How to Clean Cymbals – How the Music Industry

Since cymbals are made from a combination of metals, they tend to show some wear over time. The more you use them and expose them to the outside, the more likely it is that the cymbals will pick up dust, collect dirt, and oxidize over time.

Cleaning cymbals is a somewhat controversial topic in the drumming world, as some drummers do it religiously and some don’t do it at all.

Still, you should know how to do it when the time comes. In this guide, I’ll show you everything you need to know about cleaning the cymbals on your drum set.

Should you clean your cymbals?

While most drummers will, it all depends on how you like the sound and look. There are several different types of cymbals you can get, some of which should be cleaned while others should be left alone.

If your cymbals have a shiny finish, cleaning them will give them a new look. They’ll also sound brighter and glossier after cleaning. If this is the sound you want, it should be cleaned regularly.

If you have dark or dry cymbals with earthy tones, cleaning them can actually have a negative impact on those tones. These cymbals will sound better over time as the accumulated dirt improves their sound. So don’t clean these if you don’t have to.

If you do want to clean dark cymbals, make sure to only remove dust from them. Never try to polish them as that will ruin their tone.

Cymbal Cleaning Checklist

You don’t need much to thoroughly clean all cymbals. However, it’s a good idea to build a small cleaning kit so you’re always prepared.

Here is a quick checklist to follow that will show you everything you need in the kit.

microfiber cloth

A microfiber cloth is the most important tool when cleaning cymbals. This is the tool you use to wipe all the cymbals, so it’s best to use two or three.

The reason for using a microfiber cloth is because this material is not too rough on the metal of the cymbals. It also does an excellent job of removing dust without having to scrub hard.

Soap

Use soap next, as simply wiping the cymbal with a cloth may not be enough. I mainly recommend using dish soap because it’s something everyone has at home and it’s known to not damage your cymbals.

Just make sure not to push too hard, as you don’t need to apply too much force to the cymbal for it to work.

water

If you are using soap, you will also need a little water. The hotter the water, the better the effect. However, you should not use water that is too hot.

It’s best to wipe the cymbals down with relatively warm water and soap and a microfiber cloth to remove some of the dirt.

Cymbal polish

The last item you need is cymbal polish. This is a special product that once used will make your cymbals look great again.

You’ll get a variety of metal polishes that drummers might want to use, but I highly recommend purchasing a drum kit brand of polish. These polishes are designed specifically for cymbals, so they give you guaranteed results.

Cymbal cleaning process

wipe cymbals

The first step is to wipe down the cymbals as much as possible with a microfiber cloth. You’ll often find some dust on your cymbals, and removing all that dust may be enough to make them look and sound like new again.

If the cymbals still look like they need cleaning after this, you can continue the process. If you think it looks fresh, I recommend stopping here.

If your cymbals have a dull or dry sound, this is definitely where you should stop. The dust will disappear and doing anything more to them will degrade the quality of the sound they produce.

Repeat this dusting process for all cymbals before deciding whether to take further action.

Use soap and warm water

The next step is to use a little dish soap and warm water. You can prepare a small bucket and dip a microfiber cloth in it. Make sure you squeeze it out well before wiping it onto the cymbal.

You don’t want to put too much water and soap on the cymbals because the liquid and metal mix isn’t good. You just need enough soap to remove all the dirt that tends to come off the cymbals.

When you start cleaning another cymbal, be sure to dip the cloth into the bucket again and squeeze it out. If you don’t, you might end up rubbing dirt all over the other cymbal.

Use cymbal cleaner

If you can still see a bit of dirt on the cymbals, it might be time to use a stronger cymbal cleaner instead of dish soap.

Make sure to use a specialized cymbal cleaner sold by a reputable drum brand. I will recommend a few later.

Before applying the cleaner, use some tape to cover the markings on the cymbals. This is to prevent it from being damaged or peeling due to the strength of the cleaner.

Apply the cleaner to the cloth and rub it on the cymbals. Make sure the coat is thin. Wait a few minutes and then wipe off the cleaner with another cloth.

You should then use a third cloth to dry the cymbals. Repeat this procedure for all cymbals to be cleaned.

Using a cymbal polisher

Typical cymbal cleaners will make your cymbals look fresh, but won’t make them extremely shiny. To do this, you need to use a cymbal polish. Again, be sure to only use polish on bright cymbal pieces as they are the only type of cymbal that will look shiny.

The process for applying polish is the same as applying cleanser. However, you may need to use more elbow grease to wipe it down.

Once done, you can wipe it off with a cloth.

Best Cymbal Cleaner and Polish

As I mentioned before, you should only use reputable cleaners on cymbals made by reputable music and drum brands.

If you use something less certain, you risk damaging your cymbals due to chemicals that shouldn’t be mixed with whatever alloy the cymbals are made of.

To clean cymbals, I recommend using MusicNomad Cymbal Cleaner or Lizard Spit. These two cleaners are extremely popular in the drum community, making them the most reliable options.

If you want to polish your cymbals to make them as shiny as possible, Zildjian Brilliant Cymbal Cleaning Polish would be my go-to.

Can you use household items?

You can use household products to clean cymbals, but they won’t give you the same reliable results as official cleaners from well-known brands.

Also, household items tend to get messier when you clean cymbals, which is the biggest reason I don’t like using them.

With that said, here are some popular options that drummers are known to use:

All of these things have some sort of acidity to them and do a great job of removing dirt from cymbals.

Remove logo

While I’ve mentioned this before, I think it’s important to say it again. The process of cleaning cymbals carries a significant risk of peeling the logo off the cymbal.

You need to do your best to protect them, and putting tape on them while you scrub the cymbals with a cloth is often the best way to do this.

However, you may find a lot of dirt between the letters of your logo. If you want to clean the cymbals in this area, I recommend using an earplug to scrub very carefully around the letters. You can then use dry earbuds to wipe the cleaner on.

Do clean cymbals sound great?

It all depends on the audience. Some drummers prefer the sound of clean cymbals, while others prefer the sound of cymbals that have never been cleaned.

I personally love the way cymbals start to sound over time, but that’s because I prefer dark, gritty, and earthy cymbals over bright and sparkly cymbals.

If I were playing in a big rock band and needed smooth cymbals, I would clean them frequently so they kept their bright sound.

If you’re a jazz drummer who needs texture and clarity from your cymbals, you shouldn’t clean them at all.

Tips for Keeping Cymbals Clean

pin them to the edges

One of the quickest ways for cymbals to get dirty is for the drummer to put his or her hands on them. Over time, sweat and dirt from your hands will build up, and a thick layer of grime will form on the cymbals.

It’s hard to prevent this from happening because you often have to hold the cymbals while playing. However, you can slow down the process by holding the cymbal only by its edges while transporting it.

Keep this in mind when you remove cymbals from their bags or lift them from their cymbal stands.

store them away

Your environment can also affect how dirty your cymbals become. If you place your cymbals on a shelf in a poorly ventilated practice room, dust will accumulate over time.

This dust can thicken on the cymbals, causing them to become increasingly dirtier. You can prevent this from happening by storing the kit away when you are not playing it.

You should also keep a microfiber cloth near your kit for a quick wipe of your cymbals from time to time.

Also, make sure you allow air to circulate around the room so dust doesn’t build up quickly.

Can unlathe cymbals be cleaned?

No, you should never clean unlathe cymbals. Cymbal cleaners and polishes are only suitable for bright, shiny cymbals that look shiny.

If you’re not sure what a latheless cymbal is, it’s one of those plain, almost unfinished cymbals. They’re designed to look that way, and the fact that they don’t have a lathe makes them sound a certain way.

If you try to clean them with a strong acidic cleaner, it will have a negative impact on the sound you hear. It also doesn’t make them look cleaner since they’re not supposed to be shiny in the first place.

The best thing you should do for unlathe cymbals is wipe them with a dry cloth.

How often should you clean cymbals?

It depends on how fresh you want them to look. Some drummers clean it every few months, while others clean it about once a year.

Just make sure you clean them no more than once a month. Using too much cymbal cleaner and cymbal polish can damage cymbals over time.

You only need to wipe it with a cloth once a week to maintain its smooth look and sound.

How to Clean Cymbals, Final Thoughts

Cleaning cymbals is a very simple process. However, you need to be careful not to damage the cymbals or remove the logo, so be as careful as possible. If you want your cymbals to look like new, be sure to invest in a quality cymbal cleaner and cymbal polish combo. Just don’t use these on cymbals that are supposed to sound dark or dry