Would it be okay if I use Silver polish to polish my flute?
Where can you get flute cleaning agents?

You really shouldn't use any cleaning agents on your flute. A little rubbing alcohol on the embouchure plate, or on a particular spot (applied with a q-tip) is OK, but silver polish or even the polish-impregnated cloths are not good. They can get on the pads or in the mechanism. Too much rubbing, period, near the keys can cause the pad edges to fray. So, be cautious. A wipedown with a microfiber, silk or lint-free cloth should be sufficient. You can get one of those 3M silver strips to keep in your case to help keep tarnish from forming.

I used silver polish on my student flute for years. Unfortunately, I cannot confirm whether or not that practice contributed to its demise. The frequent car-wash style cleansings it got during outdoor marching band practice helped to control the build-up of residue.

Yes, Jose Luis, that's exactly right. Most cork assemblies have a screw protruding from the bottom (tenon side) plate, over which the cork is placed (there should be a hole in the center of the cork), and which the crown screws onto. Once the cork is attached to the bottom plate with the shellac, the top plate is screwed onto this same screw, and tightened down.

Cleaning the inside of the flute

"As you play, your flute collects moisture from your mouth throughout the inside tube of the flute. If you do not clean this moisture out after each playing session, it can accumulate in your keypads and cause air leaks. To clean the inside of your flute, take a corner of your cleaning cloth and pull it about 3 - 5" through the slit of your cleaning rod. To keep from scratching the inside of your flute, twist part of the cloth around the top of the rod and carefully push it through the body piece of your instrument. Be careful to twist the rod as you clean, so that the metal of the rod does not contact the inside of your flute. Do the same for the headjoint and the footjoint."

Cleaning the outside of the flute

"WARNING: NEVER (ever!) USE SILVER POLISHES ON YOUR INSTRUMENT"
"In fact, it's wisest to leave any major cleaning to a professional. Silver polishes, even polishes that claim to be safe on silver instruments, are not meant for the flute. Not only do polishes strip precious silver from the surface of your flute, but they ruin your keypads and can badly damage the metal of your key system. The entire flute can be seriously damaged in this way."

"While tarnish can be pesky, especially between keys, resist the urge to try and remove it on your own. By putting pressure on and between the keys while you clean, you may accidentally change key alignment, causing air leaks when you play. Instead, try to prevent it by gently wiping down your flute with a soft cloth and never playing just after eating. A clean mouth (rinse with water even after brushing to keep toothpaste residue out of the flute) will prevent discoloration of your flute - inside and out - as well as keep food particles from building up in keys. Good care and precaution with your flute will keep professional cleaning bills low."

Sticky Keypads

"If you have pads that stick as you play, take a sheet of cigarette paper and place it beneath the sticky key. Gently push the key down, but with a little more pressure than when you play the keys. The idea is to wick the moisture out of the pad with the paper. Repeat as necessary, but be careful not to push down too hard or your pad may be worn or torn. Prevent sticking keys by always rinsing your mouth with water before playing."

Other places to remember

"Don't forget to wipe the tenons (the places where your flute joints fit together) of your flute regularly. They accumulate grease and dirt particles, which make it difficult to connect the joints of your flute. The headjoint is particularly important to clean, as it is the weakest joint and can be easily damaged if forced into a sticky joint. (avoid this by never forcing the joint of your instrument)"

"The embouchure hole of your headjoint should be cleaned regularly, and if you have an open-holed flute, remember to clean the holes of your keys. Particles can build up in these places and can easily be cleaned with a Q-tip; carefully push down the key and swipe with the Q-tip - don't roughly move the Q-tip around or you will damage the key. Stubborn spots should still be approached gently, but to help, dampen (not soak!) the Q-tip slightly in rubbing alcohol. Use only the rubbing alcohol, not water or other forms of alcohol, including aftershave, as they will damage the keypads."

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Cleaning the inside of the flute

"As you play, your flute collects moisture from your mouth throughout the inside tube of the flute. If you do not clean this moisture out after each playing session, it can accumulate in your keypads and cause air leaks. To clean the inside of your flute, take a corner of your cleaning cloth and pull it about 3 - 5" through the slit of your cleaning rod. To keep from scratching the inside of your flute, twist part of the cloth around the top of the rod and carefully push it through the body piece of your instrument. Be careful to twist the rod as you clean, so that the metal of the rod does not contact the inside of your flute. Do the same for the headjoint and the footjoint."

Cleaning the outside of the flute

WARNING: NEVER (ever!) USE SILVER POLISHES ON YOUR INSTRUMENT

"In fact, it's wisest to leave any major cleaning to a professional. Silver polishes, even polishes that claim to be safe on silver instruments, are not meant for the flute. Not only do polishes strip precious silver from the surface of your flute, but they ruin your keypads and can badly damage the metal of your key system. The entire flute can be seriously damaged in this way."

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It's from http://www.angelfire.com/folk/ajflute/cleaning.html I'd be careful with that info, though. Even giving it just a cursory glance, I noticed a couple of omissions, or phrases that could be confused in such a way as to cause harm to the flute. Take that advice with a grain of salt.

I have always used a treated cloth to wipe the outside of the headjoint and the top of the keys only. Anything wrong with that? The alcohol and a q tip works great on the inside of the lip plate. Another thing I aways do (especially before night rehearsals when there isn't time to go home)is brush my teeth. I keep a travel toothbrush/toothpaste in my car. I hate to play any instrument after eating!

The treated cloth isn't great for the flute, especially after long stretches of time, but it's not the worst thing you can do either. The chemicals these cloths are treated with are usually to harsh for anything but occasional use, and can actually come off the cloth and help gum up the mechanism. The best solution is prevention (through bruching your teeth and washing your hands before you play), and cleaning out and wiping down the flute (with something like a microfiber cloth, which is untreated, and removes skin oils and other substances that attract tarnish causers), and just leaving the flute alone otherwise. Tarnish will not hurt the way the flute plays, and can be removed by your repair tech during regular maintainance.