at trade shows or just trying out a friend's mouthpiece?

Sells for about $5 in a little 2oz spray bottle.

Well, I'm pretty sure it's quite similar to the 50% isopropyl alcohol with Wintergreen added that I can get at the local grocery store, in a 16oz bottle, for a whopping 88 cents. So, if you actually use the stuff, and want very low cost refills for that little squirt bottle, check it out. If anything, the store bought version is stronger and you might want to cut it with water, or just use it as is.

It's quite strong and not something you really want to taste, so I always rinse the piece in hot water afterward before playing.
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amzi · Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 11:08 am Post subject:

I've used a mixture of very cheap vodka and cheap mint flavored mouthwash (6:1) for years with very good results.
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Bach Stradivarius ML 37
Bach Stradivarius CML 236
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Holton T171 Alto Trumpet
Yamaha 610 Eb/D Trumpet
Kanstul 920 Picc.

cheiden · Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 1:52 pm Post subject:

I rather like the idea of using an alcohol that's nontoxic. Why not just use Everclear?
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amzi · Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 2:59 pm Post subject:

2 reasons I use vodka. 1) You can't by Everclear in California. 2) Even if you could buy it, it's more expensive than really cheap vodka. I agree that Everclear would be better, especially in the 190 and 195 proof varieties, but the cheap vodka works well enough for me.
_________________
Recording Olds Trumpet
Bach Stradivarius ML 37
Bach Stradivarius CML 236
Bach Stradivarius Bass Trumpet
Holton T171 Alto Trumpet
Yamaha 610 Eb/D Trumpet
Kanstul 920 Picc.

TrumpetMD · Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 4:55 pm Post subject:

Christian K. Peters · Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 5:07 pm Post subject: Mouthpiece cleaner

Hello all,
The music store I worked at used Everclear to sanitize mouthpieces. We also used it to wipe off the white paint smudges off of instrument cases. Worked great.
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Christian K. Peters
Schilke Loyalist since 1976

cbtj51 · Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 6:06 pm Post subject:

I have kept a small supply of Zeiss disposable Lens Cloths in my shirt and jacket pockets for cleaning my Eye Glasses and Cell Phone screen throughout the day for years. It's just an alcohol saturated, thin, throwaway cloth in a small packet so I started carrying a small supply in my Trumpet cases and using them to wipe down my mouthpieces before and after playing as well a few years ago. They work great, keep my mouthpieces fresh, are easy to dispose of and are cost effective too! The alcohol evaporates rapidly and you end up with a no residue, no smell, clean mouthpiece. I buy a 250 count box at the local Eyeglass vendor in Wal-Mart a few times a year.
_________________
'71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces

Locutus2k · Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 2:01 am Post subject:

The best and safer way to sanitize mouthpieces is a spray of Colloidal Silver (10 or -better- 20ppm). It kills 99& of germs, sanitize, is odorless, tasteless and safe to drink. And, btw, can help restoring some beat-up chops as well if sprayed directly on the lips

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Bach NY Special edition 2008
Flugel Van Laar Oiram Ack
Mark Curry mouthpieces
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zaferis · Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 4:16 am Post subject:

...as a reminder: "The silver in silverware has been around for ages, but there's a reason it's still in use today: it's antiseptic"
"Silver is often used to coat containers used for water and other liquids to kill off bacteria. The oligodynamic effect also explains why silver works so well for eating utensils" tested.com

Silver (and Gold) plating, not only protect us from the negative properties of brass, but has the added benefit of being a surface that germs don't survive on. Wipe the mouthpiece off with a soft, clean cloth, there really is no need for a disinfectant.

Keep them clean with a moutpiece brush and a drop of dishwashing liquid.

I admit, I carry a small bottle when teaching in school for those nasty moutpieces and when students are trying out mouthpoieces and will be sharing or swapping.
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GordonH · Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 4:58 am Post subject:

I just use Dettol. This is an antiseptic spray that is considered safe enough for wiping down food surfaces for babies. Kills most germs.
_________________
Bb - Scherzer 8218W, Schilke S22, Bach 43, Selmer 19A Balanced
Pic - Weril
Flugel - Courtois 154
Cornet - Geneva Heritage, Conn 28A
Mouthpieces - Monette 1-5 rims and similar.

Licensed Radio Amateur - GM4SVM

Andy Del · Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 11:46 am Post subject:

Why on earth are people 'sanitising' their mouthpiece? As far as you are concerned, that mouthpiece is sterile TO YOU as you are one contaminating it.

I guess if you store your mpc in a box of garden waste or spoilt food, it'll need a wash off... Same goes for sharing it with other people too.

Warm water, brush it out, use some dishwashing soap if you like. the rest is silly unless cross contamination from another source is going to happen. Just remove that other source and all is good again.

cheers

Andy
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so many horns, so few good notes...

so what · Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 12:45 pm Post subject:

cheiden · Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 1:41 pm Post subject:

GordonH · Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 11:23 pm Post subject:

I only clean mine if I have a cold. I feel if I don't I tend to reinfect myself.
I do clean mouthpieces to let other people try them, or if I am showing someone how to get a note out of a trumpet.
_________________
Bb - Scherzer 8218W, Schilke S22, Bach 43, Selmer 19A Balanced
Pic - Weril
Flugel - Courtois 154
Cornet - Geneva Heritage, Conn 28A
Mouthpieces - Monette 1-5 rims and similar.

Licensed Radio Amateur - GM4SVM

Sustained note · Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 1:04 am Post subject:

After every training session at home I pump some liquid soap into the cup and run tap water through the MP.
Why on earth would you need to do anything else to it?
I then dry the inside with a rolled tissue and polish the exterior with a small microfiber, the kind you use with eye glasses.
My MP looks almost new, inside and out.
_________________
Michael Greenberg

Giv'at Shmuel
Israel

Trumpet: Schilke B1 (2005)
Mouthpiece: Schilke Soloiste MG1
(Marc Geujon) gold plated
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Keep a sense of humor.

TrumpetMD · Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 4:47 am Post subject:

For those who use it, the OP noted a less-expensive alterative to commercial mouthpiece disinfectants. Nothing wrong with using these products.

But FWIW, any little buggers that may be in your mouthpiece tend to be hiding in the debris inside your mouthpiece. And any cleaning product you use won't work that well, unless you also get rid of the "pizza" inside your mouthpiece. That's why many of use warm water, soap, and a mouthpiece brush.

Mike
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

Brad361 · Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 6:15 am Post subject:

trickg · Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 8:02 am Post subject:

So I'm reading down through this and thinking that possibly it's much ado about nothing?

I've never been fanatical about sanitizing a mouthpiece, and for a few reasons.

One - what zaferis said about silver plating being antispeptic
Two - it's MY mouthpiece. If someone else wants to try it, soap and water will suffice
Three - soap and water - it works well, and is readily available

If I get a cold, I'll always wash out the horn and mouthpieces once I've recovered, but otherwise, I scrub out my mouthpieces fairly routinely, but not every day. I just have never felt there was a "need."
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"95% of the average 'weekend warrior's' problems will be solved by an additional 30 minutes of insightful practice." - PLP

mafields627 · Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 8:54 am Post subject:

I use wintergreen rubbing alcohol when doing instrument testing for my beginners. Be careful though, if you leave a rubber woodwind mouthpiece soaking it can discolor the mouthpiece.
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No representation is made that the quality of this post is greater than the quality of that of any other poster. Oh, and get a teacher!

RandyTX · Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 10:45 am Post subject:

I thought I made it pretty clear at the top of this thread it was often used at trade shows or horn hangout things, with people trying a lot of different mouthpieces in a short period.

You don't have to get all spun up about it. If you don't want the stuff, don't use it.
_________________
"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away."