mojojojo
1 post
Feb 17, 2008
10:12 PM
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One issue I haven't heard much on is harmonica hygiene. Germs pass most readily from hand to mouth, and the fingers are coming in contact with the lips.
The obvious point is to keep your harps covered when not in use. Any sort of insect could pass over them overnight. The less obvious point is to wash your hands whenever handling them, especially if you are the type to pick them up whenever the mood strikes.
I've taken to keeping some antiseptic wipes on hand, like the detective Adrian Monk from the TV series, periodically wiping them down.
You've heard about tennis elbow, but what about harmonica tongue? HAS ANYONE experienced swollen tongue or bumps along the ridge of the tongue? Is this a "hardening" process like fingers for guitar players?
I'm in a tropical climate and developing a sort of amoeba fungus on the tongue is more common. I've taken to 2 gargles of Listerine daily.
Mojo
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phil
3 posts
Feb 18, 2008
3:54 AM
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hmmm..don't do that much myself
but being a paramedical type of person i can tell you that washing your hands regularly is your biggest defence against infection (a healthy immune system helps too)
very few bugs can survive a healthy ailementary tract..e.g. assuming a healthy system, no mouth ulcers etc....you can eat aids virus..can't survive the acids etc.
so i would say keep your harps clean but don't be paranoid and wash your hands regularly.
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superchucker77
9 posts
Feb 18, 2008
2:39 PM
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About a year ago I had the worst experiece ever with one of my harmonicas. I used to just let my harps stay in their plastic cases. The hohner big river's case has openings on the bottom of it.I had a roach problem( you probably know where this is going) and one day I was begining to practice on my big river. As I was drawing on one of the holes I felt something go into my mouth. I assumed that It was just a flake of dried saliva which comes out of my old marine band sometimes. When I spit it out, I saw a baby roach land on my pants. I was so disgusted and grossed out. I ran to the bathroom and rensed my mouth out with hydrogen peroxide and listerine. Then I soaked my harps in alcohol, and sprayed them with lysol. Now I make sure to keep my harps in a hohner harmonica case, that is alaways zipped up when not in use.
The horrible things that I have gone through to learn this instrument.;)
Last Edited by on Feb 20, 2008 11:29 AM
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oldwailer
5 posts
Feb 19, 2008
1:15 AM
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Wow! Never thought of the wipes--how does the harp taste after a wipe with them?
I carry a little spray bottle with water and a few drops of mint Listerine in it and I frequently spray down the covers of my harps with it and let them sit for a few seconds, then wipe them down hard with a terry cloth towel and rap them out on my leg. Sometimes I also use a stiff toothbrush--the kind used to clean dentures to brush out the top of the mouth piece holes. That will remove those little dried hunks of crap that accumulate just inside the hole--waiting like terrorists to fly down your throat right in the middle of a huge wailing draw.
I know--ya ain't supposed to use water on a harp--but it sure cleans them up and makes them taste fresh! If they don't last quite as long--what the hell--it's better to buy new harps now and then than to play a dirty one.
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missmymissy
4 posts
Feb 19, 2008
11:39 PM
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The roach story freaked me out! I think I gaged slightly.
I went to a local gun store and bought a white nylon barrel brush that I use to gently scrub out the holes. I can't remember what caliber it's for,it might be a .22.
A clean cloth slightly damp is good. When it gets really nasty you may want to rinse it out under warm water breifly and tap it dry(This may be detrimantal to the wood). Wash your hands and try to brush or rinse your teeth before you play. Thats probably the most important thing you do. Tooth funk is gross, I think I'd rather eat a roach...Then again mabey not.
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mojojojo
2 posts
Feb 20, 2008
10:53 PM
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The antiseptic wipes I selected don't leave an aftertaste. Of course they are "adult wipes", not baby wipes. They are not perfumed.
Here's an idea. If you're not into playing more than two harps at a time when you jam or gig, and don't like shirt pockets or holders or belts, try one of those grandma glasses holders, those cords which hook onto the ends of the glasses so that they can dangle from the neck on the chest.
There are woven cords instead of clanky chains, and if you use Marine Bands or harps with slots on the sides of the covers, you can figure something out to attach it there.
Who knows, it might make an attractive necklace as well. Sport your favorite harp!
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eddylizard2
Guest
Feb 26, 2008
7:50 AM
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Hi
When REALLY starting out with harp I did have problems mainly with my lips (sores always at same side) for quite some time. (learning to bend just took some time with me). So I guess I just overdid it regularly.
But that way I learned to use all kinds of protective lip balms, which still comes in handy (when the taste is right :-).
Besides that I try to have really, REALLY clean dentures when i go to my exercise den...
For different reasons at times I might play with protective gloves on (material: thin cotton or even thin leather)...it's possible...didn't try out the surgical kind yet, though, which might be ideal for immediate hygiene. but your hands will probably start smelling like athlete's feets right afterwards...
Tja, last but not least, once in my 'woodshed' I rinse my mouth regularly and DON'T spit it out - with 'Johnny', 'Jim', 'Glen' or who ever is around (thanks to my very caring wife!:-)), that usually does the trick for me. Helps me to tolerate my own playing. And did not notice any cucaratchas yet!!
But your story really makes me think about getting a good box for my harps - as I am planning to eventually move to an area with 'brown recluse', 'scorpions' and 'poisonous centipedes'....
Knock your harps before you play them!!
Take care!!
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eddylizard2
Guest
Feb 26, 2008
7:50 AM
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Hi
When REALLY starting out with harp I did have problems mainly with my lips (sores always at same side) for quite some time. (learning to bend just took some time with me). So I guess I just overdid it regularly.
But that way I learned to use all kinds of protective lip balms, which still comes in handy (when the taste is right :-).
Besides that I try to have really, REALLY clean dentures when i go to my exercise den...
For different reasons at times I might play with protective gloves on (material: thin cotton or even thin leather)...it's possible...didn't try out the surgical kind yet, though, which might be ideal for immediate hygiene. but your hands will probably start smelling like athlete's feets right afterwards...
Tja, last but not least, once in my 'woodshed' I rinse my mouth regularly and DON'T spit it out - with 'Johnny', 'Jim', 'Glen' or who ever is around (thanks to my very caring wife!:-)), that usually does the trick for me. Helps me to tolerate my own playing. And did not notice any cucaratchas yet!!
But your story really makes me think about getting a good box for my harps - as I am planning to eventually move to an area with 'brown recluse', 'scorpions' and 'poisonous centipedes'....
Knock your harps before you play them!!
Take care!!
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Patrick Barker
7 posts
Feb 29, 2008
9:06 PM
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The roach thing seems pretty nasty- I'd advise getting a roach exterminator to inspect your house because you never know if you have large amounts of cockroaches breeding inside your walls- seeing a couple roaches once in a while could represent a colony that usually doesn't come out from their nooks and crannies. Luckily my house doesn't have too many bugs so if I just keep them in a dry place they seem to stay clean pretty well.
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superchucker77
15 posts
Mar 01, 2008
8:49 AM
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I live in an apartment complex and have been trying to get rid of the roaches for years. I have used tons of different products and none seem to work. The only thing that does work is if the managment staff has every apartment sprayed by an extermanitor, which they have only ever done once.
Sorry for going off topic from harmonicas.
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shaneboylan
5 posts
Apr 07, 2008
6:22 AM
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I live in Ireland - the only roaches I've seen are sitting in ashtrays in students' accommodation.
Back to the hygiene problem - mouthwash (eg. Listerine) will help keep you harps clean, and cotton buds are good for getting that scummy crap out of the holes in your harp (and your ears after a gig)
Alternatively - I always find that a little alcohol always works to keep your harps clean - try to drink more whiskey etc while you're playing...
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bluzlvr
20 posts
Apr 07, 2008
1:37 PM
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I've found that rubbing alcohol works well for cleaning up my harps.....
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harpmonkey
5 posts
Apr 07, 2008
3:04 PM
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One bourbon
One scotch
One beer
Use harp as a straw (SBW II method)
Repeat until your harp is clean or you don't care anymore...
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12gagedan
1 post
Apr 08, 2008
5:41 PM
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My harmonicas are lying all over my apartment and car. The only time they're too dirty is when some gunk stops a reed from sounding. I have no interest in cleaning them, and believe that we are overly concerned about "hygiene" as a society (americans). By sterilizing our environments, we are selecting for the really bad bugs.
However, I will not share harmonicas with anyone unless I'd be willing to kiss that person. I felt really bad not playing one of Jason's brand new Spiers harps when he offered me the chance, but a rule's a rule. I caught mono from a shared harmonica. It was a hard lesson to learn.
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TBone69
9 posts
Apr 10, 2008
9:06 PM
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Not too worried about germs as they are my germs but man the harps start to smell funky after awhile.
I play Hohner Blues Harps and being modular you can take them apart and clean out the gunk as I have had a few particle clog up the reeds.
I know water is no good for wood combs but how about some sort of alcohol, the drinking or non drinking type?
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oldwailer
24 posts
Apr 15, 2008
7:58 PM
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I just found aq great way to clean my harps--I got one of those little spray bottles from a drug store and a fifth of Gordon's Dry Gin from the liquor store. To clean a harp, you just spray a little gin on the harp--be sure to get a little down in the holes--then rub them down. I've had lots less jammage since I started using this method--and the harps taste great. Well--I gotta go--I seem to be out of gin!
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Noblezadaxfan
2 posts
Apr 15, 2008
8:35 PM
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hmm never really thought of that to much alli do is clean t every so often and dont play right after eating
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Philosofy
3 posts
Apr 18, 2008
7:56 PM
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I prefer harps with plastic combs, so after I play in a smokey bar I can just rinse them in a glass of mouthwash.
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roadharp
14 posts
Jan 12, 2010
9:04 PM
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drink a little whiskey once in a wile problem solved.lol happy harpin.
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saregapadanisa
57 posts
Jan 12, 2010
9:38 PM
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superchucker77, great story about the roach.
I've already found poisonous centipedes in my shirt and scorpions in my shoes, but my harps do not attract any creature (I mean animals AND people).
Never had hygiene problems with my harps though, probably because, as I also live in a tropical climate, I always play with my full scuba diving gear on.
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