Repair Sanitization Information
It is important to understand there are often 3 different terms some shops may use when advertising instrument cleaning.
Sanitization:
• Cleaning or Sanitization, is the removal of visible soil (e.g., organic and inorganic material) from objects and surfaces and normally is accomplished manually or mechanically using water with detergents or enzymatic products.
• Thorough cleaning is essential before high-level disinfection and sterilization because inorganic and organic materials that remain on the surfaces of instruments interfere with the effectiveness of these processes. Decontamination removes pathogenic microorganisms from objects so they are safe to handle, use, or discard. Is this good for your instrument? Yes, this is the least invasive in both chemical usage and manual labor.
Sterilization:
• Sterilization describes a process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life and is carried out in health-care facilities by physical or chemical methods.
• Steam under pressure, dry heat, EtO gas, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, and liquid chemicals are the principal sterilizing agents used in health-care facilities.
• Sterilization is intended to convey an absolute meaning; unfortunately, however, some health professionals and the technical and commercial literature refer to “disinfection” as “sterilization” and items as “partially sterile.”
• When chemicals are used to destroy all forms of microbiologic life, they can be called chemical sterilants. These same germicides used for shorter exposure periods also can be part of the disinfection process (i.e., high-level disinfection).
Is this good for your instrument? Not necessarily. Heat, gas, chemicals and other extreme methods could damage the materials and permanently damage the instrument.
Disinfection:
• Disinfection describes a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects.
• In health-care settings, objects usually are disinfected by liquid chemicals or wet pasteurization. Each of the various factors that affect the efficacy of disinfection can nullify or limit the efficacy of the process.
Is this good for your instrument: Yes, however the finish on wood instruments are delicate and can be damaged with some chemicals.
Heritage Winds does not offer, nor is it equipped to offer, Sterilization.
The Sanitization Process at Heritage Winds at Allegro Music Service:
Products Used:
• Soap, Water and Vinegar Solution for Pre-Wash
• Muti-purpose cleaners such as Lysol
• Ultrasonic Cleaning Solution
• Disinfectant wipes and sprays (Lysol and Sanimist Mouthpiece Disinfectant)
• Denatured and isopropyl alcohol
• Commercial Grade Degreaser
Woodwinds: Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones, Oboes, Bass Clarinets, Piccolos
• Plastic mouthpieces
- Degreased and pre-washed with detergent
- Rinsed with warm water
- Sanitized in Ultrasonic machine w/Ultrasonic solution
- Rinsed with warm water
• Flute/Piccolo head joints
- Sanitized with Isopropyl Alcohol
- Interior and exterior sprayed with Sanimist mouthpiece disinfectant
• Standard cleaning procedure for all plastic and metal-bodied woodwind instruments:
- Bodies and keys are sanitized with multi-purpose cleaner and soft clean cloth
- Inner bore is sanitized with multi-purpose cleaner and sprayed with Sanimist Mouthpiece Disinfectant
• Extreme situations:
- Instruments that have mold, stubborn odors, or other extreme sanitary threats are fully disassembled and sanitized in the Pre-Wash Solution, rinsed in warm water and finished in the Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine. Mold is treated with an extra mold killing agent prior to submersion into any of our chemical baths.
Brass Instruments: Trumpets, Trombones • Mouthpieces
- Degreased with detergent pre-wash solution
- Rinsed with warm water
- Sanitized in Ultrasonic machine w/Ultrasonic solution
• Bodies, Slides, Pistons, Valves
- All moving parts are disassembled
- Degreased in degreaser and pre-wash solutions
- Rinsed with warm water
- Sanitized in Ultrasonic machine w/Ultrasonic solution
- Rinsed with warm water
- Final wipe down and fingerprint removal with polish and multi-purpose cleaner
String Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Guitar
• String instrument finishes can be very delicate and caution should be used with any type of cleaning solvent on the finish of an instrument.
• The string cleaning process is designed for presentation to the customer
• Finished surfaces (the scroll and body) of the instrument are cleaned with a combination of shellac reducer and polishes as needed to remove rosin build-up, dirt, and residue.
• Chin rests, pegs, and tail pieces are wiped clean with shellac reducer as needed.
• Polish residue is removed with a dry cloth as needed.
• Wax wash is used as needed on the neck and fingerboard to remove tape/adhesive residue.
• Rosin build-up and grime are removed from the strings with denatured alcohol.
All Instrument Cases
• Interior
- Vacuumed to remove dirt, dust, and other debris.
- Sprayed with disinfectant
• Exterior
- Wiped down with Multi-Purpose cleaner.
Technician Safety protocol:
- Hands are washed between each repair
- Every technician wears nitrile gloves and face masks while working on instruments whenever possible
- Tools and work surfaces are wiped down with Lysol after each completed repair
- Completed wind instrument repairs are test played using our own mouthpieces and reeds, with the exception of flutes. Flute head joints are disinfected after play tested by the technician.
- Each technician follows the sanitization protocols as stated above for each instrument type
General Info:
- Information is still forthcoming about the ability of the COVID-19 virus to spread. At this time it is thought that the virus can live a maximum of 4 days on an inanimate object (like a musical instrument). Therefore, we are allowing all in-coming repairs to sit for four days before we begin the repair process or provide an estimate. For maximum safety for the customer please wait 4 days to play your instrument after it is completed at our shop. This is an extra precaution to consider until further information is available. It is up to each individual to decide how much caution they need to take. This is only a recommendation based on the information available from the CDC at this time.
Sanitization:
• Cleaning or Sanitization, is the removal of visible soil (e.g., organic and inorganic material) from objects and surfaces and normally is accomplished manually or mechanically using water with detergents or enzymatic products.
• Thorough cleaning is essential before high-level disinfection and sterilization because inorganic and organic materials that remain on the surfaces of instruments interfere with the effectiveness of these processes. Decontamination removes pathogenic microorganisms from objects so they are safe to handle, use, or discard. Is this good for your instrument? Yes, this is the least invasive in both chemical usage and manual labor.
Sterilization:
• Sterilization describes a process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life and is carried out in health-care facilities by physical or chemical methods.
• Steam under pressure, dry heat, EtO gas, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, and liquid chemicals are the principal sterilizing agents used in health-care facilities.
• Sterilization is intended to convey an absolute meaning; unfortunately, however, some health professionals and the technical and commercial literature refer to “disinfection” as “sterilization” and items as “partially sterile.”
• When chemicals are used to destroy all forms of microbiologic life, they can be called chemical sterilants. These same germicides used for shorter exposure periods also can be part of the disinfection process (i.e., high-level disinfection).
Is this good for your instrument? Not necessarily. Heat, gas, chemicals and other extreme methods could damage the materials and permanently damage the instrument.
Disinfection:
• Disinfection describes a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects.
• In health-care settings, objects usually are disinfected by liquid chemicals or wet pasteurization. Each of the various factors that affect the efficacy of disinfection can nullify or limit the efficacy of the process.
Is this good for your instrument: Yes, however the finish on wood instruments are delicate and can be damaged with some chemicals.
Heritage Winds does not offer, nor is it equipped to offer, Sterilization.
The Sanitization Process at Heritage Winds at Allegro Music Service:
Products Used:
• Soap, Water and Vinegar Solution for Pre-Wash
• Muti-purpose cleaners such as Lysol
• Ultrasonic Cleaning Solution
• Disinfectant wipes and sprays (Lysol and Sanimist Mouthpiece Disinfectant)
• Denatured and isopropyl alcohol
• Commercial Grade Degreaser
Woodwinds: Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones, Oboes, Bass Clarinets, Piccolos
• Plastic mouthpieces
- Degreased and pre-washed with detergent
- Rinsed with warm water
- Sanitized in Ultrasonic machine w/Ultrasonic solution
- Rinsed with warm water
• Flute/Piccolo head joints
- Sanitized with Isopropyl Alcohol
- Interior and exterior sprayed with Sanimist mouthpiece disinfectant
• Standard cleaning procedure for all plastic and metal-bodied woodwind instruments:
- Bodies and keys are sanitized with multi-purpose cleaner and soft clean cloth
- Inner bore is sanitized with multi-purpose cleaner and sprayed with Sanimist Mouthpiece Disinfectant
• Extreme situations:
- Instruments that have mold, stubborn odors, or other extreme sanitary threats are fully disassembled and sanitized in the Pre-Wash Solution, rinsed in warm water and finished in the Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine. Mold is treated with an extra mold killing agent prior to submersion into any of our chemical baths.
Brass Instruments: Trumpets, Trombones • Mouthpieces
- Degreased with detergent pre-wash solution
- Rinsed with warm water
- Sanitized in Ultrasonic machine w/Ultrasonic solution
• Bodies, Slides, Pistons, Valves
- All moving parts are disassembled
- Degreased in degreaser and pre-wash solutions
- Rinsed with warm water
- Sanitized in Ultrasonic machine w/Ultrasonic solution
- Rinsed with warm water
- Final wipe down and fingerprint removal with polish and multi-purpose cleaner
String Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Guitar
• String instrument finishes can be very delicate and caution should be used with any type of cleaning solvent on the finish of an instrument.
• The string cleaning process is designed for presentation to the customer
• Finished surfaces (the scroll and body) of the instrument are cleaned with a combination of shellac reducer and polishes as needed to remove rosin build-up, dirt, and residue.
• Chin rests, pegs, and tail pieces are wiped clean with shellac reducer as needed.
• Polish residue is removed with a dry cloth as needed.
• Wax wash is used as needed on the neck and fingerboard to remove tape/adhesive residue.
• Rosin build-up and grime are removed from the strings with denatured alcohol.
All Instrument Cases
• Interior
- Vacuumed to remove dirt, dust, and other debris.
- Sprayed with disinfectant
• Exterior
- Wiped down with Multi-Purpose cleaner.
Technician Safety protocol:
- Hands are washed between each repair
- Every technician wears nitrile gloves and face masks while working on instruments whenever possible
- Tools and work surfaces are wiped down with Lysol after each completed repair
- Completed wind instrument repairs are test played using our own mouthpieces and reeds, with the exception of flutes. Flute head joints are disinfected after play tested by the technician.
- Each technician follows the sanitization protocols as stated above for each instrument type
General Info:
- Information is still forthcoming about the ability of the COVID-19 virus to spread. At this time it is thought that the virus can live a maximum of 4 days on an inanimate object (like a musical instrument). Therefore, we are allowing all in-coming repairs to sit for four days before we begin the repair process or provide an estimate. For maximum safety for the customer please wait 4 days to play your instrument after it is completed at our shop. This is an extra precaution to consider until further information is available. It is up to each individual to decide how much caution they need to take. This is only a recommendation based on the information available from the CDC at this time.
