Here are some instructions on how to sanitize your instrument:
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INSTRUMENT SANITIZATION GUIDE
The following are effective methods to sanitize musical instruments. It should be noted that these methods are not proven to kill 100% of bacteria/viruses; to do so would require extreme heat, pressure, or chemical processes that would damage instruments and are therefore not advisable.
MATERIALS
  • ●  91% Isopropyl Alcohol, in spray bottle
  • ●  Alcohol wipes (like the ones given out at BBQ restaurants)
  • ●  Disinfectant Spray, non-foaming (Lysol or similar)
  • ●  Dish soap, plain non-bleach (Dawn basic blue or similar)
  • ●  Instrument-specific bore snakes
  • ●  Instrument-specific cleaning brushes
  • ●  Instrument-specific cleaning swabs
  • ●  Pipe cleaners
  • ●  Mouthpiece brushes, both woodwind and brass
  • ●  Flute cleaning rod
  • ●  Silver polishing cloth
  • ●  Cotton or microfiber cloths
  • ●  Cotton swabs, short (Q-Tips or similar)
  • ●  Cotton swabs, long/extended
  • ●  Vacuum cleaner with hose extension
  • ●  Nitrile “examination” gloves
    Many of these materials are easily found at dollar-value stores, drug stores, or local supermarkets. Some more specific items, such as instrument cleaning swabs and bore snakes, are easily found at your local music store or school music vendor. It is recommended that you store some of the 91% Isopropyl Alcohol in a spray bottle (easily found at drug stores or dollar-value stores), for easy and more-controlled application. Nitrile gloves are recommended in place of latex gloves due to latex being a common allergy present in many schools; however, latex or vinyl gloves may also be used if appropriate for your school’s situation.
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PERSONAL SAFETY
  1. Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, dry.
  2. Wear examination gloves for entirety of cleaning procedure, then dispose and
    wash your hands again.
  3. DO NOT touch your face, mouth, eyes, or nose during cleaning procedure.
CASE EXTERIOR
  1. Remove any loose debris from case surface, latches, handle, hinges.
  2. Spray with disinfectant spray or 91% isopropyl alcohol, wipe with cotton cloth.
  3. Use cotton swabs with alcohol to clean hard to reach areas, crevices, decals, etc.
CASE INTERIOR
  1. Carefully remove instrument, accessories, and any other articles from case.
  2. Dispose of any used reeds or debris/trash.
  3. Vacuum interior with hose attachment to remove dust/dirt/particulates.
  4. Spray interior with disinfectant spray, leave open to dry thoroughly.
  5. Wipe down any accessories with disinfectant spray or alcohol wipes before returning to the case.
*** INSTRUMENT SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS*** DO NOT ASSEMBLE INSTRUMENT UNLESS TOLD TO DO SO

​FLUTE/PICCOLO
  1. Swab interior of head joint, foot joint, and body with cotton cloth on flute cleaning rod sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs (extended or regular) to clean hard-to-reach areas, including inside the head joint near head cork.
  2. Wipe exterior of flute with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.
  3. Use cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol to carefully clean around keys, rods,
    posts, and tenons; be extra careful to not mis-align springs (will look like thin
    metal wires attached to instrument).
  4. Gently rub surface of each key’s pad with cotton swab sprayed with alcohol. DO
    NOT SOAK PAD, rubbing gently with the cotton swab will apply sufficient amount
    of alcohol to sanitize.
  5. Gently rub exterior of flute with silver polishing cloth to prevent tarnish.

OBOE
  1. Clean tenon corks with cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol, this will remove grease.
  2. Use cotton swab sprayed with alcohol to clean hard to reach areas around
    tenons.
  3. Swab interior of body with cotton cloth on flute cleaning rod sprayed with alcohol.
    Use cotton swabs (extended or regular) to clean hard-to-reach areas, including
    where the reed is inserted.
  4. Clean interior and exterior of bell with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with
    alcohol.
  5. Wipe exterior of body with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.
  6. Use cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol to carefully clean around keys, rods, and
    posts; be extra careful to not mis-align springs (will look like thin metal wires
    attached to instrument).
  7. Gently rub surface of each key’s pad with cotton swab sprayed with alcohol. DO
    NOT SOAK PAD, rubbing gently with the cotton swab will apply sufficient amount
    of alcohol to sanitize.
  8. Gently rub silver key mechanisms with silver polishing cloth to prevent tarnish.
  9. Apply new cork grease to tenon corks.

CLARINET
  1. Clean mouthpiece cork with cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol, this will remove grease.
  2. Clean mouthpiece thoroughly with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol to clean hard-to-reach areas.
  3. If mouthpiece is extremely dirty, using a mouthpiece brush may help. If necessary, warm water and plain dish soap can be used with mouthpiece brush to clean interior of mouthpiece. In this case, allow to dry completely after washing and then apply alcohol to sanitize.
  4. Clean tenon corks with cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol, this will remove grease.
  5. Use cotton swab sprayed with alcohol to clean hard to reach areas around
    tenons.
  6. Swab interior of body with clarinet swab sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs
    (extended or regular) to clean hard-to-reach areas.
  7. Clean interior and exterior of bell and barrel with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth
    sprayed with alcohol.
  8. Wipe exterior of body with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.
  9. Use cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol to carefully clean around keys, rods, and
    posts; be extra careful to not mis-align springs (will look like thin metal wires attached to instrument).

10.Gently rub surface of each key’s pad with cotton swab sprayed with alcohol. DO NOT SOAK PAD, rubbing gently with the cotton swab will apply sufficient amount of alcohol to sanitize.
11.Gently rub silver key mechanisms with silver polishing cloth to prevent tarnish. 12.Apply new cork grease to tenon corks.

BASS CLARINET
  1. Clean mouthpiece cork with cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol, this will remove grease.
  2. Clean mouthpiece thoroughly with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol to clean hard-to-reach areas.
  3. If mouthpiece is extremely dirty, using a mouthpiece brush may help. If necessary, warm water and plain dish soap can be used with mouthpiece brush to clean interior of mouthpiece. In this case, allow to dry completely after washing and then apply alcohol to sterilize.
  4. Swab interior of neck with clarinet swab sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs (extended or regular) to clean hard-to-reach areas. If clarinet swab is resistant to pulling through the neck, DO NOT FORCE. Instead, remove it from back and proceed to swab neck with cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol.
  5. Wipe exterior of neck with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.
  6. Clean interior and exterior of bell with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with
    alcohol. Use cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol to clean hard-to-reach areas.
  7. Clean body tenon corks with cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol, this will remove
    grease.
  8. Swab interior of body with bass clarinet swab (if none available, an alto sax swab
    with extra string tied on the end can also work) sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs (extended or regular) to clean hard-to-reach areas, including around tenons.
  9. Wipe exterior of body with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.
10.Use cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol to carefully clean around keys, rods, and
posts; be extra careful to not mis-align springs (will look like thin metal wires
attached to instrument).
11.Gently rub surface of each key’s pad with cotton swab sprayed with alcohol. DO
NOT SOAK PAD, rubbing gently with the cotton swab will apply sufficient amount
of alcohol to sanitize.
12.Gently rub silver key mechanisms with silver polishing cloth to prevent tarnish. 13.Apply new cork grease to tenon corks.

SAXOPHONE
  1. Clean mouthpiece thoroughly with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol to clean hard-to-reach areas.
  2. If mouthpiece is extremely dirty, using a mouthpiece brush may help. If necessary, warm water and plain dish soap can be used with mouthpiece brush to clean interior of mouthpiece. In this case, allow to dry completely after washing and then apply alcohol to sanitize.
  3. Clean neck cork with cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol, this will remove grease.
  4. Swab interior of neck with clarinet swab sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs
    (extended or regular) to clean hard-to-reach areas. If clarinet swab is resistant to pulling through the neck, DO NOT FORCE. Instead, remove it from back and proceed to swab neck with cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol.
  5. Wipe exterior of neck with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.
  6. Apply new cork grease to neck cork.
  7. Swab interior of body with sax swab sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs
    (extended or regular) to clean hard-to-reach areas.
  8. Clean interior of bell section with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with
    alcohol.
  9. Wipe exterior of body with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.

10.Use cotton swabs sprayed with alcohol to carefully clean around keys, rods, and posts; be extra careful to not mis-align springs (will look like thin metal wires attached to instrument).
11.Gently rub surface of each key’s pad with cotton swab sprayed with alcohol. DO NOT SOAK PAD, rubbing gently with the cotton swab will apply sufficient amount of alcohol to sanitize.
12.Gently rub silver key mechanisms with silver polishing cloth to prevent tarnish.

TRUMPET
  1. Remove tuning slide, valve slides, bottom valve caps, and valves.
  2. Soak all parts, including mouthpiece, in warm water with plain dish soap. DO
    NOT USE HOT WATER, this could potentially damage the lacquer. Proper
    temperature is approximately the same as warm bath water.
  3. Scrub interior of all tubing with trumpet bore snake. Rinse thoroughly.
  4. Scrub interior of valve casings and valves with trumpet valve brush. Rinse
    thoroughly.
  5. Scrub interior of mouthpiece with brass mouthpiece brush. Rinse thoroughly.
  6. Clean grease off slides with cotton cloth. A soft sponge may be used if needed.
  7. Wipe down exterior with cotton cloth or soft sponge. Rinse thoroughly.
  8. Allow to dry completely, all parts still separated.
  9. Once completely dry, use brushes to apply alcohol to interior of instrument.
10.Wipe interior and exterior of bell with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with
alcohol. Use flute rod with cotton cloth attached to reach deep into bell. 11.Wipe exterior of all parts with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.
Use cotton swabs to clean hard-to-reach areas like between the valves and
around the water keys (AKA spit valves).
12.Lightly grease slides, reassemble slides.
13.Reassemble valve caps. Oil valves and put them back in.
14.Clean interior and exterior of mouthpiece with alcohol, using cotton swabs and
cotton cloth to apply.
15.If your trumpet is silver plated, gently rub exterior with silver polishing cloth to
prevent tarnish.

FRENCH HORN
  1. Remove tuning slide and valve slides.
  2. Soak all parts, including mouthpiece, in warm water with plain dish soap. DO
    NOT USE HOT WATER, this could potentially damage the lacquer. Proper
    temperature is approximately the same as warm bath water.
  3. Scrub interior of all tubing with french horn bore snake. Rinse thoroughly.
  4. Scrub interior of mouthpiece with brass mouthpiece brush. Rinse thoroughly.
  5. Clean grease off slides with cotton cloth. A soft sponge may be used if needed.
  6. Wipe down exterior with cotton cloth or soft sponge. Rinse thoroughly.
  7. Allow to dry completely, all parts still separated.
  8. Once completely dry, use brushes to apply alcohol to interior of instrument.
  9. Wipe interior and exterior of bell with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with
    alcohol. Use flute rod with cotton cloth attached to reach deep into bell.
10.Wipe exterior of all parts with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.
Use cotton swabs to clean hard-to-reach areas like between the valves and
around the water keys (AKA spit valves).
11.Lightly grease slides, reassemble slides.
12.Clean interior and exterior of mouthpiece with alcohol, using cotton swabs and
cotton cloth to apply.
13.If your horn is silver plated, gently rub exterior with silver polishing cloth to
prevent tarnish.

TROMBONE
  1. Remove tuning slide and pull main slide completely out.
  2. Soak all parts, including mouthpiece, in warm water with plain dish soap. DO
    NOT USE HOT WATER, this could potentially damage the lacquer. Proper
    temperature is approximately the same as warm bath water.
  3. Scrub interior of all tubing with Trombone bore snake. Rinse thoroughly.
  4. Scrub interior of mouthpiece with brass mouthpiece brush. Rinse thoroughly.
  5. Clean grease off slides with cotton cloth. A soft sponge may be used if needed.
  6. Wipe down exterior with cotton cloth or soft sponge. Rinse thoroughly.
  7. Allow to dry completely, all parts still separated.
  8. Once completely dry, use brushes to apply alcohol to interior of instrument.
  9. Wipe interior and exterior of bell with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with
    alcohol. Use flute rod with cotton cloth attached to reach deep into bell.
10.Wipe exterior of all parts with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol. Use cotton swabs to clean hard-to-reach areas like around the water keys (AKA
spit valves).
11.Lightly grease tuning slide and reassemble.
12.Lube main slide and carefully reassemble.
13.Clean interior and exterior of mouthpiece with alcohol, using cotton swabs and
cotton cloth to apply.
14.If your trombone is silver plated, gently rub exterior with silver polishing cloth to
prevent tarnish.

BARITONE/EUPHONIUM/TUBA
*Piston valves only. Rotary valves should follow FH directions.*
  1. Remove tuning slides, valve slides, bottom valve caps, and valves.
  2. Soak all parts, including mouthpiece, in warm water with plain dish soap. DO
    NOT USE HOT WATER, this could potentially damage the lacquer. Proper
    temperature is approximately the same as warm bath water.
  3. Scrub interior of all tubing with large brass bore snake. Rinse thoroughly.
  4. Scrub interior of valve casings and valves with large brass valve brush. Rinse
    thoroughly.
  5. Scrub interior of mouthpiece with brass mouthpiece brush. Rinse thoroughly.
  6. Clean grease off slides with cotton cloth. A soft sponge may be used if needed.
  7. Wipe down exterior with cotton cloth or soft sponge. Rinse thoroughly.
  8. Allow to dry completely, all parts still separated.
  9. Once completely dry, use brushes to apply alcohol to interior of instrument.
10.Wipe interior and exterior of bell with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with
alcohol. Use flute rod with cotton cloth attached to reach deep into bell. 11.Wipe exterior of all parts with alcohol wipes or cotton cloth sprayed with alcohol.
Use cotton swabs to clean hard-to-reach areas like between the valves and
around the water keys (AKA spit valves).
12.Lightly grease slides, reassemble slides.
13.Reassemble valve caps. Oil valves and put them back in.
14.Clean interior and exterior of mouthpiece with alcohol, using cotton swabs and
cotton cloth to apply.
15.If your instrument is silver plated, gently rub exterior with silver polishing cloth to
prevent tarnish.

PERCUSSION/KEYBOARDS/STRINGS
1. Gently wipe down all surfaces with cotton cloth and either alcohol or disinfectant spray. Use cotton swabs to clean hard-to-reach areas, like between keys on a piano or around the throw on a snare drum.