Cleaning your violin

[violins88]

2 hours ago, Anthony Panke said:

I would try orange oil, make sure it is nothing else but orange oil though, as citric acid will damage the varnish. Rub with a clean cloth for some time until it comes off. 

Thanks. You mean this one: https://www.olivenation.com/search.php?search_query=Orange oil&section=product

[Anthony Panke]

If it is free of citric acid then yes.

I have a mixture of orange oil, turpentine and linseed oil (with the label of furniture polish) that works well for my violins but I would not use it on anything valuable as the turpentine could dissolve the varnish and the linseed oil can form a layer on top. 

 

[franciscus]

I would give a chance to Zippo petrol or mineral oil (liquid paraffin) too.

EDIT (I forgot the classics): This is what I usually do (Thanks, J. Saunders): 

keeping in mind this:

 

Edited April 15, 2019 by franciscus
I forgot something

[Anthony Panke]

Old coins are cleaned with distilled water and olive oil, lots of gentle cloth-work and patience. 

[GeorgeH]

Sometimes it is amazing what can show up under decades of rosin and grime.

[MANFIO]

The best violin cleaner/polisher is that one the player NEVER USES! Use just a soft rag, leave all the cleaning to a luthier, if it is necessary. Del Gesù's Paganini's violin has some dark rosin over the table, the restorers decided to left it as it is.

[GeorgeH]

On 11/11/2020 at 8:46 AM, MANFIO said:

The best violin cleaner/polisher is that one the player NEVER USES! Use just a soft rag, leave all the cleaning to a luthier, if it is necessary.

Yes, I totally agree. I show pictures like this to violinists and fiddle players who have coatings of rosin dust on their violins. Some fiddle players even think that it is good for their violins.

This particular instrument was put away and stored for decades, and the "Before" picture was the result (as well as a pulled neck). The rosin had morphed into a thick black crust in some places.

[weller williams]

Murphy's Oil Soap. 1/4 cup per gallon of water.

I've never tried it on a violin, but it works on wood floors.

[Rue]

It's a handy soap for many things. Works on leather...

[uncle duke]

1 hour ago, weller williams said:

Murphy's Oil Soap. 1/4 cup per gallon of water.

I've never tried it on a violin, but it works on wood floors.

yes, works well on wood floors. 

It was a hot summer day some twenty years ago when I was spraying oil enamel in an upstairs section of an old empty mansion.

  Everything was going smoothly until I went downstairs to leave for the day - instead of walking left out the front door I just happened to peak right through the double doors leading to the thousand sq. ft. hardwood floored great room finished with a dark brown shade - now it has a white powdery coat covering it.

  Hot summer day in that neighborhood meant let's work with the central air running and let's also forget to block off the cold air returns upstairs. 

  Long story short, found a gallon of Murphy's oil soap in the basement, sent my coworker home and read the directions - took a while but I believe I fooled anyone else who may of even had an inkling of what was going on.  I say fooled anyone because the boss man showed up the next morning, eventually took a peak into that great room and mentioned that he'd just spent some time a few days ago retouching the small blemish by the fireplace.  I thought the Murphy's did the damage but apparently not.  He just mentioned he'd have to do it again.

The rest of the floor was perfect.  Oil soap is likely safe for violin cleaning but I have not tried the stuff on a violin yet so I can't say yes, go ahead and try it.

[germain]

Nothing cleans a violin like Xylene... I use it outdoors with a respirator or a fan blowing away from me. Wear gloves. A cheap fiddle ain't worth it getting cancer.

[Brad Dorsey]

9 hours ago, germain said:

Nothing cleans a violin like Xylene...

That's right.  But xylene removes some varnishes.  I've seen it happen.  If you're going to use xylene -- or anything else -- try it under the chin rest first.

[germain]

6 hours ago, Brad Dorsey said:

That's right.  But xylene removes some varnishes.  I've seen it happen.  If you're going to use xylene -- or anything else -- try it under the chin rest first.

Very good point