Understanding how to take care of your new flute is **crucial** for making it last longer and keeping it in top shape, which makes knowing how to clean a flute a vital part of being a flautist.
It is a delicate instrument, so needs looking after – correct cleaning solutions method can make a huge difference to the long-term effectiveness of your flute!
How to Tell if Your Flute Needs Cleaning
Your flute will need cleaning every time you finish playing. After a practice session, rehearsal or concert, the moisture inside needs to be removed so that you can store the flute dry. The most condensation gathers in the head joint, but you’ll see this travel down the length into the body and foot joint too, the longer you play for.
If you notice that assembling your flute is hard work, or it’s difficult to disassemble after playing, it is likely that the joints need cleaning. A little grit or dust can make it surprisingly stiff. If this is the flute case, it means it doesn’t need greasing (as you might think), but simply cleaning.
From time to time you may also need to clean the exterior, if you notice the key mechanism is dusty, or the surface of the flute is covered in dirt or finger marks.
Steps for Cleaning a Flute
To clean the inside of your flute, use a plastic, wooden or metal rod (usually supplied with the flute) and a cotton swab or a soft dry cloth like a handkerchief. Poke a corner of cloth through the hole at the end of the cleaning rod, and wrap the rest of the cloth around the rod. Place the cleaning rod inside each of the three pieces of the flute in turn, and gently twist until clean.
Some cleaning cloths come with a string attached, so for the body and foot joint you can simply pass the cloth through the instrument. You will still need to use the cleaning rod for threading the head joint.
To clean inside the joints, carefully wipe around them using a soft dry cloth or tissue. You will need to wipe both parts that come into contact with each other – inside and out.
To clean the outside of the flute, use a soft cloth like a duster. Gently wipe the finger marks off the body, taking care not to scratch or damage any of the key mechanism.
If the mechanism is dusty, use a soft brush to clean between the keys. Be VERY careful! This does not need doing often, and needs great care to avoid damaging the instrument or yourself. (Springs can be very sharp!)
Don't do this when Cleaning a Flute
As a general rule, don’t use more products than absolutely necessary to clean your flute. Use dry cloths ONLY. Never use silver polish, rubbing alcohol, wipes, Vaseline, cork grease or water, as these can damage the pads.
Bonus: Tools for Cleaning and Maintaining Flutes
It would be worth investing in a few accessories that will help you to learn how to take good care of your flute.
Aside from the three accessories below, we have a great dedicated article called ‘11 Must-Have Accessories For Woodwind Players‘ that you may find useful.
Care Kits
This is an absolute essential! Flutes often don’t come with the products needed to maintain them, so you will need to buy them separately.
DESIGNED FOR: any flute player, from beginner to professional.
FEATURES: swab, polishing cloth for body of the flute, silver polishing cloth, brush, pad, air dryer.
OTHER INFO: comes with an information booklet with tips on caring for your flute.
Ultra-Pure Flute Care Kit
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- All you need for the flute cleaning process.
- Extra polishing cloth for silver body of the flute.
- Brush for removing dust from mechanism.
- Silk swab rather than cotton not quite as absorbent.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Flute Case
A hard flute case is an essential for taking good care of your flute. Most instruments should come with a suitable flute case, but if not you can buy them separately. A soft, padded cover can help protect your flute from cold weather, and provide extra space for storing your cleaning materials.
DESIGNED FOR: Musicians who travel a lot.
FEATURES: combines the protection of a hard case with a lightweight feel.
OTHER INFO: available for flutes with C or B foot joint.
BAM 4009XL High-tech Flute Case
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Light and sturdy.
- Built-in lock for additional security.
- Thermal insulation.
- A little on the expensive side.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Pad Saver
These are helpful in providing a bit of extra protection for your flute, brushing the inside clean, whether wet or dry. They can live inside the flute when you’re not using it, as long as you’ve cleaned the flute thoroughly first.
DESIGNED FOR: young beginners.
FEATURES: flexible brush which effectively reaches all part of the mouthpiece flute.
OTHER INFO: plastic and foam tips prevent scratches on the inside of the flute.
HW Flute Pad Saver Pack
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Very easy to use.
- Reaches parts that are otherwise difficult to clean.
- Helps keep pads in good condition.
- Not a substitute for using a cotton or gauze cloth.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
How To Clean A Flute
Summary
Flute cleaning may not be the most enjoyable thing ever, but it is important.
To keep your flute in top condition, make sure you clean it every time you finish playing! With a bit of practice you’ll be able to do this in seconds – so it is worth making part of the routine right from the start.
Use a soft dry cloth – cotton or gauze for the inside (along with a cleaning rod), and a duster for polishing the outside. More in-depth cleaning is only needed from time to time – perhaps before an important concert or exam.
And before you go –
Take a look at our Guide To Flute Brands here for more helpful tips.
Got one of them care kits. worth it? seems like a lot of stuff my kid never uses. kinda think a good wipe down does the trick, but what do i know, right? figured i’d ask before telling my kid to ditch half of it.
Regarding the use of dry cloths only, it’s critical to mention that using any liquid can indeed compromise the pad mechanism. Moisture trapped under the pads leads to quicker wear and even mold. Always better to err on the side of caution.
so, just to be clear, no water at all for cleaning, right? I mean, sometimes I feel like just wiping doesn’t get all the grime off. And what about when the keys get sticky, any advice?
While the advice on not using polish or water certainly stands to reason, I found it noteworthy to mention that there are specialized cleaning solutions designed for flutes that can be safely used without fearing damage to the delicate pads. Of course, as the article rightfully points out, using a dry cloth is often sufficient and most recommended. However, should someone find themselves dealing with persistent tarnish or a particularly stubborn dirty flute, seeking out these specialized cleaners designed for musical instruments could offer a safe alternative. Always best to research or consult with a professional before using any product not expressly recommended by the instrument manufacturer. A well-maintained flute not only plays better but maintains its value over time.
always wondered if those pad savers were worth it, guess i’ll grab one now. anyone tried those silk ones?
huh, interesting, might check them out!
yeah, got a silk one, works smooth & doesn’t snag. worth every penny.
can you use the same cloth for the outside too or nah?
Loved this guide, really simplifies flute maintenance for beginners. Gonna share it with my students. Nice job Lucy Downer
Loved the section on not using too much product when cleaning a flute. It’s a common mistake I see a lot of beginners make. Keeping it simple with a dry swab is golden advice. Great job, Lucy Downer, in highlighting that! By the way, do you have any specific brands of swabs you recommend?
thanks for the tip, gonna check them out!
I’m not Lucy Downer, but I swear by the Superslick brand. They make quality stuff that doesn’t damage the flute.