How To Clean a Saxophone Mouthpiece or Clarinet Mouthpiece

Learn everything you need to know about how to clean a saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece, what causes your mouthpiece to become dirty, why a dirty mouthpiece affects your saxophone tone, and ways to clean and disinfect your saxophone mouthpiece so it plays well and produces quality sound.

How to clean and disinfect a saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece

Frequency: When should I clean my saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece?

It is best to “quick clean” your saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece after every playing session. To do this, remove the reed and store it flat to dry in a reed case. Then pass a cleaning swab inside the mouthpiece to remove moisture before putting the mouthpiece back in your case.

A "deep clean" of your saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece is good to do every once in a while, when you notice residue buildup or if you feel the need to sanitize it. Deep clean it every time it feels necessary and do not wait until residue has built up and your mouthpiece smells!

Common mouthpiece cleaning supplies:

• A small mouthpiece swab, a weighted cloth that pulls through the mouthpiece easily, to clean it quickly. You will pass the weighted end and then the tissue into your mouthpiece to dry it after you have used it. We prefer silk swabs because they can pass through the entire body of the saxophone.
  

  

   

• A "bottle brush" like the one below that you can use with water to clean the inside of the mouthpiece and dry it after you have used it.
  

  

   

Here are simple steps for how to properly clean your saxophone and clarinet mouthpiece after you play:

1. Always remove the reed from your saxophone mouthpiece and clarinet mouthpiece after you play and store your reeds flat to dry.
   
   
   This allows you to clean the mouthpiece without risk of damaging the reed, plus it releases ligature clamp force from the mouthpiece between playing sessions. That is especially important for hard rubber mouthpieces because the rubber is just soft enough to flex and warp over time if the mouthpiece is held constantly by ligatures that do not put even pressure around the mouthpiece (many high end ligatures offer targeted reed pressure that is not evenly distributed around the mouthpiece). It’s best to remove the reed after you play to avoid deforming your hard rubber mouthpiece over time.
2. Swab your saxophone and clarinet mouthpiece everytime after you play to prevent the build up of sticky bacteria, yeast, and fungus inside the mouthpiece. This is easy and quick using a specialized mouthpiece swab or a silk swab designed to clean through your entire instrument.
   
   
3. Use a cloth to wipe clean the exterior of your saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece. This helps remove any cork grease or spit that is left on the mouthpiece.
   
   
   
4. Put the ligature and cap back onto the mouthpiece so they are not lost or bent.
   
   
5. Store your cleaned mouthpiece in a soft storage bag or the dedicated mouthpiece storage compartment of your case.
   

How to deep clean a saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece.

To deep clean a saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece, follow these steps:

Gather Your Supplies:

• Soft paper towels. Do not use coarse towels to clean woodwind mouthpieces because these can leave micro scratching that wears down the mouthpiece finish over time.
• A water sink with temperature control so you can clean using water that is approximately room temperature (barely cold to the touch).
• A clean work space near the water sink.
• A mouthpiece cleaning brush (see example here)
• OPTIONAL - a fresh mouthpiece patch to protect your mouthpiece from bite marks.

10 Simple Steps for Deep Cleaning Your Saxophone Mouthpiece or Clarinet Mouthpiece:

⚠️CAUTION: Never scrub aggressively near the table, side rails, or tip rail of your saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece. These are the most delicate parts of your mouthpiece. Work gently and slowly to clean these parts of your mouthpiece using soft cloth.

1. Remove the ligature cap, ligature, and reed so you are working only with the saxophone or clarinet mouthpiece.
   
   
   
2. Using a soft paper towel or cleaning cloth, gently wipe clean the mouthpiece exterior. For cleaning clarinet mouthpieces this should include removing any cork grease that has built up near the cork.
   
   
   
3. Set the water temperature to be just a little colder than your skin temperature. Never use hot or cold water to clean your mouthpiece. That can cause cracks, warping, or discoloration.
   
   
4. Run the water over and through the mouthpiece and rub gently with your hands to remove any dirt or grime buildup from the mouthpiece.
   
   
5. Using your mouthpiece cleaning brush, gently rub the inside of the mouthpiece. If you do not have a mouthpiece brush you can try using a coiled paper towel. This does not always work as well on hard to reach surfaces inside the mouthpiece. But it’s better than nothing.
   
   
   
6. Rinse the mouthpiece and cleaning brush under the water.
   
   
7. Wipe the exterior of the mouthpiece making sure to clean the bite plate area where calcium and spit build up.
   
   
   
8. Rinse the mouthpiece again and then dry it using a soft paper towel or cleaning cloth.
   
   
9. Inspect your work and repeat steps as needed.
   
   
10. Place the ligature and cap back onto your clean and dried mouthpiece for storage inside your instrument case.
    

What causes saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces to become dirty?

The most common cause of saxophone or clarinet mouthpieces becoming dirty is the player drinking or eating before or during play. Thankfully this is a totally preventable risk factor. Food and drink are full of sugar, yeast, bacteria and fungus that should never be blown into your musical instrument. Before playing clarinet or saxophone, wash your mouth out with water to avoid blowing food and drink particles into your instrument. If you don’t, those particles and the bacteria from your breath begin to grow inside the instrument. You can totally avoid this kind of sticky damage from eating/drinking before or during play. Don’t do it!

The other common cause of dirty mouthpieces is the saxophone or clarinet player does not clean their mouthpiece often or well. After you finish playing, always be sure to remove the dripping moisture from your mouthpiece using a cleaning swab. This reduces the chance for sticky bacteria, yeast, and fungus to grow inside the mouthpiece. Plus, this keeps your instrument clean and helps reduce repair expenses from sticky malfunction and pad rot. Love that!

How to clean a plastic saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece

To clean a plastic mouthpiece, you’ll follow the same steps we shared above. Plastic tends to be a bit more rugged and easy to clean compared to more delicate mouthpiece materials like hard rubber or gold plated metal. You clean a plastic saxophone mouthpiece the same way you clean a hard rubber or metal mouthpiece. Follow this guide for step-by-step instructions.

How to clean a rubber saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece

To clean a hard rubber saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece, you’ll follow similar steps as above, but it requires a bit more preparation and care than cleaning plastic mouthpieces. Rubber mouthpieces, or “Hard rubber” as they are often called by mouthpiece makers, have a wonderful tone quality that players have prized for hundreds of years. 

Here are the important cautions you should know when cleaning a hard rubber saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece:

1. Never use hot or cold water. Only room temperature water to avoid discoloration of the hard rubber material. This will feel just slightly colder to the touch than your normal body temperature.
2. Never scrub hard when cleaning a rubber mouthpiece. The material is just soft enough that over time, aggressive scrubbing can wear down the material and change the surface of the mouthpiece. Even subtle changes can have a big impact on how your mouthpiece feels and plays.
3. Be especially careful and gentle when cleaning the mouthpiece table, side rails, or tip rail of your saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece. These are the most delicate parts of your mouthpiece. Work gently and slowly to clean these parts of your mouthpiece using soft cloth.
   
4. To protect and extend the life of your hard rubber saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece, consider storing the mouthpiece inside a protective pouch. At the very least, always place the ligature cap back onto the mouthpiece to protect the delicate tip.
5. Do regular mouthpiece cleaning and an occasional deep cleaning of your saxophone or clarinet mouthpiece. Here is a step-by-step guide.

How to clean a metal saxophone mouthpiece

To clean a metal saxophone mouthpiece, you’ll follow similar cleaning steps as above but with extra care towards the finish. Cleaning a metal saxophone mouthpiece is simple but you should take care to protect the metal mouthpiece finish and the bite plate area of the mouthpiece. Often metal mouthpieces are gold plated and you want to keep that plated finish intact as long as possible. And the bite plates are often made of hard rubber or plastic which are not as tough as the rest of the metal mouthpiece. Here is a detailed guide to help you clean your metal saxophone mouthpiece.

How to clean a 3D printed saxophone mouthpiece

3D printed saxophone mouthpieces from reputable makers use modern plastics that are tough and hold up well to temperature change and chemical interaction. This makes 3D printed mouthpieces easy to use with cold water though we still recommend room temperature as the best default choice since “cold” can mean many different things to many different people in different climates. Below is the best method for cleaning a 3D printed saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece.

Rub a paper towel or cloth with white vinegar onto your 3D Printed mouthpiece then rinse it with room temperature water, that's it! The vinegar taste and smell won’t linger.

Clean your 3D printed mouthpiece using room temperature water and white vinegar. It’s very simple because the materials are so rugged and chemical resistant. The vinegar cleanses without damaging the plastic, and the room temperature water prevents discoloration of the mouthpiece. 

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Clean My Saxophone Mouthpiece and Clarinet Mouthpiece

When should I clean my saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece?

You should clean your saxophone mouthpiece and clarinet mouthpiece after every use. Remove the reed and store it flat to dry. Then pass the swab inside the mouthpiece to remove moisture, before putting the mouthpiece back in your case.

A "deep clean" is good every once in a while, when you notice residue or if you want to sanitize it. Clean it every time it feels necessary and do not wait until residue has built up and your mouthpiece smells

Can I use abrasive metal polish like Flitz on my saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece?

It  is not recommended to use an abrasive metal polish on your saxophone or clarinet mouthpiece. Any abrasive polish slowly removes surface finish and this can be especially damaging to gold plated mouthpieces when you need to carefully protect and preserve that finish. It’s best to keep things simple with room temperature water and regular cleaning.

Can I use Vinegar to clean my saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece?

You can use vinegar to clean your saxophone mouthpiece (or clarinet mouthpiece) as long as you dilute the vinegar. The watered-down white vinegar formula can help remove buildup on your saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece. Ideally, you can avoid needing this vinegar cleaning method by doing regular cleaning after you play, and occasional deep cleaning as described above. 

Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean my saxophone or clarinet mouthpiece?

No. Never use hydrogen peroxide to clean your saxophone mouthpiece. That is too aggressive a chemical for use on hard rubber mouthpieces and can often cause discoloration.  See the guide above for easy steps to clean your mouthpiece.

Can I use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean my saxophone mouthpiece or clarinet mouthpiece?

While you can use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean your saxophone or clarinet mouthpiece,  this is best left to professional band instrument repair techs. Some ultrasonic cleaners are suitable for cleaning saxophone mouthpieces and clarinet mouthpieces. Ultrasonic cleaners vary in size and power so you want to be sure you are using a low power setting to avoid damage to your mouthpiece (especially if your mouthpiece is a delicate hard rubber mouthpiece). Never clean your mouthpiece in an ultrasonic bath that uses heavy detergents, acids, or other chemical cleaners. That can damage the finish or material of your mouthpiece. Before trying this yourself, make sure you understand the settings of your ultrasonic cleaner and have tested how it works on similar materials before you dip your favorite mouthpiece into the tank.

Clean Your Saxophone Mouthpiece and Clarinet Mouthpiece with Key Leaves Soft Bristle Mouthpiece Brush and Soft Cleaning Coth Consider using Key Leaves saxophone care products to clean woodwind mouthpiece and prevent sticky gunk from growing inside your saxophone.  Mouthpiece Brush Cleaning Cloths Silk Saxophone Swabs