How To Clean Cymbals

STEP 1

Fill a tub with some luke warm water, then mix in a little bit of mild dish soap. Place your cymbal in the water and leave it to soak for two to three minutes – this helps to loosen the dirt. Then, take it out and pat dry with a clean cloth.

STEP 2

Lay out a soft towel or something similar (that you don’t mind getting dirty) on the floor. Place your cymbal on it.

STEP 3

Put a small amount of cymbal polish (available in most drum stores) on a dry, clean cloth, then clean a small area of the cymbal with it. Don’t try to clean a big area in one go as the polish will dry and become difficult to remove. When cleaning, follow the grooves of the cymbal and don’t rub too hard.

Note: Try to avoid the logo’s if you want to keep them in tact because many cymbal cleaners and polishes will take them off.

STEP 4

Repeat step 3 until you have cleaned the whole cymbal. Remember to use a clean area of cloth for each part of the cymbal.

STEP 5

Next, give the cymbal a quick rinse in some clean water, and then wipe it down with another clean, dry cloth.

STEP 6

Make sure all the polish has been removed. If it hasn’t, wipe it down again.

And you’re done!

Now that you have a nice, clean set of cymbals you’ll want to show them off to the world but there are a few more things to do. First, try to handle your cymbals with gloves to prevent fingerprinting and the build up of grime. Second, wipe them down with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth before and after use. Third, keep your cymbals in a properly cushioned cymbal case when not in use.

These simple steps will keep your cymbals in great condition and extend their shine as long as possible.