how to clean and disinfect harmonicas
Hello David, I have 3 harmonicas given to a family member who thought he wanted to learn to play the harp; didn't work out. I want to recycle them for other family members as appropriate. He hardly touched them. Is there a good way to clean them up?
It was my mid-20s grandson who tried to learn the harmonica and it didn't take very long for him to decide it wasn't for him?
Now, it is my daughter and her husband who are expressing an interest. I am recommending that they buy new C and/or A harps to start with. And I thought it could be beneficial to give them access to the harps I gave to my grandson; Keys A, C and either, D or G, not sure.
I have the free month of lessons from Hohner with bluesharmonica.com., so I recommend they start with that. Both play other instrument; guitar, ukulele and piano
Can you give me some advice for helping them to get started, please? Thanks.
Hank Hamilton
Wow!! Thanks for this information Rob, I will check it out on Rockn Rons
Hank
Hello Hank, and thank you Rob.
The free Hohner trial is a good idea. Make sure one gets an A and the other the C (beginners can use either on the site to get started).
I'm afraid I'm not the best person to ask... I don't clean/disinfect my harmonicas. Rob gave some good advice, and you can ask Kinya (https://www.bluesharmonica.com/forums/ask_harp_tech_expert_kinya_pollard), that's his cup of tea.
Hi Hank. Hogging in ahead of David here, on the disinfection thing. But I'm sure he'll have better and more throrough advice.
Short of disassembling the harps, putting reedplates and plastic combs into an ultrasonic cleaner, wiping everything else down with alcohol, leaving everything out in the sun for a couple of days, etc., it would probably be enough to pick up a disinfection bag, something that could be handy over the long run for you. I use the BugBlaster from TurboHarp, but, sadly, it appears that Jim Ataki there is no longer selling the product. BUT, Seydel sells essentially the same tool, its Harmonica Disinfection Bag. (If you're in the US, Rockin' Ron's sells it. Otherwise, you'll need to find a Seydel source or order direct.)
I've used my BugBlaster to disinfect harps I've donated to a San Francisco music nonprofit. I've also used it from time to time when my grandsons visit, and blow who-knows-what into one or more harps I've neglected to put away.
One thing disinfection apparently can't help: Some time ago a fellow jazz banjo player gave me an ancient wood-combed Hohner Goliath tremolo harp someone had given him. Unfortunately, the harp apparently once belonged to a cigar smoker. I've never been able to get that smell out of it. But provided your grandson isn't a cigar-smoker, you'll probably be OK.
Concern about what might still be living inside a harp that hasn't been player for a while may be a tad over-cautious, but always better (and reassuring to the player) to be safer than sorrier.
Ukulele Rob plays Hohner™ harmonicas customized by Kinya Pollard, The Harpsmith™