How to clean guitar strings so they last longer

Step by step: how to clean guitar strings so they last longer

1. 1

   Wash and dry your hands before playing

   Wash with soap and water and dry fully before you pick up the guitar. Sweat, skin oil, lotion and food residue are what corrode strings and pack the gaps in the windings. Clean hands mean less to wipe off afterward.

2. 2

   Wipe the tops of the strings after playing

   Fold a dry microfiber cloth over one string at a time, pinch it lightly, and slide it from the bridge up to the nut and back two or three times. Do the whole set. You will see gray marks on the cloth from the first wipes on older strings.

3. 3

   Floss under the strings

   Slide a thin strip of the cloth under all the strings near the bridge, hold one end in each hand and pull it up against the strings as you slide it toward the neck. The underside is where most sweat and grime sits, and it is the side people miss.

4. 4

   Use a string cleaner every few sessions

   For uncoated strings, put string cleaner on the cloth or applicator, never sprayed onto the guitar, and run it along each string the same way. Lay a paper towel or the cloth under the strings over the fretboard and body to catch drips. Skip this step on coated strings like Elixir.

5. 5

   Buff off the residue

   Go over every string again with a clean, dry part of the cloth. Leftover cleaner or lubricant attracts dirt and can feel slick under your fingers. The strings should feel smooth and dry.

6. 6

   Wipe the fretboard edge and body

   Wipe the fretboard between the strings and the area under your picking hand with a clean dry cloth. A barely damp cotton cloth with plain water is fine for the body finish; dry it right after.

7. 7

   Store the guitar in a case or a stable room

   Humid rooms speed up string corrosion. Keeping the guitar in its case, away from bathrooms, kitchens and outside walls, keeps strings brighter for longer.

Should you use string cleaner on every type of string?

No. Uncoated strings benefit from an occasional string cleaner, but coated strings only need a dry wipe. Elixir’s FAQ says it is good practice to wipe its strings with a dry cloth after playing to remove loose debris and moisture, but it does not recommend any cleaners or lubricants on them.

Elixir also explains why strings go dull: corrosion attacks the metal surface, and dirt and sweat clog the spaces between the windings, which dampens vibration. Wiping after each session slows both.

D’Addario’s string cleaning guide gives the same routine for uncoated sets: pinch each string in a microfiber cloth so you clean the top and the underside, then, if you use a string cleaner, put it on the cloth and run it along each string.

What should you not clean guitar strings with?

Avoid water, household cleaners, and anything oily or acidic near the fretboard. They either rust the strings or harm the wood and finish.

• Water and wet cloths on the strings: steel strings start to rust in the windings.
• Lemon oil and fretboard oils on the strings: Martin’s FAQ does not recommend lemon oil on the fingerboard, saying its acids can break down the finish, speed corrosion of the frets and shorten string life.
• Household sprays, glass cleaner and furniture polish: they leave residue and can damage guitar finishes.
• Rubbing alcohol: some players use a little on a cloth for uncoated steel strings, but it can mark finishes and dry out an unfinished fretboard. If you try it, keep it on the cloth and off the wood.
• Boiling old strings: it can loosen grime for a short while, but the tone does not last and you risk kinks when you restring. A new set is the better fix.

When is cleaning not enough and it is time to change strings?

Change strings when they will not stay in tune, sound dull after cleaning, or show rust and rough spots. Martin says strings usually need changing every few weeks, depending on how often and how hard you play, the sound you want and the room, and that strings needing frequent retuning is a sign it is time.

Martin also points out that a string change is the best time to clean the guitar properly: the fretboard, the top and body, and a check of the nut and saddle. Clean the whole neck while the strings are off, then wipe the new set after your first session to start the routine.

Mistakes to avoid

• Only wiping the tops of the strings and never the undersides.
• Spraying string cleaner straight onto the guitar so it drips on the fretboard and finish.
• Using cleaners or lubricants on coated strings when the maker says not to.
• Wiping strings with a damp cloth, which leaves water in the windings.
• Putting lemon oil or polish on the strings.
• Playing with lotion, food or sweat on your hands and leaving the strings unwiped.