How to Clean and Maintain a Tuba

Read all warnings and prepare containers of water, etc., Remove and disassemble all slides and valves, remembering how they go back together. , Take the body of the tuba and set it on top of a towel in a bath-tub full of warm, not hot, water and a...

20 Steps 1 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Read all warnings and prepare containers of water

    before starting.
  2. Step 2: Remove and disassemble all slides and valves

    , Rub gently with a washcloth to remove all yucky stuff.

    If you have to pick the tuba up during cleaning be very careful because it's heavy when full of water. ,, Clean the insides of them with the snake.

    Rinse them in the clean water then dry off with a paper towel and set them somewhere safe. , Rinse in normal water and dry with more paper towels.

    Don't use the snake through those little holes in the valves. ,, Then slide back into place on tuba and re-tune before you next play.
  3. Step 3: remembering how they go back together.

  4. Step 4: Take the body of the tuba and set it on top of a towel in a bath-tub full of warm

  5. Step 5: not hot

  6. Step 6: water and a little mild

  7. Step 7: non-abrasive soap.

  8. Step 8: Get a strong person to help you carefully rotate the tuba head over heels

  9. Step 9: so to speak

  10. Step 10: to get all the water out and then let it air-dry on a soft bath towel.

  11. Step 11: While it's drying place all slides in the soapy water and rub gently with wet paper towels to clean.

  12. Step 12: Put all parts of the valves except the felt or rubber bumpers (which are very easily replaced if need be) and any other parts that aren't metal in the soapy water and clean with wet paper towel.

  13. Step 13: When all parts of your tuba (or other brass piston instrument)

  14. Step 14: including the body are completely dry

  15. Step 15: reassemble the valves

  16. Step 16: putting a few drops of valve oil around the top of them and twist them back in to place on the tuba.

  17. Step 17: Before putting the slides back in

  18. Step 18: put a small amount of slide grease on the part that goes inside the tuba and rub on with a paper towel

  19. Step 19: not your finger remember

  20. Step 20: and wipe off any excess.

Detailed Guide

before starting.

, Rub gently with a washcloth to remove all yucky stuff.

If you have to pick the tuba up during cleaning be very careful because it's heavy when full of water. ,, Clean the insides of them with the snake.

Rinse them in the clean water then dry off with a paper towel and set them somewhere safe. , Rinse in normal water and dry with more paper towels.

Don't use the snake through those little holes in the valves. ,, Then slide back into place on tuba and re-tune before you next play.

About the Author

H

Hannah Howard

Experienced content creator specializing in DIY projects guides and tutorials.

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