[Grimmell73]

I have an HR mouthpiece I bought off a guy. It has a sort of brownish tinge on it. If I scrub real hard with water and a towel, the towel grows brown, and the mouthpiece becomes less so. It tastes really bad, like the mouthpiece spent way too much time in a smoky bar room. What's the best way to get this bleep off the mouthpiece? Soap and water is getting some, but not all. Thanks!

 

[69193]

I see that you've tried soap...but have you tried soaking it in Dial dish soap overnight? There's not a whole lot that stuff won't clean if you let it sit long enough.

 

[saxphil]

Turtle Wax polishing compound for autos.
Worked great.

Don't do the facing though.

 

[Swampcabbage]

Soak it in diet coke for a few hours and wipe it off with a dry, soft cloth.

 

[empressdiver]

I would try rubbing it with a soft cloth dampened with Varsol, and then methyl hydrate, if Varsol doesn't remove it all.

 

[tahoemusic]

I have brought my rubber mouthpieces to my dentist office and they put them in a cleaning solution that doesn't harm the m.p.'s at all. They come out very clean. Takes about 5 minutes and takes off all of the placque from the m.p.'s. The doctors office uses this to clean their dental instruments & dentures so it's very safe. Hope this is helpful.

 

[bandmommy]

This 'schmutz' is the normal oxidization process that all old hard rubber mouthpieces go through.
An easy way to remove it is with plain old toothpaste on a towel.
If it's really bad you can put a little baking soda on the toothpaste.
Rinse in tepid water. It will be left pretty close to it's original color and minty fresh.
If you want to give it a bit of shine afterwards you can give it a light rub with a little Olive Oil.

Any calcium deposits left behind are gone after a 5-10 minute soak in white vinegar. Wipe the affected areas with a towel and rinse. Agian, in tepid water.

 

[alljoe]

I have one I used a purchased mpg. Leaner on and that formed it brown.

 

[JohnGalt]

It will get funky if you try to "sterilize" it in hot or boiling water, will smell like a fart from then on. Mouthpieces that kids do this to often turn funky brownish ...

 

[Grimmell73]

Reporting back to the group: I tried Dial Soap overnight and it was cleaner, but still reeked. I tried the toothpaste trick (Colgate Regular, let the record reflect) and that worked even better; brown color almost completely gone.. but the reek returns in minutes. I'm guessing someone tried to get it extra-clean with really hot water. I've cleaned it about 8 times now and still get that stinky reek, which I just realized may be sulfur from the sulfur they use to vulcanize rubber. I'll wait for the consensus of my betters whether this puppy can be saved. And thanks for all the tips!

 

[Sigmund451]

Yes it is the sulfur compound within the hard rubber. If it is really brown it goes pretty deep into the piece. The other option is to put a temporary sealant on the piece. I dont know this will work but it will wash off if it doesnt and there is no harm. Take a little olive oil, coat the piece inside and out. Let it sit a couple of minutes. After this wipe off the extra and use. It will also darken the piece and make it look less aged. If it still stinks too bad you can wash it off with soap and water and try the next treatment (whatever that might be).

 

[bandmommy]

If you like the way the piece plays and it's only the 'smell' that's bothering you.... Dab a little of your favourite cologne under your nose.
It might work....

 

[JohnGalt]

That piece has "mouthpiece-drawer" written all over it.

 

[Koen88]

I Use a brush and vinegar.. or some cottons in vinegar on the inside..

 

[alexd]

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Testing/Cleaning_mouthpieces.htm

 

[empressdiver]

I have brought my rubber mouthpieces to my dentist office and they put them in a cleaning solution that doesn't harm the m.p.'s at all. They come out very clean. Takes about 5 minutes and takes off all of the placque from the m.p.'s. The doctors office uses this to clean their dental instruments & dentures so it's very safe. Hope this is helpful.

They probably used an ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[ThePhantom]

It will get funky if you try to "sterilize" it in hot or boiling water, will smell like a fart from then on. Mouthpieces that kids do this to often turn funky brownish ...

Yep. Guilty of that. Inherited a bunch of horns and mouthpieces back in 1985 from a family friend. The first thing I did was boil all the mouthpieces, which turned that lovely brown. I will have to dig one out and try that toothpaste trick.

 

[Sigmund451]

Id wager everyone of them needs a reface. NEVER boil. In fact, never use hot water.

its RUBBER...it gets soft and changes shape.

Did I mention to never do that?

 

[wagtenor]

There are plenty of "better condition" mouthpieces for sale. Check them out. The one you have may have been improperly cleaned/abused/neglected - with hot water. Hence the brown color, taste and smell - yuk.

Whatever you try to clean and restore it with just make sure it is safe for oral use.

 

[sirspinbad]

Very suprised at some of these recommendations... Especially boiling... NO, NO, NO

The winner for me is Lime-away or dekaulker... To refresh the color of a mouthpiece magic erasers work well