How do you clean a trumpet at home?

After each practice session

1. Drain the water: press the water key (the small cork-padded lever on the tuning slide) and blow without buzzing your lips. If water remains in another slide, press the corresponding valve while blowing, or remove the slide and empty it.
2. Remove the mouthpiece with a gentle twist and put it in its compartment in the case, rather than leaving it loose.
3. Wipe the entire outside with a microfiber cloth: sweat from your hands is acidic and can stain both lacquer and silver plating.
4. Place the trumpet in the fitted section of its case and close all the latches.

Brushing your teeth before playing makes a huge difference: bits of food and sugar end up in the leadpipe (the tube that holds the mouthpiece), forming a layer that smells bad and restricts airflow.

How to oil the valves

The valves should move down and up quickly and quietly. If they feel sluggish, make noise, or stick, it's time to oil them.

1. Unscrew one valve's top cap and pull the valve halfway out.
2. Apply a few drops of valve oil to the metal surface.
3. Slide it back in and gently turn it until the guide (the piece sticking out on one side) fits into its slot. You'll feel a click.
4. Screw the cap back on without overtightening, then press the valve several times to spread the oil.
5. Repeat with the other two, one at a time.

Each valve has a number engraved on it (1, 2 or 3) and only works in its own casing. If you remove them completely, do it one at a time and lay them on a towel, never on a hard surface where they could roll away. Don't mix different types of oil, such as synthetic and petroleum-based oils: some combinations thicken. If you switch oils, clean the valves thoroughly first.

Slide grease: which lubricant goes where

The slides are the removable U-shaped tubes: the main tuning slide and one for each valve. Grease makes them airtight and lets them slide smoothly.

1. Before removing the main tuning slide, note its position or mark it with a pencil so you can return it to the same spot.
2. To remove a valve slide, press that valve while pulling. Otherwise, the vacuum can make it pop out suddenly.
3. Wipe off the old grease with a cloth.
4. Apply a thin layer of fresh grease to the ends of the slide.
5. Put it back in, move it several times to spread the grease, and wipe off any excess.

The main tuning slide and the second valve slide take regular slide grease. The first and third slides, which many trumpet players move with their thumb and ring finger while playing to adjust intonation, work better with a lighter lubricant or slide oil; ask your teacher which to use. When you're done, check your tuning with the tuner.

If a slide won't move, don't hit it or use pliers: you could dent it or break a solder joint. A technician can remove it with the right tool. Some of this care also applies to the trombone, but its slide needs a different approach; we explain it in how to clean a trombone.

A full bath, step by step

Your trumpet needs an internal wash once a month if you play daily, or every two or three months if you play less often.

1. Place a towel in the bottom of the bathtub or a large basin to keep the metal from getting scratched.
2. Remove the mouthpiece, valves, and all the slides. Set the valves aside: their felts and corks must not be submerged.
3. Fill with lukewarm water, never hot, and add a little mild liquid soap without chlorine or citrus ingredients.
4. Immerse the body and slides for a few minutes.
5. Run a flexible snake brush through the leadpipe, slides, and body tubing, and use a valve casing brush inside each casing.
6. Rinse with clean water, dry the outside with a soft towel, and let it drain.
7. Wipe the valves with a damp cloth without wetting the felts, dry them, and apply fresh oil.
8. Grease the slides, reassemble the trumpet, and test each valve.

Check what comes out of the leadpipe: if there's a lot of greenish or brown grime, wash it more often or ask for a deep cleaning at your next checkup.

The mouthpiece: cleaning and care

Wash it once a week with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a mouthpiece brush, which goes in through the narrow end to clean the small tube inside. Rinse and dry.

• Don't drop it: a dent in the shank can deform it so it no longer fits the trumpet properly.
• Insert it with a gentle twist, without hitting it with your palm: that's how mouthpieces get stuck.
• If it gets stuck, don't use pliers: a technician can remove it in minutes with a mouthpiece puller.
• Don't share it. Sharing is common in school bands, but for hygiene reasons each student should have their own mouthpiece.

Mouthpiece size affects your sound and endurance; if you're wondering which one to use, see our guide to choosing your first trumpet.

Products you should never use

A home remedy that seems to work the first time can leave the lacquer permanently dull. When in doubt, ask a technician or your teacher.

Knocks, dents, and when to see a technician

A trumpet has thin tubing that dents easily, and a dent in the leadpipe or a slide affects intonation and response. Use a stand during breaks; never leave it on a chair or the floor. Take it to a brass instrument technician once a year, or sooner if a valve sticks despite oiling or you can see a dent.

If you play in a school or municipal band, your trumpet faces the elements: sun during parades, rain, and cases piled up on the bus. These care habits matter even more in those conditions. If you're thinking of joining a band, read how to get started in a wind band; in trumpet lessons, your teacher will check the instrument's condition with you.

Frequently asked questions