How to clean and care for your flute

A flute only needs a few minutes of care after you play. Drying the inside keeps the pads from wearing out. Handling it the right way keeps the keys from bending. Many flute repairs come from small habits: setting it down on its keys, holding it by the keys, or putting it away wet.

What you need

• A cleaning rod. It usually comes with the flute: a long rod with a slot at one end.
• A cleaning cloth that doesn't leave lint, like thin cotton or microfiber.
• A soft cloth for the outside. Skip polishing cloths with chemicals in them unless your teacher says it's OK.
• Your case, to keep the flute in whenever you aren't playing.

Taking the flute apart safely

The keys and the rods that hold them bend easily. Hold each piece only where there are no keys.

• Headjoint and body: hold the headjoint by its tube, not the lip plate. Hold the body at the top, near the brand name.
• Body and footjoint: hold the footjoint at its far end and the body near the bottom, without squeezing the keys or rods.
• Twist gently as you pull straight apart. Don't bend or wiggle the pieces sideways.
• Set it down with the keys facing up. Never lay the flute on its keys.

Cleaning after every practice

Your warm breath turns into water inside the flute. Dry the inside every time you finish playing, before the flute goes in its case. Pads that stay wet wear out faster and start to stick.

• Thread the cloth. Push a corner of the cloth through the slot in the rod. Fold the cloth over the tip, then wind the rest around the rod, working down its length, so no metal shows at the end. Bare metal can scratch the inside.

• Dry the body. Slide the rod gently through the body, turning it as you go. Pull it out and repeat once or twice.
• Dry the footjoint the same way.
• Dry the headjoint from the open end. Don't push hard against the closed end. That can move the cork inside.
• If the cloth gets stuck, don't yank it. Ask your director for help.
• Wipe the ends where the pieces fit together.
• Let the cloth dry outside the case. A wet cloth in the case keeps the flute damp.

Wiping the outside

Sweat and oil from your hands tarnish the flute and wear down its finish over time.

• Wipe it after you play with a soft, dry cloth, especially the lip plate and the places your hands touch.
• Go gently around the keys. Don't press on them or catch the cloth on the thin springs and rods.
• Wash your hands before you play. Clean hands mean less tarnish.

Storing your flute

• Keep it in its case whenever you aren't playing, with the case closed and latched.
• Put each piece in its own spot. If a piece doesn't fit easily, don't force it. Check that it's facing the right way.
• Keep extra things out of the case. Music, pencils, or a cloth can press on the keys when the lid closes.
• Keep it at room temperature. Don't leave it in a hot or cold car, or next to a heater.
• Check the latches before you pick it up, and carry the case right side up.

What not to do

• Don't run water through the flute. Water ruins the pads.
• Don't play right after eating or drinking something sweet. Rinse your mouth first. Sugar and food make pads sticky.
• Don't twist the crown on the end of the headjoint. It holds the cork in place.
• Don't use silver polish or liquid cleaners. They can get into the pads and the mechanism.
• Don't oil the keys yourself. That's a job for a repair tech.
• Don't put cork grease or oil on the joints. If a joint is tight, wipe both ends clean with a dry cloth.
• Don't try to fix bent keys or turn the small screws. It's easy to make the problem worse.
• Don't leave the flute on a chair, the floor, or a music stand. Use the case or a flute stand.

Signs it needs a repair tech

Tell your director first. They can check it quickly. Take it to a repair tech if:

• Notes that used to play now crack, sound fuzzy, or won't come out, especially low notes. See why your flute won't play low notes.
• A key is bent, sticks, or springs back slowly.
• A pad is torn, loose, or sticky. Sticky pads often make a small click when they open.
• A joint is too tight to twist, or so loose that it wobbles.
• Something rattles or buzzes when you play.
• The flute was dropped, even if it looks fine.

Many directors suggest a checkup with a repair tech once a year, often over the summer.