How to Care for Your Instruments at Home

1. How to Care for Your Instruments at Home Properly caring for your instruments is essential for any dedicated musician. Ensuring they are safe and secure is a common concern, especially during the humid summer months or while traveling. Keeping your instruments free of dust and debris, and protecting them from humidity and heat are necessary if you want to both save in maintenance costs and prolong their life. Specific care requirements may differ, but there are a few general instrument care tips every musician should know and follow. The Basics An instrument is a substantial investment. As such, many musicians choose to get some form of insurance for their instrument to protect it. While proper care can help prolong your instrument's life, there are plenty of unexpected factors it can't prevent. That's why musical instrument insurance is the perfect option for musicians looking to protect their investment no matter what happens.

2. One of the simplest ways to take care of your instruments is handling them properly. Instruments are delicate and need to be carefully maneuvered. So, it's vital your instrument is placed into its case gently. Most musicians know how to avoid bending or twisting anything or putting excessive pressure on their instruments’ joints. This will also help keep your delicate and expensive equipment safe while traveling. Other general tips to follow include limiting how often anyone else handles your instrument, and making sure you latch your instrument's case properly. Proper Instrument Protection Another great way to protect your investment is to keep your musical instruments in a weatherproof case when you are not using or transporting them. Periodically check to make sure the handles, zippers, and locks on the case are working correctly. This simple step will help prevent accidental damage from your instrument falling out. While it may be tempting to showcase your instruments as decorative pieces in your home or studio, this may lead to excessive dust accumulation, which may ultimately cause additional wear. As such, you should always keep your instruments clean and free of any dust or debris. Wiping them down with a specialized rag will remove any dirt or other debris that may affect performance or potentially damage the instrument itself.

3. Heat and Humidity One of the most impactful ways to boost your instrument's lifespan is to protect them from excessive heat and humidity. Your instrument should always be kept in a dry and cool place. Higher temperatures can cause the wood or metal to wear and warp, significantly impacting your instrument's lifespan and sound. It's also important to avoid moisture, as wood may expand and contract, leading to cracking. Moreover, make sure to never leave your instrument or its case out in the sun, even for a brief period of time. As most instrument cases are black or dark blue, they retain a lot of heat, which could seriously deteriorate your instrument’s varnish or adhesive. You should also periodically check any screws, keys, or tubes of your instrument to ensure they're not loose or damaged. While you may be able to make very simple repairs on your own, keep in mind that any complicated servicing and adjustment should only be handled by an experienced professional. They have the proper equipment and expertise to make those repairs. They can get it done promptly and adequately, while also taking liability for any potential damage that may occur.

4. Conclusion Following the above advice will help get you started on the right path. To significantly extend the lifespan of your instrument, as well as helping to save you money on unneeded and unnecessary repairs, you must remain vigilant. Properly taking care of your instruments is a great way to keep them around longer. However, proper maintenance can't protect you from all accidental damage or the risk of theft. Thankfully musical instrument insurance is a great way to help protect your instrument and the investment you made in it. Our instrument insurance plans help cover the cost of repairing or replacing your instrument in the event they're lost, stolen, or damaged accidentally. We also offer additional benefits such as the ability to file a claim anytime, access to a nationwide network of dealers, as well as customizable policies to meet your specific needs. Contact us today for a quote, and see why Clarion is ideal for protecting your investment. Our comprehensive coverage allows you to keep your focus on playing while we take care of the rest!