Re: [Harp-L] harp health

[G <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi there
Disassemble harmonica.  Soak non-wood components in sink with moderately
hot water with dishwashing liquid (antibacterial preferable).  Use old
toothbrush or similar very carefully to remove muck.   Rinse with water.
Pat dry all components. You may want to leave somewhere to dry, don't
leave wood or reedplates with windsavers in direct sunlight.  
I make my own brass tool, similar to the one in Lee Oskar's toolkit:
http://tinyurl.com/suit/harptechtips.html
I use both the pointy tip and the wedge shaped blade to pick out and
scrape off any muck missed in the soak and brush. 
Finally give all components a liberal but light spray with isopropal
alcohol - chemists usually stock 50ml bottles of the stuff, best applied
using a mister spray bottle for maximum effect. 
Do any repairs and work, then assemble.
I work on other people's harmonicas regularly, so it's important to do
this before and after working on them.
-- G.
http://harmonica.7p.com

>Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:28:16 -0800 (PST)
>From: Chris Reynolds <c_reynolds2571@xxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: [Harp-L] harp health
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>
>I was just curious what the best way to clean and sanitize a harmonica
>is. I know there are people that buy used harmonicas and I was just
>wondering what kind of sterilizing can be done to them before playing,
>of if you're working on someone else's harmonica and need to play it for
>tuning and reed work how to best sterilize it before giving it back to
>the owner. 
> 
>Chris