i was just wondering what you are supposed to use to clean a flute(joints etc.) My friend used to use cork grease but i asked my teacher about that and he says that it attracts the dirt and something else but i cant remember what he said...
Do you just use the cloth?

Good advice from Lera. Never use corkgrease on your joints. They are normally fit well without it, and if they are too tight you likely need to clean the joints, or possibly have them stretched by a repair tech. Corkgrease will attract dust and other particulate matter, creating a glue of sorts that will eventually prevent you from taking the flute apart without tremendous force that can potentially damage it. As for cleaning, you can take a silver polishing cloth (assuming it is silver or silver plate), or a microfiber cloth (which is what I use), and clean it up with that. Don't use liquid or powder polishers (most commercial polishes as a matter of fact), as these can be very abrasive and can get into the pads and cause more harm. After each time you play, you should swab out the flute, and wipe it down to remove all the oils from your skin. This will help keep the flute in working order longer.

Speaking of cleaning, in what sequence do you clean/dry the instrument with the rod, after playing?
- foot - body - headjoint
-headjoint - body - foot

- other¨:

Well, I swab it out/wipe it down head-foot-body, simply because the head is the easiest to deal with since you don't need to worry about any part of the mechanism...Then comes the footjoint, with some mech, but not much (which incidentally is closer to me when in the case than the body, which could also explain the order), and the body is the biggest pain to clean because there's so much of it.

These are good arguments. But I am concerned about the cloth as it gets wet and dreis less and less.

I clean the foot first (for the same reasons than you but also because it is normally the driest part). Then the body which is porbably the most critical and difficult and last the headjoint, being wetter that the others but without pads I think it is less critical humidity-wise.

foot, body, head

that way i can shove my rod up there and then take my flute apart with one quick swab. im lazy though and im usually in a hurry when im taking my flute apart.

wow, that sounded a bit choice....

Lera, if you wipe the flute down properly, you should not have fingerprints on it regardless of what order you do so in.

IRequestHelp...Cleaning the flute out properly is an important (and very easy) part of maintaining your flute. Doing so after every time you play will help to keep it in top playing condition longer. I suggest you take a bit more time and care with it in future.

like jose said - clean the foot first (for the same reasons than you but also because it is normally the driest part). Then the body which is porbably the most critical and difficult and last the headjoint, being wetter that the others but without pads I think it is less critical humidity-wise.

be sure and do it each and every time!! it's critical in prolonging the sound AND the life!!
Listen to Bach: Sonata for Flute in E minor, Andante (LP VersioN) by Ethereal - Classics For A New Age : http://www.napster.com/player/tracks/15896334

I also do it the way (and for the same reasons) that jose luis does. Foot-body-head.

i didn't know about the proper order(in cleaning)
but i clean it in this order.

foot-body-head

I take the head and imediatly start shaking it..to get some moisture out. Then I start swabing in the inside. Then...i don't know what i do next. the foot or the body. It's probably diferent everyday!^_^

Now you've piqued my curiosity. I'll definitely be paying attention next time I swab out my flute to determine which way I generally do it.

Here's another question: who here meditates while cleaning their flutes? I can easily lose complete track of time while polishing off all traces of fingerprints with my microfiber cloth. It really is a form of meditation....

Not me, but it is a good occassion to relax after working!

Umm.. sometimes i guess i lose track of time. Especially when i'm cleaning my flute at home. BUt at school right after band, i need to hurry! so...no time to waste! I do my best to swab good..and fast^_^

I used to be a foot->body->head person, but then I felt safer to switch to foot->head->body.

Dunno when I made the "switch", lol, but the flute dries out just as well and it prevents laying a head to drip in your lap or to roll away to the floor.

The full step by step:

Using a soft cotton cloth like these will guarantee you will never need to double swab as they are extremely absorbent and fluffy to reach everywhere, are washable, and long lasting:
http://www.fluteworld.com/Merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=CC-SG&Category_Code=AC13
or this:
http://www.fluteworld.com/Merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=CC-YPG&Category_Code=AC13

Starting with your well played and drippy flute. Get you cloth and rod ready and set your flute and flute case across your lap.

1. Pull about a thumbs length of cloth through the flute rod hole.
2. Flip the large portion of cloth over the flute rod so that the rod tip doesn't rub against the flute.
3. Remove foot joint, push rod through foot. Once should do it. (no grasping of keys). Put foot in case.
4. Remove head, push rod though head till end and give the rod a whirl and pull out.
5. Unflip cloth. Insert that thumb lenth of cloth into the head joint, then follow with the rod to get that cloth to strike the top to bunch up to soak up that moisture that gets trapped by the cork. Direct the rod to the flute wall in a circular pattern to get everything. Put head in case.
6. Flip the large cloth back over. Push rod through barrel end of body and out to the other side. Once should do it. Put body in case.

That's it for the inside and it goes by really quick, no need to take your time. The cloth will pick everything it encounters.


For the outside:
All the dried pieces of the flute should be in its case. Case on lap. Take out pieces individually and WITH AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT CLOTH (Use a cloth without polishing chemicals for general everyday cleaning) Wipe all surfaces, but avoid brushing against pads and do not exert too much force to clean. Your focus is removing sweat and oils quickly and efficiently. Again this should be pretty quick.

Cleaning the outside of your flute should be like dusting your table, not cleaning glass.

Always clean your flute after you play and it should keep well and you'll enjoy it more.

As far as specific cloths for the outside it really doesn't matter so long as it isn't abrasive. Some microfiber cloths are amazing at cleaning a flute and some will scratch the bee-jeezus out of it so be wary. If it scratches glass/plastic, don't use it on your flute!