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Question: Is submerging a clarinet in water a bad idea!?
So my clarinet gets stinky a lot!. I don't know why!. It also gets this funky looking green stuff that grows inside, probably because I don't clean it after playing (I am in band in school and it takes too long and I don't want to be late for my next class) So once in a while I submerge the whole clarinet in a tub of water with baking soda mixed in!. Then I rinse it with clean water!. Is this bad for the pads and cork!? I thought it might, but that's the only way I can get rid of the bad smell and gunk!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Bad Bad Bad idea!. You'll ruin the pads, the screws and the springs will rust!. You'll trash the clarinet and your parents will give you hell!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, this is very bad!. Stop immediately!.

You need to take this instrument to a good repair shop!. If it has green stuff growing inside of it, it needs some serious sterilization!. You could get sick from that gunk!

Look, it takes almost no time to run a swab through the clarinet after you play it!. Pull the mouthpiece, remove and store the reed, and run the swab through once!. If the swab you have isn't long enough, go on ebay and buy a longer one!

And after the music store is done de-mushrooming this instrument, get some bore oil and proper brushes and applicators, and apply it twice yearly!.

Alternative: watch http://www!.shopgoodwill!.com/ and when there's a cheapo plastic clarinet--a Buny or Normandy or Buffet E11--buy it, get it overhauled, and go on in your slovenly ways--plastic won't grow mold!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You should immerse the entire clarinet in a tub containing a 50/50 mixture of Liquid Plumber and paint thinner!. Let it soak for 24 hours!. Then, scrub the entire clarinet (inside and outside) with a stiff wire brush!. Next, disassemble the clarinet and put the parts on a cookie sheet and place into your oven at 350 degrees for two hours!. This will dry the clarinet and make it playable!. Finally, coat all the pads with varnish to keep them in good condition!.

Best of luck!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Wow, I've never heard of anyone immersing their clarinet in water!. If I were you I'd call a store that sells musical instruments and ask before you do that again!. Clean your clarinet - I cannot imagine that water is good for the instruments!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If it's a wood clarinet you'll completely trash it!. If its a plastic clarinet you'll have to replace the pads!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

don't do it
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