Cleaning Your Cymbals The Right Way

A in-depth guide to cleaning your cymbals the right way.

We recommend that you do not attempt to clean your cymbals.

However if you must, please follow these steps to ensure the best results!

[gryphka]

If you bought used cymbals, how do you know what finih they're aupposed to have?

[zahirshahriman]

didnt even show how to clean the non-brilliant finished cymbals

[JirkaMichalik]

That polished Kerope looks dope though...

[gamernation]

RIP to all the cymbals that were harmed in the video.

[crisdrumming]

Ok, but what to do with dark cymbals? How to clean it from drumsticks or fingers stains? I have a Custom Dark K ride bought used and it's clearly dirty and darker on hit area.

[jamesowens]

Bar keeper's friend spray and some paper towles. Wipe the put a little water rinse on it then dry. Is all you need.

[wkrp]

Non-scientific experiment with Zildjian Cymbal Cleaner by a drummer: I hope to post this on multiple locations that show the Zildjian Cymbal cleaner. I'll premise this by saying that I've been using Bar keepers friend for a number of years successfully, among other cymbal cleaners over the years. The Zildjian cleaner about 15-16 bucks per 8 oz. bottle, I find these cleaners are a great money maker for cymbal companies, with questionable benefits. Bottom line, I'm a drummer who hopes to spread the word to other drummers to hopefully help them save a buck.

I recently bought a new Zildjian brilliant cymbal and wanted to test this cleaner. It comes in a white liquid that one spreads evenly, by sparingly, per the directions, onto both sides of the cymbal. Then it is wiped off with a soft cloth. My first impression was that it is very messy and the black oxidation that comes off (even on a cleaner cymbal like my newest one) is excessive, so one needs plenty of soft clothes. This newest Zildjian cymbal still had a sheen to it, but there were stick marks that the cleaner did not get off. You're going to need a A LOT of elbow grease to get all the polish off. At this stage of my life, I've used up most of my elbow grease.

Drummers need to keep in mind that cymbals, like Zildjian, come from the factory with a factory-applied chemical sheen/coat that eventually wears off through cleaning. This is fine and purely natural. Bar keepers helper is a world easier. Some people point of that is has an acid in it, but it's a WEAK acid, that won't harm the cymbal. Also, BKF doesn't irritate your hands/fingers, and if it doesn't hurt your skin, it's sure not going to damage/hurt your cymbal.

With BKF, wet the cymbal, use the powder or liquid version and a small sponge. Let it sit for a few second, then rise off. Volla! It's comes out with a nice shine, without the endless elbow grease. You may opt for the liquid version of BKF to avoid micro abrasions with the powder, but those are minimal and not noticed by the naked eye. I also like the powder version sometimes so that I can scrub with a soft sponge to get the stick marks off the cymbal.

I hope this helps. BMM

[EdwoodCA]

1:14 _"Careless Whisper"_ comes on 🤣🤣🤣

[christopherdunn]

I used that on my master sound K's and it came back like white gold ! they look like i remember !

[ragrapios]

This is just commercial. use barkeeper or brasso. It definitely works more than cymbal polish.
Bro. They are cymbal maker. not bronze de-tarnishing pro.

[dragons_red]

New company slogan
"Zildjian: Easy on the Logos"

[jeffparryncc]

Rediculous demonstration. Clean an old dirty cymbol please. Thanks, from everyone.

[glytch]

I like the shiny look on my traditional cymbals... problem is that never happens with mine. They always come out really dark actually.

[joecap]

What about coated ZBT's and ZHTs that get marks and staining under the laminate coat?

[raghavsharma]

Can we use metal buffing? The electrolytic process where you put anode cathode for separating impurities. Wondering whether the electrolyte would screw up?

[millerhxc]

If someone has gone the citrus route to clean cymbals, should/could they go over it with the Zildjian polish to maybe restore any finish they may have removed?

I know people like to hate on the ZBTs, but I have ZBT hi hat cymbals and a ZBT ride (I've had them for many years and they have stood me in good stead) which a couple of days ago I decided to clean for what must be the first time ever. Instead of going out to get polish, I decided to go the DIY route because I had found a lot of videos and articles online showing different methods that are meant to work well. I went for lemons, however I followed an articles which said to use a pot scrubber, of which I have a steel wool sponge (not the really harsh steel wool, but the one that are curled up like a shower sponge.) Although I tried not to be too vigorous, I didn't necessarily know what I was doing with the scrubber, so there are now some hairline scratches which you can see on close inspection.

Is it worthwhile getting the polish to go over it again, or is it more "what's done is done?" (And before anyone says "throw them away" or "set them on fire", I will invest in new cymbals when I'm good and ready. Thanks.)

[havespacesuitwilltravel]

Be very careful on very dirty cymbals when removing the polish as you can abrade the surface. I recommend rinsing as much as you can off the cymbal with water then buffing dry and clean.

[timothyreadon]

How would you clean Sabian AA marching cymbals? I've tried groove juice and nothing happened.

[signals]

i used brasso....works perfect....looks brand new...

[evelincansino]

What if I have a “I” expressive & bright cymbals? 😭