Being a musician, especially a cellist, is not just all fun and games – it comes with a responsibility too, and one of these is maintaining the cleanliness of your cello bow.
Precautions
Before jumping to the sanitation process, a cellist must know some of these precautions first. It is significant to know that cellos are delicate and need utmost care. Never leave them on any surface with high risk of breaking like getting sat on or tipped over. What you should do instead is store them in a case every time you are not using it.
Moreover, avoid touching cello bow hair with your bare hands. The oils from our hands prevent the hair from creating fiction that leads to poor sound quality of the cello. Besides, it is unnecessary to put rosin every single time you are using it. If you are playing for practice, then 2 or 3 times per week is just right. But, if you are going to play for a public recital, it is recommended to put rosin before the performance. Additionally, tighten the bow hair of your cello. Make sure that it is not loose, but not too tight either.
Maintenance and Materials
If you use your cello bow regularly, you should clean it once a week. A soft damp cloth will do good with gentle presses. This will remove rosin dust, oil and dirt from the bow stick immediately. But if you want to be more extra, there are special clothes designed specifically for cleaning cello instruments and bows. Opt for soft, lint-free, and non-abrasive ones but keep in mind to avoid them getting anywhere near the bow hair.
Polishes and Cleaners
To make your bow more presentable, there are polishes and cleaners for stringed instruments which may also apply to bows. But if your bow is properly cleaned, then this should not be required for you to do so.
If using a polisher or a cleaner, test it first on a small area of the bow to make sure that they are compatible with each other. Take note that commercial or household solvents should not be anywhere near the instrument as it may cause serious damages.
How to clean your cello bow hair
Here is a simple guide on how to clean your cello’s bow hair. Remove the frog and submerge the hair carefully in warm water with a cleaner mixed with it. Wash it gently, just as how you wash your own hair. Work until all the dirt and residue are gone, but be careful getting the frog off with water. Rinse the bow and gently damp with a soft towel. Put the hair back on but do not tighten just yet as the hair will stretch and dry at this moment.
Maintaining proper care of your cello along with its accessories is not an easy task. But by following the tips mentioned above you will be able to lengthen the lifespan of your instrument as well as your cello bow and achieve a perfect condition.
- Rea Ragay
