🎷 How to Clean & Maintain Your Saxophone

Having spent decades working with professional saxophonists, classical purists, jazz rebels, and thousands of passionate players of all levels... I’ve seen it all. Mouldy pads, corrosion on springs and posts, crusty mouthpieces, you name it. Saxophones are living, breathing machines (well, kind of), and if you want yours to perform like it should, you need to look after it. This guide is here to help you do just that.

🧹 Daily Cleaning (Non-negotiable)

If you only take away one thing from this: dry your horn after you play. Every time. Moisture is your enemy, it rots pads, kills resonance, and turns your sax into a biohazard... anyone remember bagpipe lung?!

• Pull-through Swab: Run it through the body after every session. Simple, effective, no excuses. BG make great ones.
• Neck Swab: Use a smaller neck pull-through to clean the neck. This bit gets disgusting quickly and directly affects tone. Do not use the body pull-through here, it will get stuck.
• Mouthpiece: Rinse with cold water (never hot if it’s ebonite), then dry with a clean cloth. Even better, use a mouthpiece sanitizing spray.
• Wipe the Body: Use a microfiber cloth to remove sweat, grime, and fingerprints. It protects the finish and keeps it looking slick.

🚩 A Word on Pad Savers

Pad savers can work well, but only if used properly. Too many players treat them like permanent sponges, and that just marinates your pads in bacteria. Use them to dry the sax after playing, but don’t store them inside the horn. Let them air out separately. Personally? I still recommend a pull-through swab for most people. Let your sax breathe.

🗓️ Weekly TLC

• Neck Cork: A tiny dab of cork grease keeps things smooth and stops you from forcing the mouthpiece.
• Sticky Pads: See the section below, blot, don’t rub.

💪 Monthly Maintenance

• Dusting: Soft brush or compressed air around the keys and rods. No wild spraying, just enough to remove debris.
• Mouthpiece Deep Clean: with a mouthpiece sanitizing spray. Use a soft mouthpiece brush to remove any grime.
• Case inspection: Your sax might be clean, but if your case is mouldy or full of lint, you’re putting it right back into a mess. Quick vacuum or wipe-down helps.

🪥 The One Thing No One Tells You: Personal Hygiene

It might sound extreme, but what you eat and drink before playing can genuinely impact your sax's condition.

• Avoid sugary or acidic drinks before playing, water is always safest.
• Don’t eat right before playing, or at least rinse your mouth if you do.
• Brush or rinse if you’ve had something greasy or strong-flavoured. It keeps your mouthpiece and neck clean, and your tone fresher.

🎯 Dealing with Sticky Pads

If your pads are sticking, don’t panic, it’s one of the most common (and fixable) issues.

• Pad Dryer: The BG A65 is specifically made for this job. Hold the pad down onto the dryer and pull out gently. Repeat a few times to help prevent sticking.
• Powder Paper: Lightly powdered versions help reduce future sticking. Use sparingly, too much attracts more grime.
• Cigarette Paper: The classic trick. Use unflavoured, unbranded rolling papers. Just blot gently, no swiping.

🔧 When to See a Tech

• Keys are persistently sticking badly or clicking
• Pads are falling apart or developing fungus (it happens)
• Buzzing, rattling, or weird tone issues
  
• Your octave key feels sluggish or inconsistent
• Cork or felt bumpers are missing or loose
• The sax just doesn't feel or respond like it used to
• You've dropped or knocked the sax, even lightly
• Spring tension feels uneven or keys are sluggish
• A service every 12–18 months is smart if you're playing regularly

Blog by Atlantic London CEO Jamie Straker