Cleaning many trombones at a time
- MrLong
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Jul 16, 2018
I teach fifth grade band, and the end of the school year is coming. I know how I clean trombones in bulk, but I was wondering if anybody has a good system for one or two people to clean and sanitize 25-30 trombones. At my school site, I have access to water, but not a sink. Any tips are appreciated.
- MahlerMusic
- Posts: 158
- Joined: May 07, 2019
Does your school have a pool?
- dwcarder
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Jun 27, 2023
How about using a small kiddie pool outside w/ a garden hose and a touch of Simple Green? When you're done, dump it out. Let the bones dry out thoroughly in the sun.
- Mamaposaune
- Posts: 657
- Joined: Sep 22, 2018
[quote="dwcarder"]How about using a small kiddie pool outside w/ a garden hose and a touch of Simple Green? When you're done, dump it out. Let the bones dry out thoroughly in the sun.[/quote]
This is a great idea, I would just use more than a touch of the simple green, let them soak for awhile, and snake them out good before rinsing thoroughly. (Knowing 5th graders, there's probably hotdogs and cookie chunks mixed with sugary soda lurking in there since the beginning of the year.)
And get the kids to stay after school and help!
This is a great idea, I would just use more than a touch of the simple green, let them soak for awhile, and snake them out good before rinsing thoroughly. (Knowing 5th graders, there's probably hotdogs and cookie chunks mixed with sugary soda lurking in there since the beginning of the year.)
And get the kids to stay after school and help!
- Kevbach33
- Posts: 295
- Joined: May 29, 2018
[quote="dwcarder"]How about using a small kiddie pool outside w/ a garden hose and a touch of Simple Green? When you're done, dump it out. Let the bones dry out thoroughly in the sun.[/quote]
Do know that Simple Green, much as I love using the product, can trigger an allergic reaction. A former coworker at my prior job was highly allergic to the stuff (or rather to a particular ingredient in it).
Just a word of caution. Read the MSDS if you're not 100% sure.
Do know that Simple Green, much as I love using the product, can trigger an allergic reaction. A former coworker at my prior job was highly allergic to the stuff (or rather to a particular ingredient in it).
Just a word of caution. Read the MSDS if you're not 100% sure.
- dwcarder
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Jun 27, 2023
Wow, I had not heard that! Good to note & thanks, Kevin.
Agree that letting things soak for a while would be a plus. I say "a touch" as it comes as a concentrate. (at least how I buy it. The label says mix 1:64)
Agree that letting things soak for a while would be a plus. I say "a touch" as it comes as a concentrate. (at least how I buy it. The label says mix 1:64)
- JTeagarden
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Feb 24, 2025
[quote="Mamaposaune"]This is a great idea, I would just use more than a touch of the simple green, let them soak for awhile, and snake them out good before rinsing thoroughly. (Knowing 5th graders, there's probably hotdogs and cookie chunks mixed with sugary soda lurking in there since the beginning of the year.)
And get the kids to stay after school and help![/quote]
Given these same kids are the ones responsible for the debris in the horns, and 5th graders are not well known for their fine motor skills or attention to detail, I think these are the last people you'd want helping you.
And get the kids to stay after school and help![/quote]
Given these same kids are the ones responsible for the debris in the horns, and 5th graders are not well known for their fine motor skills or attention to detail, I think these are the last people you'd want helping you.
- AtomicClock
- Posts: 1094
- Joined: Oct 19, 2023
A little bit of "free pizza" buys a lot of high school kids.
- MrLong
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Jul 16, 2018
Thanks for your ideas, everyone. I use two tubs, a wash tub and a rinse tub. I wash the inner and outer, and snake the inner and crook. I let them dry out and come back and polish the inside of the outer with cheese cloth and rod or my slide o mix cleaning rod.
- dukesboneman
- Posts: 935
- Joined: Apr 02, 2018
I used to go thru the same thing for years.
Do yourself and the horns a favor and get a couple of these. They are the only cleaning supply I`ve found that can actually swab out the entire outer slide
<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.hickeys.com/music/brass/tro ... snake-.php">https://www.hickeys.com/music/brass/trombone/accessories/trombone_cleaning_supplies/products/sku046758-hw-products-brass-saver-hbstb-trombone-cleaning-snake-.php</LINK_TEXT>
Do yourself and the horns a favor and get a couple of these. They are the only cleaning supply I`ve found that can actually swab out the entire outer slide
<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.hickeys.com/music/brass/tro ... snake-.php">https://www.hickeys.com/music/brass/trombone/accessories/trombone_cleaning_supplies/products/sku046758-hw-products-brass-saver-hbstb-trombone-cleaning-snake-.php</LINK_TEXT>