Q&A for How to Clean a Trombone

Any bottle that has a sprayer on top will do fine. Just be sure to rinse it out first! A small, compact, portable bottle is preferred, though.

If you were going to clean the inside of the slide, a snake would be the easiest and safest way.

NEVER use a cleaning rod on the inside or outside of your trombone. It can scratch your instrument. You can use just the cleaning rod cloth for wiping away excess oil. You could use a t-shirt, too, but better yet is using water to avoid any possibility of scratching.

I don't recommend trying anything else, because it might damage your instrument.

They should be easy to find online, or at a local music store.

As long as needed to get it fully dried. Although you should let it dry fully, water is not a bad thing to a trombone. Water goes through your trombone every time you play it.

Any dishwasher or laundry detergent will work. Just don't pour it directly in the instrument. Mix it with the bath water, then let your horn soak.

Using a cloth, gently dust it. Be sure not to scratch it.

Use a cleaning snake and get as much gunk out as possible, it is the source.

A friend of mine came up with the solution of putting water in the dented section and putting it in the freezer. The water will expand when frozen and remove the dent.

You should buy one if you don't have one. There are not many other things that you can use.

Don't put the bell in the bathtub! It will probably ruin your trigger, and rust could build up over time.