Sweat, skin oils and moisture are what kill strings early. They sit in the windings and start corrosion within hours. A quick wipe right after you play does more than anything else to extend string life.
A one-minute routine:
- Wash and dry your hands before you play.
- After playing, wrap a clean microfiber cloth around each string in turn.
- Slide the cloth from the bridge to the nut a few times.
- Thread the cloth under the strings and run it along the fretboard to catch residue.
- Wipe the underside of the strings near the pickups or soundhole, where grime collects.
What to avoid:
- Spraying polish or oil on strings. Polish is for finished surfaces, and oil belongs on bare fretboard wood.
- Paper towels. They shed fibers and can scratch a finish.
- Storing the guitar damp. Let it dry before closing the case.
Our Premium Microfiber Polish Cloth (GP-PLC) is safe on strings and finishes. If you sweat a lot or live somewhere humid, our CRT Coated Nickel and CRT Coated Phosphor Bronze sets are made to resist corrosion.