RE: [Harp-L] "used" harp/what to do to sanitize?

["Eric Neumann" <eneumann@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

rule of thumb, don't put anything in or on your harp that is NOT safe to
eat.

Some folks use efferdent. Mark Wilson said he uses a steam cleaner.
Search the archives - there are TONS of proven methods for both diatonic
and chromatic. It's likely you can offer your own home brew method once
you put your mind to it.

Myself... I am of the school of thought that unless it's a visable chunk
of something like, glazed ham inside the mouth piece it ain't gonna kill
me. I think you would be save with just air blasts or a well lit
inspection of the chambers just to make sure there are no bugs living
inside the harp - you cannot be entirely germ free... there is no
sterile field you can have if you are playing harp. I mean... not once
it goes into your own mouth. Two months is plenty of time to avoid
catching any nasties from a used harp.

Side note: I had a toddler invade my living room - and while I was gone
my wife was too late in getting one of my harps away from the little
tyke. She let the baby play on my newly gapped harp for a while as it
was entertaining I suppose. (says a lot about my playing I guess) When I
came home, I and picked the harp up and noticed the goo... I simply
wiped away the cover schmutz with a firm polishing - and toothpicked
(swiss army knife) the chamber holes... tapped it out and got to
playing. And, I did this without having prior knowledge that a little
germ machine had goob'ed up my harp. It didn't kill me. I feel fine -
kind of grossed out... but hey, she's a cute little kid.


>-----Original Message-----
>From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx 
>[mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bry Thomas
>Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 10:58 AM
>To: Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [Harp-L] "used" harp/what to do to sanitize?
>
>
>Several replies to my earlier post. Harp comments but nothing 
>re: sanitizing 
>a used harp.  A member of another harp list is sending me a 
>"C" Herring 
>Vintage.  He says he hasn't played it for months and only a 
>few times and 
>not much then.  However, i'd like to be safe.  What should I 
>do to the harp 
>before putting it in my mouth?  (a harp condom? Ha!)
>
>A pro harp player said to rub alcohol all over the external surfaces.
>
>Someone else said to completely take the harp apart and clean 
>it that way.  
>I don't want to (or know how) to do that.  Especially, since 
>i'm the type 
>who can sometimes take things apart, but NEVER gets them reassembled 
>properly!
>
>Will the alcohol do it?  I don't know if we have any doctors 
>on this list.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Bry (Indiana)
>
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