I see we have all possible variants on the order of drying the instrument parts. Quite interesting!.

The last post from Stephen is very detailed and ordered. It inspired me a few questions:

- I use the drying cloth I received from Yamaya. It is a material similar to medical lint. It does its job well but does not seem to "dry more as it gets wet". All the contrary, in fact. That is why clean/dry the head joint before the body. Question: is this type of cloth acceptable or should I get something better? (it has started to have loose threads at the corners, mainly because passing a corner through the rod hole quickly breaks the lint threads)

- I am reluctant to clean the outer surface every time I play. I do not notice any fingerprints and the surface is brilliant almost as it was brand new. I suspect the instrument (a Yamaha 674H) comes from factory with some kind of invisible surface protection. I am worried about cleaning too much and in so doing, wiping off this supposed protection. What do you think?

- The barrel side of the body is the side that fits the headjoint, true?

The cleaning cloth I received (not the drying cloth) is a kind of blueish microfiber and I have seen no lint in the case (true is that I keep it outside the hard case, in the original plastic envelope)

But the drying cloth closely resembles the medical lint one gets appled at hospital to cover and heal a wound.

It's cotton gauze cloth. Perhaps Yamaha's version (2nd link) is a little thinner. I use the sweet heart variety (1st link).

I just throw mine into the bath tub

not when i clean...
but i think it happens to me sometime during a practice...
dunno, i don't think i was aware that it happens.
hehehe!
i get those things when my mind gets tired.

Hhmm..when's the last time i washed my cloth..*GASP*.uh..-__-"
and we use a different cloth for the outside. OOPS! well i did have an extra cloth for the outside...lost it though.

Something to keep in mind when washing your cleaning cloths, don't use fabric softerner.

Facric softener will prevent the cloth from absobing moisture and from picking up dust readily.

Patrick, behave yourself or you will be sent to timeout.
Now, apologize to all the nice people.

Kippsix, why are you asking that to Patrick? Have I missed something?
When asking for apologies or clarifications (even if was a joke), it is always a good idea to quote the original text...

We have had so many avoidable and unnecessary problems recently...

Jose, read up 7 posts....

goodness gracious, I was KIDDING...

actually, I put it in the dishwasher with special flute soap

Ok, the bathtub story. I must confess that I had said for myself "well, maybe he washes averything in the bathtube" A liitle innocent from my part.

A bit of humor is welcome, the Forum is quite tense these days. I understand that your comment to him was also in joking. Sorry, I misunderstood it.

I tremble of fear for any thread, no matter the subject, can go wild at every second. It has happened again at "following Dennis footsteps!

Let us stay cleaning our flutes and discussing nice things!.

"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 have no idea about the cleaning, but I like the song on the link...

What can i use to swab out my flute?

could i use a papertowel or look for some kind of cloth?