[Native New Yorker]

Hi all,

Was wondering how to clean my mouthpieces. I have an Otto Link 7* super tone master metal that needs cleaning. Plus I have an Otto link hard rubber and a Jody Jazz HR that both have white spots on the sides.

Anyone know how to clean metal and hard rubber mouthpieces especially the white spots on the hard rubber.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bandmommy]

Have you tried warm, not hot, soapy water?
For the white spots, try a bit of white vinager. It will disolve the mineral deposits.

 

[saxmanglen]

Do what momma says. She's giving good advice.

 

[Reedsplinter]

In my experience, though, vinegar can discolor HR pieces. They turn a funny shade of greenish. I did it once to an Excalibur. Doesn't really hurt anything, but it looks funny.

For routine cleaning, I've been using a sonicare toothbrush: electric toothbrush that shoots sonic waves. Works great. Wouldn't get off real stains, though.

 

[bandmommy]

You're right about the green Reed. Especially with vintage rubber.
To get that off a little bit of toothpaste made for toddlers works pretty good. It's less abrasive than adult toothpaste. I use my finger to rub it around and rinse well. When you're done it has a nice fruity/bubble gum aroma.

 

[RootyTootoot]

Do what momma says. She's giving good advice.

See, BM? You get to do the cleaning even here! :twisted:

 

[bandmommy]

A man will work from sun to sun.
But a womans' work is never done.

 

[Native New Yorker]

Thanks for the responses. So toothpaste and a soft toothbrush will take away the white mineral deposits?

The best way to clean a metal mouthpiece and make it look new again is soap and warm water?

thanks again in advance.

 

[soybean]

I've been using Sterisol pump spray. Made specifically for musical instruments. I don't know if it really cleans off white spots, but it does a great job of disinfecting germs. WWBW sells it. Comes in a spray or in concentrate form.

Be careful with toothpaste. It does have abrasive qualities, although very mild.

 

[king koeller]

Remember ...
for a hard rubber mouthpiece , never use hot, or even warm to hot water,
always use cold water.

If not,... you can accidentally warp the mouthpiece!

Toothpaste and a soft toothbrush work great to clean the piece.

 

[Turnaround]

Use any soda that has phosphoric acid. It will clean all that white stuff (calcium) and it won't discolor your pieces. In fact, when I have used it, it made them look GREAT!!!! And took all the gunk out. When I first did it, it stopped me from drinking soda. I left one overnight and it came out spotless. Nothing else I did was taking the white stuff off.

 

[Native New Yorker]

great. thanks everyone. I tried the toothpaste and it does work if you work it long enough and put enough pressure. I'm going to try the soda thing. Cold water only. Got it.

 

[nachoman]

for discoloured ebonite mouthpieces try rubbing olive oil into them- doesn't remove 100% of the green but makes them look considerably better- tastes good too!

 

[NitroJoe]

This is a dumb question but I've always wondered. Can you clean a mouthpiece in the dishwasher?

 

[Native New Yorker]

what about metal. I have a super tone otto link metal and it just looks dirty. can i soak it in soda without discoloring it. does soda discolor at all even HR.

 

[Step Hen]

what about metal. I have a super tone otto link metal and it just looks dirty. can i soak it in soda without discoloring it. does soda discolor at all even HR.

I recently cleaned a brass mouthpiece with Brasso. It will tarnish again unless I lacquer it, though.

 

[Turnaround]

what about metal. I have a super tone otto link metal and it just looks dirty. can i soak it in soda without discoloring it. does soda discolor at all even HR.

I used soda on a brass Otto Link and a solid silver Lamberson. They came out looking super clean. No discoloration. And it never made the HR pieces look any different. Just took the calcium away.

 

[NitroJoe]

Hi Nitro Joe,

frankly spoken, I would not do the cleaning in a dishwasher, as the dishwashing powder is normally too agressive. I would use that stuff some (elderly) people use to clean their "third teeth". I hope you know what I mean, even if it sounds funny. But in fact this stuff is not that agressive and removes only staines and impurities from your mouthpiece. If in doubt just ask a dentist what he would use for cleaning. They normally should know what is good for our teeth.

Cheers Mo.

Thanks Mo. I wasn't really fixin' to do it, just wondered if anybody else had done it with a used piece to sterilize it. I suspect it could deform in the 120+F water.

 

[Isle of Jazz]

Dr. Omar Henderson sells a good Mouthpice Cleaning Solution. I've had good luck on the outside of the mpc and the bite plate using a product made for polishing marine fiberglass and stainless steel, "Cleaning Detail" by MaryKate. I think the best practice is to rinse your mpc often with warm water and swab it out gently so that these deposits don't build up.

 

[Augman]

What about a non plated bronze piece , they are really soft and Im afraid to wreck it.