How to Properly Clean a Trombone Slide
Disclaimer: Last Row Music is not responsible for any damages or injuries occurred as a result of improper application of these techniques. If you are unsure of these procedures, please consult your local professional brass repair technician.
Whenever I talk to students about their trombones, almost always the question of “When was the last time you cleaned your slide?” comes up. Sometimes just by looking at a student’s slide, I can tell if the slide hasn’t been touched. Whether there is crusty whiteness on the inner slide or use of extreme force to move the slide, young students (and sometimes adults) simply do not take to care of the one mechanism that makes their instrument different from everybody else – The Slide.
There are many videos on the best way to clean a slide – some videos are flat out bad (like the “repairman” that says to use WD-40). Other videos give a generalization of “Do this, then this, and you are done.” The following video from Christan Griego at Edwards Instruments has been very beneficial to me for the past few years. Not only is there proper cleaning involved but he gives the reasons why for his cleaning of the slide. Watch the video below and keep it as a reference. Here is a list of the materials mentioned in this video:
