Cleaning the fretboard

[wishface]

I have a fretboard that's maple or rosewood (or maybe both, i'm not entirely sure). It doesn't appear to be finished or coated in anything. What household products can be used to clean it (as opposed to buying expensive guitar polishing gear)

[Stub Mandrel]

I will no doubt be slated for this... but I clean using baby wipes and oil with sewing machine oil (which is essentially lemon oil without the smell).

[BreadBin]

With really dirty boards I use a heavy dose of lemon oil to soften the grime, clean off with the cheapest fragrance free baby wipes and then reapply lemon oil.

[Reggaebass]

there maybe some good tips here Wishface 🙂

[Stub Mandrel]

17 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

there maybe some good tips here Wishface 🙂

Reading that I'm not alone with babywipes and mineral oil!

[Reggaebass]

6 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Reading that I'm not alone with babywipes and mineral oil!

I can definitely vouch for the baby wipes, after she spilt a glass of red wine down the front of my P bass 😂

[Newfoundfreedom]

You clean your bass?

I don't even clean my house. 

[hooky_lowdown]

14 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Reading that I'm not alone with babywipes and mineral oil!

I use baby wipes for all cleaning, bass, house, whatever. 😎

[Stub Mandrel]

7 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

You clean your bass?

I don't even clean my house. 

Matter of priority...

[missis sumner]

If you can't tell whether it's maple or rosewood, that must be one dirty fretboard?

[wishface]

2 minutes ago, missis sumner said:

If you can't tell whether it's maple or rosewood, that must be one dirty fretboard?

The specs aren't terribly clear so I don't know which it is, or both

[missis sumner]

Basically, rosewood is darkish brown, whilst maple is pale yellow, so pretty easy to distinguish.

Maple is often sealed, because it's so light a colour, it does show dirt easily.

[nick]

After years of using lemon oil, I've switched to Musicnomad F-One fretboard conditioner. I think it's great.

Edited August 24, 2019 by nick