Cleanliness and Godliness and So Forth!
Otherwise you'll end up here.
Ah, the back-to-school season! New notebooks, sharpened pencils, and, of course, tuning up your beloved instrument for another year of musical mastery. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting out, keeping your instrument in tip-top shape is essential. Fear not! We’ve got the ultimate guide to help you sail through the school year with an instrument that’s always ready to rock (or pop, or jazz, or whatever your style may be)!
Shine and Polish: Keeping Your Instrument Clean
1. Wipe It Down, Daily
Your instrument is your baby, so treat it with love! After every practice session, give it a gentle wipe-down with a soft cloth. This removes sweat, dust, and fingerprints that can dull the finish and affect sound quality over time.
Maybe try the Taylor Premium Suede Microfibre Cloth
2. Brass and Woodwinds Deserve Extra Love
Brass instruments can tarnish, and woodwinds can build up moisture. Use a brass polishing cloth to keep that trumpet or trombone gleaming. For woodwinds, swab out the inside after playing to keep it dry and clean. Don’t forget to wipe down the keys and mouthpiece too!
Use these excellent D'addario Pad Guards for Saxophone.
3. Guitars Need TLC
Guitar strings collect oils from your fingers, which can corrode them over time. Use a guitar cleaner to keep the fretboard fresh and the body shining. Don’t forget to clean your strings with a special string cleaner, ensuring they last longer and sound better.
Clearly, Music Nomad make the Best Guitar Care Products
4. Drums Deserve a Polish Too
Drummers, keep those drumheads clean! Use a soft cloth to wipe them down after every session. For cymbals, a dedicated cymbal cleaner will keep them shining and sounding crisp.
Music Nomad make some excellent Drum and Cymbal Cleaners
The Taylor cloth is also great for Keys
Storage Smarts: Protecting Your Instrument
1. Case It, Always
When you’re not playing, your instrument should be safely tucked away in its case. This is especially true when transporting it to and from school. A good case not only prevents dings and scratches but also protects against temperature and humidity changes.
Check out the Hard Case & Gig Bag section
2. Climate Control
Instruments hate extreme temperatures and humidity. Store yours in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, radiators, or air conditioners. For string instruments, consider a humidifier or dehumidifier depending on your climate – this helps prevent warping and cracking.
Have a look at our range of Humidity Controls
3. Safe Travels
For students on the go, a sturdy bag or case is a must. Look for cases that offer good padding, secure locks, and comfortable straps. You’ll thank yourself when your instrument is still in perfect condition after a bumpy bus ride!
Check out the Hard Case & Gig Bag section
Must-Have Gear: Music Nomad Products and Music Bags from Musicmaker
1. Music Nomad The Guitar ONE - All in 1 Cleaner, Polish, Wax for Gloss Finishes
Say hello to the one-stop wonder for a show-stopping shine! The Guitar ONE is your go-to for achieving that ultra-slick, streak-free gloss in a single, easy step. This magic formula is designed to clean, polish, wax, and protect your instrument’s glossy finish with zero hassle. Packed with white Brazilian carnauba wax, it forms an acoustically transparent, tough-as-nails shield that not only dazzles with a high-gloss shine but also keeps your guitar looking its absolute best.
Get yours HERE
2. Music Nomad Premium Drum & Cymbal Care System
Presenting the ultimate four-piece Drum & Cymbal Care Kit, your all-in-one solution for keeping your drum set in pristine condition. This professional-grade kit includes two standout products that make maintaining your entire drum setup a breeze. The Acid-Free Cymbal Cleaner effortlessly slices through layers of grime and oxidation, bringing back that brilliant shine to your cymbals. Meanwhile, the All-Purpose Drum Detail Polish works wonders on everything from drum shells and hardware to thrones, electronic pads, and cases. Plus, Music Nomad has thrown in two ultra-soft, premium microfibre towels—one for each cleaner—to ensure a flawless finish every time.
Get it HERE.
3. Music Nomad Premium Piano Care Kit
Presenting the Music Nomad Premium Piano Care Kit—a complete toolkit for keeping your piano in tip-top shape. The star of the show, the Piano ONE, is a one-step wonder made with organic ingredients that cleans, polishes, waxes, and protects gloss pianos effortlessly. Infused with white Brazilian carnauba wax, it creates a sleek, transparent shield that amplifies shine while keeping your piano safe from harm. Plus, with built-in UV protectants and anti-static agents, your piano's finish will stay looking pristine for longer.
When it comes to the keys, the All Purpose Key ONE cleaner is your go-to. Just a quick spray and wipe, and you'll banish fingerprints, dust, and smudges, leaving your keys sparkling clean and free of any streaks or residue. Its anti-static formula also helps keep dust at bay, so you can spend more time playing and less time cleaning.
To top it all off, the MusicNomad Dusting and Polishing Cloth is a microfibre marvel, boasting 90,000 cleaning microfibres per square inch. The plush, higher-pile side expertly lifts and traps dust, while the smoother, lower-pile side is perfect for applying cleaners and polishes, helping you bring back your piano’s original lustre with ease.
Get it HERE.
4. Music Nomad Premium String Care Kit
MusicNomad's Premium Three-Piece String Care Kit is your go-to solution for keeping strings on guitars, basses, banjos, ukuleles, mandolins, and more in tip-top shape. With our easy-to-use, mess-free applicator, you can breeze through string care in no time. The broad applicator glides over all your strings in one smooth swipe, releasing a special solution that cleanses and lubricates for longer-lasting strings and better sound quality. The String Fuel formula, a unique blend of natural and mineral oils, works wonders without any silicone, not only caring for your strings but also conditioning unfinished fretboards. When the applicator needs a refresh, just refill it using the handy dropper until the pad is lightly moistened—no need to overdo it! Plus, we've included a lint-free microfiber cloth that tucks neatly into the handle, making this kit as convenient as it is effective.
Get Yours HERE.
5. Music Bags and Cases from Musicmaker
Protect your gear with top-quality cases from Musicmaker. The Musicmaker Premium cases are perfect to protect guitars, basses and drums on the journey to school and practice.. For the keyboard players, both Roland and Stagg make a great range of keyboard bags so you can get your stage piano to recitals in safety. The options for guitar players are many and varied, from inexpensive Stagg bags to semi hard Kinsman cases to serious Fender Hardcases.
Browse some Bags and Cases Here.
The Final Note
As the school year begins, make sure your instrument is ready to make some music magic. Regular maintenance, careful storage, and the right products will keep your instrument in perfect harmony all year long. So tune up, shine bright, and let the music play!
Any questions or looking for something in particular? Get in touch with us via the Intercom button below. We are always on hand to help out.