Best guitar cleaning solution and cloth?

fendermadlewis

While most luthiers and finish experts have always told me a slightly damp cloth is the best way to clean a McMuckaster, it's a bit ... odd?

Has anybody found a guitar cleaning product that doesnt leave a dust and finger print attracting residue? Also every 'fender' cloth I've had inevitably leaves fibers and lint stuck to the finish.

munckee

I use Dr Ducks Axe Wax, you have to buff it well afterwards with a cloth but then there is no residue.  I do it only when I change strings and guitars always feel and look nice afterwards.  You can use it on anything finish wise.

RandallFlagg

Gibson pump polish & micro fibre cloth (get a pack of the coloured square ones from Halfords or off Ebay). Works on all finishes and hardware. Feels nice, smells nice, no residue.

guitars4you

Certainly a micro fibre cloth

If only finger marks that are still fresh then most guitar pump polishes are fine - I tend to use Dunlop 65 - Platinum version is very good

For dirty stubborn stains then I use Meguiars X2.0 

AlexC

Yep - I’m a also a user of Dunlop 65 with the cloth that comes with it. But I’m just keeping the finish clean once a week, not refurbishing old unloved machines. But for day to day use it works great! 

skunkwerx

I use dunlop 65 too. Best I've ever tried. 

And a clean waffle weave microfibre. Doesnt lint. I use super soft ones on black glossy guitars as they show swirlies like cars do the worst! 

mattacjones

Dunlop 65 is lemon oil right? Thought that was just for fretboard?

LastMantra

A slightly damp chamois leather.

JezWynd

RandallFlagg said:

Gibson pump polish & micro fibre cloth (get a pack of the coloured square ones from Halfords or off Ebay). Works on all finishes and hardware. Feels nice, smells nice, no residue.

Really excellent on nitro finishes, takes away all stickiness and leaves guitar shiny clean. For fretboards I use F-One Oil, you only need to use a tiny amount to leave a rosewood fretboard nourished and glowing.

Sassafras

I know you're fendermadlewis but that doesn't mean you can only use Fender cloths. Other cloths are available.
I buy a whole bunch of those microfibre things in a pound shop.

LastMantra

What is it with guitar players and cleaning? 
Do you get all these products for any other instruments? 

What I think is "odd".

mbe

LastMantra said:

What is it with guitar players and cleaning? 
Do you get all these products for any other instruments? 

What I think is "odd".

Guitar cleanliness is next to guitar godliness. 

fendermadlewis

LastMantra said:

What is it with guitar players and cleaning? 
Do you get all these products for any other instruments? 

What I think is "odd".

I'll remember to wash my hands after playing one of your guitars then

guitars4you

mattacjones said:

Dunlop 65 is lemon oil right? Thought that was just for fretboard?

Dunlop 65 is the brand for various guitar care - within that you have lemon oil, polish etc

Sassafras

LastMantra said:

What is it with guitar players and cleaning? 
Do you get all these products for any other instruments? 

What I think is "odd".

The impression I get is no-one on here keeps a guitar long enough for it to get dirty.

Roland

mbe said:

LastMantra said:

What is it with guitar players and cleaning? 
Do you get all these products for any other instruments? 

What I think is "odd".

Guitar cleanliness is next to guitar godliness. 

Put me down as a heathen. I can’t remember the last time I cleaned a guitar. Last year I brushed away some plectrum dust, or it might have been the year before.

JezWynd

LastMantra said:

What is it with guitar players and cleaning? 

I clean a used guitar when it arrives. Makes it mine. Kinda like dogs turning around 3 times before lying down. Apart from that, hardly ever.

LastMantra

fendermadlewis said:

LastMantra said:

What is it with guitar players and cleaning? 
Do you get all these products for any other instruments? 

What I think is "odd".

I'll remember to wash my hands after playing one of your guitars then

What is it you're doing to get your guitar so dirty?!

When I started playing I used to clean it a ridiculous amount. Probably because I couldn't actually play it and just wanted to look at it. Now (still can't play the bloody thing! ) , as I said, it's just a good going over with a  chamois (every household should have at least one chamois leather!), paint brush (for getting dust out of awkward bits) and maybe a little oil where needed, when changing strings. I would, as also mentioned, clean a new guitar while giving it a set up and strings.

If you cleaned a violin as much as some people clean their guitar there would be nothing left of it!

JerkMoans

I never touch the things, save reverently with soft gloves to take pictures two weeks after they’ve arrived, before flipping them for 80% of what I paid.

fendermadlewis

@LastMantra Gigging in sweaty pubs and clubs really, my guitars definitely get dirtier than other peoples!  I'm also interested in what people use as some of the guitars I get in to sell are so grubby I've had to use gloves to clean them 

LastMantra

fendermadlewis said:

@LastMantra Gigging in sweaty pubs and clubs really, my guitars definitely get dirtier than other peoples!  I'm also interested in what people use as some of the guitars I get in to sell are so grubby I've had to use gloves to clean them 

Ah, good idea to give them a clean if you're trying to sell them.