Saxophone Maintenance and Cleaning

Needed items
Handkerchief or silk swab, cleaning cloth, cork grease, mouthpiece brush, reed guard
Storing your instrument
When not using your instrument, keep it closed in its case to help protect it and to prevent
the possibility of damage. Keep reeds stored in a reed guard to allow them to properly dry
out and to avoid any chipping or cracking.
Do not store the instrument in areas of extreme temperature changes. Keep the instrument
away from heating supplies or from windows where direct sunlight or other weather can
cause damage.
Daily Maintenance
As you play, your saxophone collects moisture inside from the warm air coming out of
your mouth. If you do not clean this moisture out after each playing session, it can
accumulate in your keypads and cause air leaks. After playing, take your reed off,
squeeze the excess water out of it and place it in your reed guard. Take the neck of the
instrument off and shake the water out of it. Drop the weighted end of the cleaning swab
through the top of the instrument and turn your saxophone so it comes out the bell. Pull
the swab gently through the instrument and repeat a second time. The outside of the
saxophone should be wiped off with a clean cloth to remove fingerprints. This will stop
your instrument from tarnishing and keep it in good working order.
Weekly Maintenance
The mouthpiece should be cleaned once a week using warm soapy water and your
mouthpiece cleaning brush. This will sanitize the mouthpiece and also remove any
foreign materials.
Keep the tenons (the places where the different parts of your saxophone fit together)
clean. Apply a small amount of cork grease to the cork if the mouthpiece is hard to
attach.
If you have pads that stick as you play, take a sheet of cigarette paper and place it beneath
the sticky key. Gently push the key down, but with a little more pressure than when you
play the saxophone. Pull out the paper while being careful not to tear it. Repeat as
necessary.
Yearly Maintenance
Have your instrument checked out at a music store. They will do minor repairs and
replace worn pads or corks. You may ask for an estimate for cleaning and repairs before
having the work done. If you are renting an instrument, this work will b