Can I Use Pledge on My Guitar?

Can I Use Pledge on My Guitar?

Do you have a dirty guitar that needs a good cleaning? Are you wondering what type of cleaning supplies that you already have at home could also be used on your guitar?

You might be wondering if certain cleaning agents such as Pledge, furniture polish, or even rubbing alcohol can be used to clean a guitar. 

The short answer is yes, if you have nothing else and you spilled something on your guitar. After using these chemicals long term however, you could damage the finish on your guitar. 

If this sounds like you about right now, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we go over what cleaning chemicals are okay to use on your guitar, and which ones are not okay. 

We’ll also go over some alternatives that may be better than using what you have in your cleaning cabinet, while also being nice to your wallet. So, let’s dive in.

For the most part, you should be fine with using Pledge on your fretboard as long as it isn’t made out of maple wood. 

Using Pledge on maple wood could cause weird streaks and also damage the wood itself. 

Unless your fretboard is polished, which most are not, then you should only use Pledge for a short amount of cleaning cycles. And furthermore, make sure it is the lemon variety, and not linen-fresh or some other variation of Pledge. 

But, really when it comes to your fretboard, why take the chance? The fretboard could be damaged, which will result in your guitar becoming harder and harder to play as the wood dries out.

Can I Use Furniture Polish on My Guitar?

No! Do not use furniture polish on your guitar’s finish. The reason for this is because it could dry out exposed wood, causing cracking and other similar types of damage to your guitar. 

It could also permanently stain parts of your guitar, making it look unappealing to the eye. This is especially true if it has a lacquer finish.

If your guitar’s finish is the synthetic type, then you may be able to get away with using furniture polish, but why take the chance?

Can I Clean a Guitar With Cleaning Wipes?

When it comes to cleaning wipes, the answer is pretty much the same. While you could get away with using cleaning wipes for a small amount of time, using them for the long haul is not a great idea. 

If you use cleaning wipes on your strings, which is the biggest thing that I see, you could cause your strings to form corrosion more quickly than you would if you used a proper string cleaner. 

Cleaning wipes usually contain a bit of alcohol in them which is a big no-no when it comes to cleaning anything made out of wood. 

Can I Clean My Guitar With Alcohol?

Rubbing alcohol has a tendency to take moisture out of wood products. Therefore, it is definitely not ideal to use alcohol to clean your guitar, especially the wooden parts of your guitar such as the fretboard.

When the wood on your guitar dries out, it will cause severe damage to it such as low action, sharp fret ends, and a hump on the fretboard where the neck joins the body.

You may be able to get away with using rubbing alcohol on your guitar strings as long as you don’t use it every time you clean them. 

What Should I Clean My Guitar With?

When it comes to cleaning your guitar with products that you already have around your house, the best chemical to use is white vinegar.

In fact, it’s probably the only safe household chemical that will be completely okay to use as a guitar cleaner. However, your guitar will most likely smell like vinegar or pickles for quite a while. But in a pinch, it can be used.

The best way to clean your guitar is by using cleaning agents that were specifically designed to clean your guitar.

There are cleaning kits you can get that will have special cleaners for strings, your fretboard, and the body of your guitar.

These kits will usually include some guitar polish as well as microfiber cloths that will prevent your guitar from being scratched as you clean it.

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