Question 1

Does cleaning cymbals affect the sound?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it does if you have let them get extremely dirty. Covered with a thick layer of dust gone dirt, a cymbal loses its brightness and sustain. It takes a lot of dirt, though, for the effect to become noticeable. By the way, you can use this effect for your benefit: if you want the sound to be darker and deeper, you can cover your cymbals with some stuff (like toothpaste or jam u2013 pun unintended) to change their response. Just remember to clean them up after the session. A little bit of dust, though, will rather be seen than heard.

Question 2

What household item can I use to clean cymbals?

Accepted Answer

There are various cleaners that act well on cymbals. The most important condition for them is being non-abrasive, so they donu2019t damage the original finish. Still, if you use cymbals by a well-known brand (like Zildjian), the ads will warn you against using household cleaners that may harm the surface and impact the performance. Generic metal polishes can sometimes do good work, but Iu2019d recommend them on cymbals youu2019re ready to risk with.

Question 3

How do you clean dirty cymbals?

Accepted Answer

For most of them, itu2019s like washing a dirty frying pan. Prepare soap and warm water. You will need a lot of it, as the plate is to be washed more than once. Prepare also a tub large enough for your cymbals. Let the cymbals soak in the water for a minute or two. Take a heavy and hard nylon brush to scrub the cymbal all over. Remove the dirt from it, as it gets soaked in water. Avoid metal brushes, as they can damage the surface. Repeat until the water remains clean after applying. Wipe the cymbal dry. Take a soft cloth and apply the polish as described above, along the grooves.

Question 4

Should I clean my cymbals at all?

Accepted Answer

In fact, keeping them shiny is not necessary. Some musicians (regardless of the type of music they play) consider some dirt not harmful. They like the worn look, and some of them think cleaning procedures that involve chemicals distort the original voice of cymbals. But even these drummers practice what it takes to keep the cymbals from getting too dirty.

Question 5

How do you remove oxidation from cymbals?

Accepted Answer

Oxidation is not just dirt. Itu2019s the effect of metal contacting air and the oxygen it contains under certain conditions, including moisture and contact with salts. The outer layer of it is gradually oxidized, and it affects the structure and thus both the acoustic properties and the durability of the cymbal. The oxidized surface usually looks green, and it first appears as stains on the surface before covering all of it. To remove the oxidation, you need some mild abrasive that will only remove the oxidized layer while not touching the body. It will restore both the original look (probably except for the logo) and the original sound. But donu2019t try too hard: though the original coating must be already gone, the surface still has the original structure. Damaging it too hard will alter the sound irreversibly. By the way, you do not have to do it. Some musicians prefer not to remove oxidation, which makes their cymbal sound darker and older. If they happen to break the plate, they replace it with a used one with about the same oxidation level; itu2019s not hard to find on these numerous marketplaces.

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