Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Harp hygiene

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

I'm one who believes in keeping really clean harmonicas but since I play  
chromatics, they're not easily 'soaked', so I make sure to at the very least  
wipe them down thoroughly with either Isopropyl Alcohol sometimes prefaced 
by a  spritz of Anywhere Hard Surface Spray (made by Clorox). I also spray a 
brush  head (soaked and sanitized mascara brushes I've accumulated with 
this same  product)..and gently scour out every MP hole both with the button 
depressed and  out then clean the brush and run it all around the mouthpiece 
ridges (of  280's/Super 64's). The CX-12's are far easier to clean since the 
shell can be  held under very warm running water and even cleaned inside and 
out with  dishwashing detergent (and a dedicated toothbrush).
 
Nothing wrong with using a jewelry cleaner (adding the Anywhere spray to  
the water) for diatonics. Most chromatics won't fit and/or will have the 
valves  shakened loose.
 
 
A couple of times in the past I did renew a bad cold/cough by playing an  
instrument I hadn't remembered to sterilize in between but when I went back 
to  my usual regimen nothing similar has occurred. To me it's as logical as 
washing  your hands as often as possible when you're remotely contagious.
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 11
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 14:13:31 -0400
From: Mike Wilbur  <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Harp hygiene?
To:  Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Harp L Harp L  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

I keep a bottle of Havana Club chilled in case  of Flight Attendants.

But I soak Harps in Boric Acid 5 mins than a warm  water rinse, cleans 
brass of organic
Goo Gaws and leaves no after taste  ....

Mike Wilbur


On Mar 12, 2014, at 12:49 PM, Joseph Leone  <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> George does exactly what I do.  Before I did that I would just bring the 
cold back on myself. I keep a spray  bottle of vodka hidden in the trunk 
because of the stupid laws. Laws that don't  assume that you are an adult and 
responsible. There was time when you could sip  a beer while towing your boat 
to the lake to fish. That's all a thing of the  past. 
> 
> smo-joe 
> 
> On Mar 12, 2014, at 10:22 AM,  george sanders wrote:
> 
>> Carry a small spray bottle of vodka,  spray the harps after use. Keep in 
trunk well out of site, technically you have  an open container.
>> George
>> 
>> 
>>  
>> On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 6:45 AM, "Cljdm@xxxxxxx"  <Cljdm@xxxxxxx> 
wrote:
>> 
>> Hey Dale, I have been  wondering the exact same thing . I have been sick 
>> with almost the  exact same symptoms for a little over two weeks. I keep 
my 
>> harps  clean, but never soak them in anything. I cannot see cold 
bacteria 
>>  living for too long on a harp. If I don't touch them for a day or so, I 
imagine  
>> that they should be OK to play. I tend to think I was just sick  with a 
bad 
>> flu, turning into a lingering recovery. I am told it  takes weeks 
sometimes 
>> to fully recover. Then again I am not a  doctor.
>> Get well,
>> Chris Mastakas
>>  
>> 
>> In a message dated 3/12/2014 9:26:28 A.M. Eastern  Daylight Time, 
>> daledut@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>>  
>> Ok I need some opinions here. Can you reinfect yourself by playing  a 
harp 
>> while sick then playing the same harp later without cleaning  in 
between? 
>> I had bronchitis, played my harmonica as my symptoms  were waning. 2 
weeks 
>> later got sick again with sinus, sore throat  and cough.
>> My doctor thinks I played too soon, depositing bacteria  which grew in 
the 
>> harp and caused my current ailment. 
>>  Any opinions or experience with this sort of thing?
>> Dale
>>  
>> 
>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE  smartphone