How to Clean and Maintain Your Flute


Updated: June 11, 2019

Explore this Article Cleaning Your Flute Storing Your Flute Caring for Your Flute Article Summary Questions & Answers Related Articles

Your flute is an expensive and valuable instrument that needs to be properly cleaned and cared for to remain in good condition. It is extremely important that you clean your flute after each use. Gently handle your flute while assembling and disassembling it, and always store your flute in a safe space.

Cleaning Your Flute

  1. 1
    Unscrew the pieces gently. In order to take apart your flute, gently unscrew the head-joint and foot-joint from the body of the flute. This should be done carefully. Be sure not to touch the keys or keypads because these can easily be damaged.
  2. 2
    Clean your flute after each use. Before you put away and store your flute, it is important that you remove the moisture from inside. If left uncleaned, your flute will not only begin to smell, but it will also tarnish on the inside. As a result, you should clean the inside and outside of your flute after every use.
  3. 3
    Attach a cloth to the cleaning rod. Thread a soft cloth through the needle-like slot in the end of your cleaning rod. Pull the cloth through the slot so that half of the cloth is on either side of the rod.[1]
    • Use a cloth made from a soft and thin material, such as a microfiber or cotton.
  4. 4
    Wrap the cloth around the rod. Take the cloth and wrap it around the rod so that none of the rod is exposed. If the rod touches the flute while cleaning, it can scratch and damage the inside of the flute.
  5. 5
    Insert the rod into each section of the flute. Remove the moisture that builds up inside the flute, by gently inserting the cleaning rod into each section of the flute. For example, you will need to clean inside the head-joint, foot-joint, and body of the flute. The cloth will absorb and remove any moisture inside.[2]
    • When cleaning the body section of the flute, be sure to insert the cleaning rod into both ends of the flute. This will ensure that the entire inside is cleaned.
  6. 6
    Twist the rod to clean inside. You can gently twist the cleaning rod while it is inside the flute to ensure that all the moisture is absorbed.[3]
  7. 7
    Wipe the outside of the flute with a cloth. Carefully polish the flute with a microfiber cleaning cloth. While playing, grease and fingerprints can build up on the outside of the flute. Gently clean all of the keys and the body of the flute.[4]
    • Pay particular attention to the ends (or tenons) where the separate pieces attach together. This is where gunk can often build up. Use your fingers and a cloth to clean around and inside the ends.
    • Do not use cloths that contain metal polish. These can damage your flute and should be avoided.
  8. 8
    Don’t touch the key pads while cleaning. When you are cleaning, be sure to hold the flute by the barrel and avoid touching the key pads. These can be easily punctured and will cause damage to your flute. You can also bend the keys if you are too rough while cleaning.[5]
  9. 9
    Use a cotton swab to clean tough to reach places. You can use a cotton swab to remove dust and buildup between the keys. A cotton swab can also be used to clean the embouchure hole on the head-joint. Be very gentle and avoid touching the keypads.[6]
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Method 1 Quiz

What will happen if you leave moisture inside your flute when you put it away?

Right! If there is still moisture in the flute when you put it in its case, a mildew-y smell will develop over time. That moisture could also cause the inside of your flute to tarnish, so it's important that you dry your flute after each use. Read on for another quiz question.

Not quite! Although moisture can be dangerous to your flute, it won't necessarily change its sound. When you're cleaning and drying your flute, make sure to be really careful with the key pads, though, as damaging them will affect your playing. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Nope! The flute key pads won't be damaged by interior moisture. Your key pads should never even get wet! Guess again!

Try again! Although dust can build up in your flute if you don't clean it regularly, moisture won't make this problem worse. Get into the habit of drying and cleaning your flute each time you play it and neither moisture nor dust should be a problem. Pick another answer!

Not exactly! You need to make sure you clean and dry your flute after each use, but leaving moisture inside the flute won't cause all of the previously listed problems. Drying your flute doesn't have to take a very long time, but make sure you do it thoroughly each time. There’s a better option out there!

Storing Your Flute

  1. 1
    Place the individual pieces into the case. Make sure to always store your flute in the case. If you leave the flute out of the case it is more likely to get damaged. Do not store the wet cleaning cloth inside the case with the flute. This moisture could tarnish the flute.[7]
    • Instead, place the cloth in an outer pouch on the case.
  2. 2
    Store in a safe place. Place your flute case in a closet, under your bed, or in a low traffic area of the house. You do not want the case to get knocked over or banged around. This could damage the flute inside.
  3. 3
    Avoid storing your flute in extreme temperatures. Extreme hot and cold temperatures can affect the mechanics of the flute as well as the pads and the cork inside of the top of the headjoint. Heat can expand it, destroying the top of the headjoint and coldness can shrink the cork, resulting in bad tone and tuning issues. Make sure you store your flute away from radiators or windows with direct sunlight.[8]
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Method 2 Quiz

Why shouldn't you store your flute in a hot place?

Try again! Cold temperatures make metal shrink, so a hot location will not shrink your flute. Just keep your flute in a room temperature location in its case and you won't have to worry about any temperature-related issues. Try another answer...

Yep! Heat makes metal expand, so if the location where you store it is hot enough, your flute could be affected. This would make it difficult or even impossible to fit the parts together and could even seriously damage your instrument. Read on for another quiz question.

Not necessarily! If there is moisture inside your flute when you leave it in the heat, it will definitely start to smell. However, if you just leave it in a hot place with no moisture, it should smell just the same. Excessive heat could have different negative effects on your flute. Try another answer...

Not exactly! Although heat will affect other parts of your flute, it won't damage the key pads or make them stick. Have your flute regularly cleaned by a professional to make sure the key pads are always working correctly no matter where you store your flute. There’s a better option out there!

Caring for Your Flute

  1. 1
    Wash your hands and face before playing. Your hands and mouth may have grease and oils on them that can be transferred to your flute while playing. In order to reduce the amount of grease that comes in contact with your flute, wash your hands and face before playing. This will also reduce the amount of fingerprints that transfer to your flute.[9]
  2. 2
    Remove any jewelry prior to playing. Jewelry, especially rings, can scratch or damage the exterior of your flute while you are playing. To reduce this potential damage, remove your rings before you play the flute.[10]
  3. 3
    Get your flute serviced at least once a year. A professional will be able to clean and adjust the keypads without causing damage to the instrument. They can also take apart the smaller pieces of the flute for cleaning, tuning, and repair. To properly maintain your instrument, you should have it serviced at least once per year.[11]
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Method 3 Quiz

What can a professional do for your flute?

Almost! While you can (and should) tune your flute yourself, a professional can fix small parts of the flute that may be causing tuning issues. However, there are other reasons to take your flute to a pro. Choose another answer!

Close! You should never mess with your flute's key pads, so if you're having trouble with them, take your instrument to a pro. However, this isn't the only reason you should make yearly visits to an instrument professional. Try another answer...

You're not wrong, but there's a better answer! You should do a quick clean of your flute after you play it, but your flute needs occasional deep cleanings, too. By getting it cleaned by a pro at least once a year, you'll ensure it stays in good condition for a long time. However, there are other things a professional can do for your flute besides cleaning. Try another answer...

Exactly! Take your flute to a professional at least once a year to have it cleaned, tuned, and fixed. Professionals will be able to clean and repair the little parts that you might not be able to access without damaging your instrument. Read on for another quiz question.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    A friend played my flute when she had a cold. How can I disinfect it?
    Community Answer
    You need to get a spray to clean your mouthpiece. It's called Giardinelli Magic Mist Hygienic Mouthpiece Cleaner. Spray it on your mouthpiece, and wipe it off with a soft cloth. This will disinfect your mouthpiece.
  • Question
    How do I remove rust from a flute?
    Community Answer
    You could try using some toothpaste on a piece of cloth and rubbing it in gently, but it is not recommended if the rust is near any keys or pads, as toothpaste literally destroys pads. Otherwise, just get it professionally cleaned, it only costs about $15.
  • Question
    How do I remove stains on a flute caused by oils on my hands?
    Community Answer
    Use a microfiber cleaning cloth to wipe the oil off your flute.
  • Question
    How do I disassemble a flute?
    Community Answer
    All you need to do is hold the mouthpiece, and gently twist it out. Then do the same with the tail piece, cleaning the keys you press with your pinkies. Then you can insert a large cleaning wand, or run a cleaning cloth through and you are all set.
  • Question
    How do I remove tarnish from the head joint?
    Community Answer
    You can remove tarnish using a polishing cloth. If that doesn't work, take it to a professional cleaner.
  • Question
    How do I clean the cloth if I don't have any extras?
    Community Answer
    Soak it in cool or warm (not hot) water, and use your hands to help agitate the cloth and release the grime. Rinse well and let air-dry.
  • Question
    What do I do if one of the keys fall off?
    Community Answer
    There is no DIY fix to this. You need to take your flute into the shop and have it examined and fixed by a professional to prevent further damage.
  • Question
    Can I use water to replace rubbing alcohol?
    Community Answer
    No, you can't ever let your flute get wet! Letting a woodwind instrument get wet will ruin the tarnish and make the pads swell and quit working.
  • Question
    How often should I clean it with rubbing alcohol?
    Community Answer
    You should clean it as often as necessary, but be sure to apply it with care. Although the rubbing alcohol itself shouldn't damage the flute, applying it too frequently and too vigorously will cause damage.
  • Question
    My flute has developed pinhead size bumps all over the finish. How can I remove them?
    Community Answer
    Take it to a flute repair technician as there is nothing you can do yourself to remove them.
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    • Serious flute players should own two cleaning cloths. Clean handkerchiefs work great, too.
    • If you have a wooden flute or piccolo, consult an experienced player or repair person for additional advice regarding appropriate wood care and cork grease.
    • To keep joints from sticking, rub off all debris with a clean cloth. Then apply powdered graphite (pencil lead works in an emergency) and carefully twist and untwist parts until they go together easily.
    • If your pads begin to stick, take your flute to a professional cleaner for repair.


    • Never clean the body of a flute with any product that contains bleach. You will destroy the finish on the flute. The entire finish will lose its luster and shine.
    • Woodwind instruments can't get wet! If you let your flute gets wet, the pads will swell up, and the flute won't play.
    • Be careful not to bend any keys when you are dismantling the flute. Be especially careful when removing the foot-joint because it has a very complicated and delicate key connection that is easy to bend and is expensive to replace.

    Things You'll Need

    • Cleaning rod
    • Cloth to clean inside the flute
    • Polishing cloth

    Article SummaryX

    You should clean and maintain your flute after each use. To clean it, gently unscrew the head-joint and foot-joint from the body of the flute, then wrap a soft cotton or microfiber cloth around your cleaning rod. Gently pass the cloth through each section of the flute, twisting the rod to ensure any moisture inside of the flute has been absorbed. Carefully polish the outside of the flute, including the keys, with a clean microfiber cloth. Avoid touching the key pads while you are cleaning, since they are easy to damage. To learn more, like how to properly store your flute when you aren't playing it, keep reading the article!

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    Article Info


    Categories: Flute Care | Cleaning Musical Instruments

    In other languages:

    Español: limpiar y darle mantenimiento a tu flauta, Italiano: Tenere Pulito e Curato il Flauto, Русский: чистить и поддерживать флейту в рабочем состоянии, Français: nettoyer et entretenir une flute traversière, Deutsch: Eine Querflöte reinigen und pflegen, Bahasa Indonesia: Membersihkan dan Merawat Seruling

    Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 356,363 times.
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