Best way to clean a dirty old mandolin

[lowrider]

I got this Ibanez m511 mandolin in 1973. Played it for a couple of years, but since then it's just been hanging around. So now it's pretty darn dirty.



Now I want to clean it up, but I don't want to mess it up. What would be the best way to get all the gunk and grime off of this nice old mandolin?

[ChalkLitIScream]

Get to know what the finish was made of. Then you can use whatever cleaning product you use to clean your guitar, if it is safe.

I personally would get rid of those strings, give the headplate and the body a nice clean, and the fretboard a nice scrub.
Might have to re-lube the tuners too

[Tony Done]

I use baby wet wipes for that kind of thing, domestic wipes if is very stubborn.

[lowrider]

Yes, I have no idea what kind of finish. Strings have to go and I'll get new ones. I'll have to clean and polish the tailpiece and tuners and make sure the tuners work. And somehow I have to clean that dirty case.

[Brucebubs]

Try wiping down the case first - I like Tony's suggestion, never tried that.

I got a dirty Taylor hard case looking more presentable by melting a tin of black shoe polish over a candle then dipping a clean rag into the liquid polish and applying it to the case - buff it off with another clean rag or two - really comes up black.

That mando and case should clean up nicely.

[JakeStone]

My opinion, Get some nice clean soft cotton cloth (I buy them from auto parts store). Rinse the cloth in warmish water and ring out real good. Start cleanin'.... Dry with a clean dry cloth.

Will not hurt the finish and will typically get all the gunk off... Then you can polish with appropriate guitar cleaner. I use Gibson "Orange label" Pump Polish. Spray on the cloth.. not on the instrument.

I sometimes use Naptha occasionally, (before using guitar polish/cleaner) if there is something really icky.. But again IMO.

Hope this helps.

[Wade Hampton]

Lowrider, I'd be hesitant to use prepackaged baby wipes for this task, simply because I don't know what's in them. I doubt they'd be harmful, especially, but they might leave some sort of residue.

What's easiest is to just use some mild soap and warm water, both very sparingly applied. A drop or two of Ivory Liquid in a quart of warm water, mixed well and then applied gently on a clean cotton cloth should work fine. Old 100% cotton tee shirts and old cloth diapers are good for this. Then take the dry end of the tee shirt or diaper and wipe up any moisture left behind.

Something you should take care with is to make sure the movable bridge is in the right position once you string up the mandolin again. After thirty or forty years of neglect the original bridge position might no longer be correct, so take your time dialing this in with an electronic tuner, making sure you get it right. If a potential buyer picks up the mandolin, hits a chord and it's sour and not in tune with itself, that could kill a sale right there.

So making certain you've got the bridge intonated correctly should be a high priority for you.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

[Pitar]

I'd probably ArmorAll the case and moisten a soft cloth to clean up the instrument. Get a soft toothbrush and scrub alongside the fretwires to degunk them. Dust it with a soft bristle 1-inch paint brush. The natural hair disposable bushes are under a buck at any DIY store. Otherwise, the moistened cloth should get the bulk of the surface area clean and then, once dry, some instrument polish might be the last step to bring out the luster, if any. The brightwork might have to be removed to properly clean and polish it. Mother's is a fairly inexpensive metal polish available at most auto parts supplies.

[Tony Burns]

only water and a 100% cotton cloth

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Stew-Mac's Preservation Polish and a soft, all-cotton, flannel or microfiber cloth.

[Brucebubs]

I recently discovered Music Nomad F-One oil for fretboards.



Easy to use and works incredibly well.



Should do a great job on that fretboard and bridge.

[jaybones]

Originally Posted by Ed-in-Ohio

Stew-Mac's Preservation Polish and a soft, all-cotton, flannel or microfiber cloth.

That's what I use!!

[printer2]

I thought this might be the makings of a song.

[Jim_G]

I'd just use a rag dipped in a drop of dawn and warm water, and wrung out good. I can't imagine an instrument like that is going to sell for much more than $100, so I wouldn't bother buying some commercial product to clean it.

[renoslim]

Originally Posted by Ed-in-Ohio

Stew-Mac's Preservation Polish and a soft, all-cotton, flannel or microfiber cloth.

My favorite. I also use their fretboard conditioner finish.