06/18/2026
A simple routine to help lengthen the life of your clarinet 👇
Our hands are naturally acidic, and over time, that acidity can wear down key plating and even affect the wood in high-contact areas.
One of the easiest ways to reduce that wear is to wipe your clarinet down after each use with a microfiber cloth, especially around the areas you touch most, like the thumb tube.
If you know you have especially acidic hands, more resilient key plating options such as gold plating may be worth considering.
Already seeing wear? No worries. We also go over what to look for and a few options for next steps.
Looking for more clarinet repair and setup tips? Check out some of our other clips for more 👀