This is a lighthearted but fairly important guide to proper care and maintenance of your new (or old) flute.  

Table of Contents

-assembly and disassembly
-no sword fighting
-cleaning/swabbing
-sticky pads
-head cork
-polishing
-oiling
-professional maintenance

Assembly and Disassembly

We will begin with the basics of setting up and taking apart a flute.
When assembling the flute here are the do’s and do not’s.

DO Wash your hands and rinse out your mouth before taking the flute out to practice.

DO Set the case on a hard immovable surface, such as a table or the floor, when opening
the case.  

DO NOT Set the case on a music stand when opening the case.

DO Make sure the case has the right side up when opening.

DO Wipe down the contact points of the joints with a cloth before twisting them together

DO NOT Force a stuck or hard to twist joint.

DO NOT grasp the flute around the mechanism when putting the flute together, this can bend keys.

DO NOT Use Vaseline or any other lubricant on the joints.  

DO Swab out the flute before putting it away.

No Sword Fighting

The epic battle between flute and clarinet continues, but please do not use your flute as a sword.  Also it is a bad idea to use it as a baseball bat, hockey stick, twirling baton, spitball cannon, or walking stick.  It isn’t a toy.  

Cleaning and Swabbing

When it is time to put away the flute, do not be in a rush.  Hurrying is how dents are made.  

DO Swab out all three joints with a cotton or silk handkerchief attached to the swab stick.  

DO NOT Use a “Pad Saver” / “fuzzy stick” sort of swab.  These do a good job of absorbing moisture, but they are stored inside the body of the flute where the moisture remains in contact with the pads.  They also get moldy.  

DO Wipe off the surface of the flute with a clean, dry cotton cloth if available.  

DO NOT Just leave your flute assembled and throw it in the locker.  Put it in the case and lock your locker!  

DO NOT Turn your flute into a biological science experiment by never cleaning out the spit from inside or wiping it off the outside.  It will grow. . .

Sticky Pads

If the pads get sticky, they can cause the keys to not open properly and cause an annoying sticky noise.  Here is how to remove the stick the right way.

DO NOT Use a dollar bill to clean sticky pads.  Yes, I know your band director might teach you to do this, but your band director is wrong.  This is how pads tear, resulting in $300 overhauls.  

DO Use cigarette paper to clean pads.  It will not damage them.

DO Blot the cigarette paper on the pad by opening and closing the pad over the paper. . . do not close and tug.  

DO consider Yamaha Powder Paper as an expensive alternative to cigarette paper.  

WORSTE CASE:  Use Alcohol on swabs in moderation and gently wipe the pads.  No acetone or nail polish remover.   

Head Cork Tuning

This is best left to your band director if he/she advises it.  But there is one thing to keep in mind. . .

DO NOT Mess with the crown (little twisty screw thingy at the end of the headjoint).  This will affect the tuning of the instrument.  Just don’t touch it!  

Polishing

DO NOT Polish your instrument, not even with one of those “silver polishing clothes” that every music store sells.  Trust me on this one.  

DO Wipe fingerprints off with a CLEAN, UNTREATED, COTTON CLOTH.  Only.  

A player with a well tarnished flute means one thing:  He/She practices a whole heck of a lot.  Be afraid. . .

Oiling

DO NOT Use “Key Oil” which is often sold by music stores.  Just don’t use it, it only does harm.  The only time a flute should be oiled is in the repair shop, when the flute is disassembled.  

Just don’t do it yourself.  

Getting Professional Maintenance and Repairs

You may need repairs when the flute is broken or just doesn’t sound right.  
Take it in to a large, well known, professional music store that deals with flutes.
Don’t wait too long, the longer you wait the more damage may be done. . .

General Comments:

Chinese made flutes can not be repaired and should be thrown out or made into a lamp.

DO NOT Rest your flute on the ledge of a music stand.  Big no-no!

 

About the Author:

    I am a flutist and music educator with many years experience of scraping black goo out of the inside of musical instruments.  I am a member of MENC and IMEA, and I run my own flute business on ebay in my spare time as a hobby.  I enjoy opera, listening to the Chicago Symphony, and playing the many different flutes in my collection all while lying on the hammock in my back yard.  

Visit my Ebay Store: Fine Flutes and Piccolos!