If you play the trumpet, you may notice that residue builds up on it over time. It is recommended that you clean it once every three months or so, for hygiene reasons and to ensure that the accumulation of residue does not affect its sound. By taking the time to clean its various parts with warm water and mild dish soap, and then oil its sliders and valves, you can keep the trumpet clean and in excellent playing condition.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Disassemble the Trumpet
Step 1. Remove the three valves from the trumpet
Carefully unscrew the valve caps before removing them from the trumpet. Put them in a safe place where they cannot be lost or hit by children or pets. Make sure to keep them in their proper order so they won't be difficult to put back together later.
Step 2. Remove the sliders
Start by removing the first slider, which will be closer to your body when you hold the trumpet in position to play it. Gently pull the slider out of the horn. Doing so will be relatively easy and will require no more than light pressure from your hands.
- Also remove the second and third sliders.
- If the sliders are stuck, don't try to pull them out forcefully, as that could damage the trumpet. Instead, seek help from a professional trumpeter.
Step 3. Remove the mouthpiece and set it aside
Use one hand to remove the mouthpiece from the trumpet while stabilizing the body of the bell with the other hand. At that point, the trumpet should be completely disassembled and ready for cleaning.
Part 2 of 4: Cleaning the Trumpet Body and Glides
Step 1. Fill a bathtub or large tub with warm soapy water
The water should be moderately warm but not burn. Make sure to fill the tub with enough water to completely submerge the body of the trumpet. Mix a few drops of mild dish soap in the bathtub. Then spread a towel over the bottom of the tub to prevent scratching the trumpet.
Step 2. Place the sliders and upper body in the tub to soak
The sliders should stay in the tub for about a minute, while the body can soak for up to 5-10 minutes.
Step 3. Clean the sliders and trumpet tubes
Remove debris from the internal parts of the tubes using a snake brush or other similar instrument to clean wind instruments. Gently run the snake brush through the inside of the sliders and tubes once they're done soaking in the tub. Be careful not to force the snake brush into any tight area on the tubes, as doing so could damage the inside.
Step 4. Clean the body of the trumpet
Dip a cloth in the soapy water bath and use it to clean the outside of the trumpet body, the inside of the bell, and the outside of the sliders and tubes. This step will allow you to disinfect the exterior of the instrument.
Step 5. Rinse the sliders and trumpet body with warm water
For the body, run clean warm water through the horn of the horn until it runs clean and without detergent from the other end, to which the mouthpiece is usually attached. Then rinse the outside of your body until all the lather is gone. Also run water through the sliders until they run out of detergent.
Step 6. Dry the sliders and the body of the trumpet with a cloth
Dry one piece at a time and be careful with the cloth to avoid damaging any part of the instruments. Gently run the cloth along the outside of the sliders and the body of the trumpet to absorb any excess moisture.
Step 7. Set the trumpet body and sliders aside to air dry
When you've finished drying the exterior of these pieces with the cloth, allow the interiors to dry by placing them on top of a thick cloth on a dry surface or counter. Position the sliders close to where they will need to be repositioned on the trumpet to avoid mixing them later.
Part 3 of 4: Cleaning the Valves and Tip
Step 1. Wash the bottom of the valves
Clean the bottom section of the valves with warm tap water and a small amount of dish soap. Drop tap water onto the bottom of the valves, then apply the detergent to them with your fingers or a damp cloth. Focus on cleaning the small holes under the valves that line up with the sliders rather than cleaning the entire valve. Rinse all the soapy water from the valve holes.
Step 2. Keep the tops of the valves away from the water
When cleaning your trumpet valves, it's important to keep the tops dry. The water will ruin the felt pads on top of the valves, preventing them from aligning properly when you reassemble the trumpet.
Step 3. Set the valves aside to air dry
Do not dry the valves by hand, as you could risk wiping a damp cloth near the felt pads inadvertently. Instead, set the valves aside on a soft towel until you are ready to place them back inside the trumpet.
Step 4. Clean the nozzle with a nozzle brush
Run warm tap water over the nozzle and insert the brush into the larger end of the nozzle. Then twist it around the inside of the nozzle tube to remove any residue before rinsing again. Also use the brush to scrub the outside of the nozzle.
Step 5. Dry the mouthpiece with a cloth
Carefully use the cloth to hand-dry the outside of the nozzle. Set it aside on a soft towel to allow the inside of the tube to continue to air dry before placing it back on the trumpet.
Step 6. Empty the drain valve
The exhaust valve is located at the bottom of the trumpet, near the bell. Tilt the horn forward to allow all of the liquid to collect in the valve before pressing the lever on the dump valve and releasing it. Empty the drain valve over a sink, toilet, or bathtub to avoid making a mess. When there is no liquid left inside the valve, remove your finger from the lever.
Part 4 of 4: Reassembling and Polishing the Trumpet
Step 1. Oil and reinsert the sliders into the trumpet
Put a pinch of glider grease on the side of each glider and rub it evenly into the brass with your fingertips. Slide the sliders back into the horn and use a tissue or cloth to wipe off any excess oil.
Step 2. Oil the valves before putting them back on the trumpet
Apply several drops of oil to the base of each valve and place the valves back into their appropriate covers on the trumpet body. Push the valves up and down once you reinsert them to make sure they are properly oiled.
Step 3. Buff the trumpet with a polishing cloth
For best results, use a silver or lacquer polishing cloth, which you can find at music stores or online, and use small circular polishing motions when you rub it inside the instrument. Gently scrub all surfaces of the trumpet until you have a nice, shiny finish.
Step 4. Reinsert the mouthpiece into the body of the trumpet
Carefully slide the mouthpiece over the trumpet while stabilizing its body with your other hand. At this point, the trumpet will be clean, armed, and ready to play!
Advice
- Cleaning your trumpet is a great time to check and determine if there is anything you need to replace. That includes the springs inside the valves, the felt on top of the valves, and the corks on the dump valve.
- If you don't have your own nozzle brush, you can also use a toothbrush to wash the valves.
- Make sure to remove all the cloth pieces from the trumpet (if any) before submerging it in the water.
- If the trumpet breaks down, you should fix it as soon as possible.
Warnings
- If the water is too hot when you wash the trumpet, the hairspray could flake off, so make sure the water is warm but not too hot, and not too cold.
- Do not use any type of household cleaner to clean the trumpet. Make sure to use a mild dish soap, as another product could damage the trumpet.
- Don't use a mouthpiece brush or snake brush on the outside of the trumpet, as you could scratch it.