The Best Way To Clean A Harmonica

In this video I share the best way to clean a harmonica.

Products Mentioned:

[RJWdevelopment]

The best way to keep the screws organized (on this or any other similar project) is to draw a rough diagram of each piece on cardboard, and then poke the screws into the cardboard where they're supposed to go. This way you guarantee that even if the parts are soaking overnight to clean, you'll be 100% sure how to put the whole thing back together and not lose any parts.

[djo]

Just deep cleaned my 6-7 yrs old marine band crossover and it plays like a charm, was really disgusting inside. Thank you so much!

[kennethhough]

YouTube is the best. I have several harmonicas. And I noticed every so often they don't play well. Then I got to thinking there must be a way to clean them. Then found your very informed channel thank you very much I learned a lot.😊

[bpwurud]

If it has a plastic comb.put your harmonica in a deep dish on its back. holes facing up.fill with water.drop 4 or 5 denture cleaning tablets in.it will foam like mad and all the bubbles will release the dirt inside.(like the bubbles in washing powder) leave till all the bubbles have gone and the waters clear.you will see all the dirt in the bowl.rins under doing it for 25 years

[carltongadgettmannprice]

I have never blown my harmonica without thoroughly brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth with mouthwash. This information was in the owner's manual that came with the harmonica. This does keep the harmonica smelling fresh longer however the harmonica will still need periodic cleaning but not as frequently. Using denture tablets to clean the harmonica and proper teeth brushing and mouthwashing, one can possibly go several years without having to take the harmonica apart for a deep cleaning.

[vincentpaul]

I just started learning how to play the harmonica and found your channel. I've subscribed because you're a great teacher. I would like to add that I appreciate your new background colour. Very cool. Much easier on the eyes without all the red.

[jeemalsoknownasjimhawkins]

Hey, Jonah! Strange coincidence--I was literally running my harmonicas through my Seydel Disinfection Bag ($55US) as I saw your video pop up. One thing about running water through your steel or plastic comb--if your water district has hard water (like here in Carlsbad, California), I would urge you to use filtered water so that calcium does not build up and block the reeds. If you want a really easy harmonica to take apart (three screws and takes less than 30 seconds to disassemble), I would recommend a Yonberg (plus, the cover plates are made of food-grade resin and stay very clean). Great video on what could be a major problem, especially for some of us senior citizens who produce a lot of saliva. Cheers!

[michaelmilne]

I put my harmonica (s) in a glass of Canadian Club 12 year old whiskey over night. Don't start on suck notes after unless you want stuff in your mouth. A careful use of a q-tip also helps. Whiskey blues?

Almost a buzz on a clean harmonica!!!

Also if you have bad breath and your harmonica is smelling it is because you need to floss. Bad breath is caused by decaying food in your teeth, not all the other nonsense big pharm tries to sell you.

Seriously, overnight in whiskey once in a while works. Also I have no problem with wooden combs with this.

[klan]

I've definitely got some serious harmonica cleaning in my future.
I placed an ad on Craigslist in Portland, OR looking for old and tired harmonicas that I could buy to learn how to repairs, them, clean them, and get them out tp folks that wanted to learn to play a decent harmonica.
So I get an email from an older fellow and he says to come on over, he's got some for sale. Off to Portland I go, right down in the miffle of town to a high rise retirement home. 15th floor, the guy opens his door and he's basically got a living room, bathroom, bedroom, and kitchenette.. But, it's home for him..
He goes off into the bedroom and comes out with a Plano fishing tackle 790 box. Thos thing had two doors on the frontand when you open those doors, there's two more doors under that..
ALL of them were full of harmonicas, all but one were 10 hole harps from special 20's to Old Standby's. 38 of them.. but, in the bottom trays, there were about 7 or 8 harps all taken apart..

I figured I'd wasted my time because there's no way I was carrying enough money to buy them all so I was cherry picking some of the harps to add to my collection and he says "What are you doing? " I told him I was looking through them to see which ones I wanted to buy.. I asked him how much he was asking.. He said (insert drum roll here) $5.00 including the box...

I dang near got a paper cut from pulling a $5.00 bill out of my wallet as fast as I did..

I gave him the money, thanked him graceously and as I walked out the door he said "I hope you have as much fun as I did with them.."

Now I've got about 45 harps in all I need to clean up.. Some are missing the screws that hold the cover plates on and others are missing the nails that hold the plates on. I have one that looks like the reed is either bent under the reed bar or broke off.. But hey, I've plenty more to replace that one.

I need to find an app that will play the a-g scales so I can fighre out which reed plate is what scale. Once I find it, then I can start seeing if I can make a few more harps out of my parts. There's one Koch Harmonica in the lot I think it was in key of G that has a little issue with one of the reeds but, it's big enough I don't need bifocals to see the little bitty screws.

Where's the best place to get those teeny screws, nuts, and nails??

[Cowdog]

Seems a good case for not buying expensive harps, like I did. I hope I can keep them rocking for a long time. I'm not buying anymore high-dollar ones, for sure. Cheers!

[pluckstevenson..]

I'm 54 been practicing 4weeks now did not no I could run it under water nice one your lessons are great as we'll

[MP-tfcc]

Hohner instructions for a Special 20 says not to put in water or run water through it.

[johnmarston-ceui]

I ran water through KY harmonica and it made it sound so much clearer! And I think it tuned it bc of all the dust

[JB-rwxt]

Thanks Jonah. Something I've been needing to do. Great tutorial!

[Icandoitwithabrokenheart]

Chuck it in the trash bin


Ohhh heavens no hellnah this is a gift from my rich grand aunt no way my trowing this away 💚

[asbjrnandersen]

I have been scared away from running water through it due to Hohner’s attached note saying “don’t do this!”

[mrbard]

I just found a special 20 made in Germany for 5 dollars at the flea market. Deep cleaning the shit out of this cause idk who blew through this before.

[RC-mdyx]

Really good channel for learning harmonica

[phasmo]

Hi Jonah! When I watched your video on the Arkia harmonica I did some research and found out that the more expensive ones come with an antibacterial comb. Would you think this will reduce harmonica maintenance?

[NayveeMan]

My buddy and I have had the same ONE harmonica for 7 years, share it every show and never clean it.
he’s not heavy he’s my bro