Not every guitar comes to you in pristine condition. Whether it's a second-hand purchase, a guitar that's been in storage for years, or an instrument that simply hasn't been cleaned in a long time, heavy grime build-up requires a more thorough approach than routine maintenance. Here's how to tackle it properly.

Assess Before You Start

Before reaching for any product, assess what you're dealing with. What finish type? Nitro requires more care than poly — when in doubt, treat as nitro. What's the grime? Skin oil and sweat build-up, old wax residue, dust, or something more serious like mould or corrosion? What's the condition of the finish? Cracks, chips, or lifting finish need to be noted before cleaning.

What You'll Need

• Clean microfibre cloths (several — use fresh ones as they get dirty)
• Naphtha (lighter fluid) for residue and stubborn grime
• A plant-based guitar cleaner for the body, LORE® Instrument Polish
• Fingerboard oil for unfinished boards, LORE® Cold Pressed Lemon Seed Fingerboard Oil
• A soft brush or old toothbrush for fret slots and hardware
• Cotton buds for tight areas

Step 1: Remove the Strings

For a thorough clean, remove all strings. This gives you full access to the fingerboard, fret slots, and areas around the bridge and nut.

Step 2: Clean the Fingerboard

For unfinished rosewood or ebony boards with heavy grime:

1. Use a dry cloth to remove loose debris.
2. For stubborn build-up in fret slots, use a soft brush or toothpick carefully.
3. Apply a small amount of naphtha to a cloth and wipe the board — this dissolves old oil residue and grime effectively.
4. Allow to fully evaporate (a few minutes).
5. Apply a small amount of fingerboard oil, work it in, leave for 5–10 minutes, then wipe thoroughly. The LORE® Cold Pressed Lemon Seed Fingerboard Oil is perfect for this job!

For the conditioning step, a cold-pressed oil makes a significant difference on heavily neglected boards — it penetrates deeply and restores suppleness without leaving a greasy residue. The LORE® Cold Pressed Lemon Seed Fingerboard Oil is petroleum-free and formulated specifically for unfinished tonewoods, making it a reliable choice after a deep clean.

For finished maple boards, use only a slightly damp cloth or naphtha — no oil.

Step 3: Clean the Body

1. Start with a dry microfibre cloth to remove loose dust.
2. Apply a plant-based guitar cleaner to a cloth (not directly to the guitar) and work in small sections. The LORE® Instrument Polish works well here — it cleans and polishes in one step, and is safe for lacquered and poly finishes.
3. For stubborn residue — old wax build-up, sticky patches — naphtha on a cloth cuts through effectively without harming most finishes.
4. Follow with a clean dry cloth.
5. Once clean, apply a carnauba wax polish to protect the finish. The LORE® Fingerboard and Body Wax is a natural carnauba-based wax that seals and protects the finish after cleaning — a good final step on any thorough clean.

Step 4: Clean the Hardware

Use a dry cloth for light tarnish on metal hardware. For heavier oxidation, a specialist metal polish applied carefully with a cotton bud works well — keep it away from the finish and fingerboard. For tuning pegs, a dry brush removes debris from around the buttons and posts.

Step 5: Clean the Nut and Bridge

Use a soft brush to remove debris from the nut slots and bridge saddles. A small amount of naphtha on a cotton bud cleans effectively in tight areas. Re-lubricate the nut slots with graphite or beeswax before restringing.

Step 6: Restring and Set Up

After a thorough clean, it's worth checking neck relief, action, and intonation — cleaning can sometimes reveal setup issues that were masked by grime and string build-up.

A thorough clean on a neglected guitar takes time but is deeply satisfying — and often reveals an instrument in much better condition than it appeared. Work methodically, use the right products for each surface, and don't rush. The result is worth it.

Get everything you need for a proper deep clean. The LORE® range covers every surface — petroleum-free, naturally formulated, and built for players who care about their instruments.
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