You do not have to clean your guitar, although wiping it down to remove body oils / salt and grit will certainly extend the life of the finish. This is especially true of lacquer finishes which turn soft when exposed to body oils and sweat. You have probably noticed older guitars where the finish is completely wore off of the neck. There are as many opinions as to how to clean the guitar as there are players. I will offer my 2 cents worth.

Before considering cleaning the guitar, one must realize that water is the guitar’s worst enemy. Even a humid atmosphere for an extended time will ruin the guitar beyond repair. Also, waxes, detergents, and oils found in cleaners may damage the guitar. If you have a guitar with a cracked or scratched finish, the best advice may be to wipe it down with a dry cotton cloth.

When I play, I get sweat and finger prints everywhere. I keep an extremely clean and soft cotton cloth (I use an old diaper) on hand and wipe the guitar down in the middle of a set. Sometimes even more often. I wipe down the neck several times, a quick wipe after each tune. I also run the cloth under the strings and giver the fingerboard a work after every session. Occasionally, when replacing strings or making a repair or adjustment, I will set time aside to clean the guitar. I take a perfectly clean and soft cotton rag and steam it until it is damp to the touch. I then wipe the guitar down until all smudges are gone.

Some Luthiers recommend a guitar cleaner, others recommend methods similar to mine, some argue against water of any kind. The cleaner most often recommended is one made by Martin, but I have not used it myself. What ever you choose to use, remember to use it judiciously and follow the instructions. If your guitar has not been cleaned for a long time, you may have to use a cleaner. If you are in doubt, ask a good luthier for help, it will be money well spent.

Polish:
If cleaning is not confusing enough, the different views about polishing are even more diverse. Almost all authorities argue against the use of furniture polish, and many against any polish at all. Jose Ramirez III says that the guitar finish is adequate enough, and additional polish only adds unnecessary layers. Others argue that the finish requires a little maintenance. There are dozens of types of polish available for the guitar. But before you use one, it would be a good idea to get professional advice.

I have a Martin classical which I purchased new about 30 years ago. Since that time, it has seen a lot of use, and maybe some abuse as well. A few years ago I noticed that the finish was wearing thin on the sides all the way down to the wood. I discussed this with a luthier and he argued against refinishing because not only the cost, but removing old finish often required removal of wood as well. He recommended that I use a wax based polish (the sides are Brazilian rosewood) if I insisted on a nice shiny finish. An oil or water based polish would soak into the wood and discolor it, wax less so.

I place a small amount on a clean cotton cloth and apply only to the areas that the finish has worn thin. It appears that since I began this practice, the finish has not deteriorated any more.

Similarly, the soundboard of my Ramirez classical suffers a lot of abuse from my nails. I might inject here that I occasionally play with a pick, and I plant my fingers just below the strings when playing some music styles. I have taken to putting a dab of polish in this area as well, which seems to allow for buffing out the minute scratches, and I hope extending the life of the finish in this area. I treat the Martin in the same manner, but the glossy shine is long gone.

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