The guitar is such a beautiful instrument. It’s such a shame when we can’t enjoy it because of how dirty and gunky our pedals get. Pedals are often overlooked in the cleaning process, but they should absolutely be cleaned regularly, especially if you’re using them frequently. This guide will teach you how to clean guitar pedals.
You may think all pedals need to be cleaned the same way and with the same products, but that just isn’t true. Here are some tips on how to clean your pedals properly so that you can keep playing your favorite tunes for years to come.
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The Dirt on Pedal Cleaning
Pedals are an essential part of the guitar player’s arsenal. Without them, you would have to plug your guitar into an amp with a mic or directly into the amp. There are various types of pedals for different sounds, like distortion, modulation, delay, wah (a pedal that simulates a human voice), and more.
Pedal maintenance is important for keeping your pedals in good condition and preserving the life of them. If you neglect cleaning your pedals, they will inevitably build up dirt and grime that can cause things like oxidation (which will make it harder to use the pedal). Dirty pedals also tend to be louder than clean ones because there is more sound bouncing around inside of them. Pedal maintenance isn’t difficult once you know what you’re doing. If you want cleaner, quieter pedals for your guitar playing, here’s how you can do it!
What You Need to Know to Clean Your Pedals the Right Way
Different pedals require different cleaning methods. Some pedals, like true bypass pedals, don’t need to be cleaned at all. Other pedals may require a thorough cleaning with rubbing alcohol or a similar product.
Not only do you need to know how to clean your pedals properly, but you also need to know what products will work best for them. While some people use rubbing alcohol on most of their pedals, we recommend using isopropyl alcohol for any pedal that has an LED screen or display. This ensures the display doesn’t get damaged and it also helps the pedal maintain its original color and shine.
Another important thing to remember when cleaning your pedals is where they are located in your house. If they are in an area where there is high humidity or direct sunlight, you should clean them more often because these conditions can cause rusting and other problems over time.
It’s always important to keep your instruments in tip-top shape so they stay looking great and working well for years to come!
How to Remove Dust and Debris from Your Pedals
If you have pedals that are really dirty, the best way to start cleaning them is by taking off the back plate. You’ll want to remove any cables or power cords before starting. You can use a rag or paper towel with rubbing alcohol to clean the dust and debris off of your pedals. Make sure to do this both on top and underneath your pedals. If there is still noticeable dirt after doing this, it might be time for a more in-depth cleaning.
There are three main ways to clean guitar pedals:
1) Wiping with a dry cloth:
This is probably one of the easiest methods for cleaning your pedals as long as you don’t mind wiping it down after every time you use it. It’s easy, fast, and cheap!
2) Wiping with a damp cloth:
If you don’t want to wipe your pedal down after every usage, this might be a better option for you!
3) Taking apart and cleaning:
This is by far the best option if your pedal is really gunky or dusty inside. You’ll need some small tools like screwdrivers and pliers, but once it’s taken apart, it’s much easier to clean up all those hard-to-reach places.
How to Remove Grease and Wax from Your Pedals
Pedals can often be covered in grease or wax, which can make them difficult to clean. Grease and wax are usually the result of spills, but sometimes they can build up over time. If you need help removing grease or wax from your pedals, there are a few things you can do. You’ll want to use something like an oil-based cleaner or polish to remove this residue.
Using just water may not be enough to remove these substances from your pedals, especially if they’re caked on heavily. When cleaning your pedals with an oil-based product, it’s important that you don’t spray it directly onto the pedal itself because it will strip the surface of the pedal and leave it looking dull. Instead, spray your pedal with a little bit of water first so that the oil product will have better access to the surface of the pedal before you wipe it off with a cloth or paper towel. This will ensure that you’ll keep your pedals looking shiny and new for years!
How to Remove Rust from Your Pedals
It’s not uncommon for pedals to have some rust on them. In fact, if you’ve been using pedals for a while, it’s probably happened to you before. When pedals get rusty, they’re usually pretty difficult to remove the rust from.
Pedals can often be a pain to clean because there are so many crevices. If you want to avoid going into those crevices with a toothbrush or other abrasive materials, one easy way is to use a product called “rust remover”. This type of cleaner is specifically designed for removing rust from metal objects and has been proven effective by guitarists everywhere!
In order for this technique to work best, it’s important that the pedal is rinsed thoroughly after being soaked in the solution. When scrubbing at the pedal with a towel after soaking, use a little extra elbow grease and don’t worry about hurting the finish of your pedal. After soaking and scrubbing, rinse again with water and then dry off any excess moisture that may have accumulated while scrubbing with a cloth or paper towel. You’ll be left with a clean pedal.
How to clean guitar pedals FAQS
It’s important to clean your pedals every time you use them, or at least every two weeks. You can also take the time to clean your pedals once a week if they’re in particularly bad shape.
Analog pedals are made of metal and have more of a tendency to get dirty if not properly taken care of. Digital pedals, on the other hand, have a circuit board that is sensitive to certain chemicals, so you need to be careful when cleaning them. Make sure you know what type of pedal you have first before using any products on it!
There are many different types of products out there that work well for different types of dirt and grime on your pedals. It’s important that you read the instructions on the product before using it because some products may damage your pedal depending on what type it is. For example, alcohol will ruin an analog pedal because it will dissolve the metal components, but it would be okay for a digital one as long as you don’t let it dry out too much afterward.
Cleaning your pedals will help prolong their lifespan, make them easier to use, and maintain their original sound. Cleaning your pedals can also prevent damage due to corrosion.
This is entirely up to you! If you’re using your pedal daily, they’ll most likely need more frequent cleaning than someone who uses it once a week or so.
Conclusion
Depending on how often you play, your pedals can get pretty dirty. They’re also made of metal, which means they’ll accumulate rust. So if you want to keep your guitars sounding great, you should learn how to clean guitar pedals.
Luckily, there are a few different ways to go about it. One way is to use a soft brush (we like using a toothbrush) with some water and soap to gently scrub away dust and debris. Another way is to use denatured alcohol (a cotton swab is handy for this) to remove grease and wax. And you can also use a mixture of vinegar and water (or rubbing alcohol) to remove rust (though this method is less effective than the others).
To clean your pedals, you’ll need a few things:
– A container with a lid (a plastic container will do the trick)
– Lighter fluid (or any other solvent you prefer)
– A rag
– Dish soap
– Cleaning gloves
– A brush or toothbrush
– A scrubbing tool (the key is to avoid wire brushes)
– Paper towels
– A toothpick or dental pick
– Isopropyl alcohol
