[Harp-L] Re: Strep and Harmonica Cleaning

[patpowers <patpowers@xxxxxxx>]

Hi Bob,

I do not recommend using peroxide.  It will oxidize the brass reeds and plates (make them turn black), dull your sound, and make the harps taste and smell funny. 

I recommend IMS-II (Roman numeral 2) mixed with hot tap water to form a sanitizing solution.  IMS-II is an ammonia-chloride based product used primarily to clean commerical food and beverage equipment, It is safe and non-toxic, and leaves no funny after-taste or residue.  It will also keep mold, slime, and bacteria from growing inside your harps as well. I use it in my ultrasonic to clean all my harps, usually take the harps apart to clean them, and then rinse the parts and pat dry before re-assembling.  

Also, you should never soak wooden combs.  You can quickly dunk them in the IMS-II solution, and then rinse and pat dry, but you should never allow them to soak.  Most plastic, metal, and composite combs can be soaked.

I hope this information helps.


Best Regards,
Pat Powers 

----- Original Message -----
From: robert mcgraw <harpbob@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Strep and Harmonica Cleaning
To: harp-l harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
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I may have strep, and my doctor tells me it could have gotten into my harmonicas. How might I clean them to kill the strep without hurting the harmonicas? Anybody ever dealt with this?WVa Bob