- Tips on Cleaning your Guitar Finish -

When you play your guitar you will undoubtedly leave some dirt and oil on the guitar. Dust will also collect on your guitar which may dull the appearance.

This is unavoidable however a little preventative maintenance and proper cleaning will help avoid future issues with your finish.

After you play your guitar you should take a few minutes to wipe down the guitar with a cotton cloth. Use a 100% cotton cloth that’s free of lint and dirt. You can also use a commercial flannel guitar polishing cloth available at your local guitar store. Please note that some paper towels may scratch your finish, particularly if the finish is shellac or lacquer so you should avoid wiping down your guitar with paper towels.

If you notice your guitar has spots that have a haze to them you may have grease or oil deposits on your guitar. These may require a water and little mild detergent. Apply the water and detergent to the cloth and not directly to the guitar. Use as little moisture possible in order to avoid getting detergent and dirt worked into hairline cracks in the finish. You don’t want any detergent left on the guitar finish so wipe the guitar down with a clean slightly damp cloth after using detergent then follow up with a dry cloth to remove any remaining streaks.

If you want to polish your guitar there are several commercial guitar polishes and cleaners on the market that provide good results however be careful with creamy polishes as they may have a mild abrasive which can dull your finish so go easy on the polish.

If you encounter adhesive or tape on your guitar you may have to use mineral spirits or naphtha to clean off the adhesive. This is safe for most guitar finishes but when in doubt consult your favorite repair shop for advice.

If your guitar is old, has checking or finish damage then cleaning and polishing your guitar may require the assistance of a guitar repair professional such as Rock N roll Vintage.