Do you want an accordion that is always perfect? Maintenance keys for this instrument

An instrumentalist who is truly passionate about music knows that his instrument is part of his life and taking care of it is like taking care of himself. Choosing the accordion as a companion is a decision that entails responsibility in maintaining it to prevent it from being damaged and unusable. Cleaning it, putting it away and moving it away from certain situations will make the accordion stay intact longer.

One of the most striking and complex instruments of all is the accordion. Its structure is “strange”, so to speak, since it seems that it is the mixture of several objects in one. At one end, it resembles a piano, at the other end, it looks very similar to a computer keyboard because of the number of keys it has, and these two sides are joined by a kind of cardboard structure that opens and closes to produce the sounds.

All this is completed with, most of the time, brightly colored eye-catching designs that prove the fact that the goal of the accordion is to attract attention and shine everywhere. Whether it’s its striking and creative design, its beautiful melodies or its peculiar structure, the instrument manages to stand out at all times.

It is understandable that with so many parts involved in its manufacture and with its complicated and unique design, the accordion is an instrument that must be taken care of to avoid deterioration and that its cleaning may require a little more time than other more commercial instruments, such as guitars. or batteries.

To keep an accordion in good condition, it is not enough to just buy a product manufactured by the best brand of accordions (in this link you will find several products to analyze) that you can get because, if you do not take care of the instrument, it will inevitably lose its shine and its functionality. If you want to keep playing like a pro and keep the melodies intact, then there are a few things to keep in mind.

How to clean an accordion?

The first thing that should be part of your accordion maintenance routine is a good cleaning. This should be done every three to six months. For this you must have on hand: cotton, a cloth, soap and water.

Moisten the cotton and add a bit of soap to it to take care of the entire outside of the accordion and get rid of any dust that may collect there. If the cotton gets very dirty, change it before you continue cleaning; otherwise, you’ll just spread dirt.

Using the cloth, clean the dust from the keys and buttons, preventing it from accumulating and reaching the valves. Then, pass the cloth over the entire structure to be able to dry the accordion.

You should not use alcohols, solvents or any solution other than water. If you wish, when you finish cleaning, you can use a special wax for accordions that allows you to clean the wood and make it shine like never before.

What must be taken into account to take care of an accordion?

Cleanliness, as stated above, is paramount in accordion maintenance. This prevents dust from accumulating and the instrument from wearing out, however, if you really want the accordion to remain intact for a longer period of time, then it is necessary to take into account some tips when handling, storing and even transporting it.

When playing the instrument

Due to the complexity of the internal structure, if you do not have knowledge about all the components of the accordion, it is not recommended that you handle the interior of the instrument.

Before playing the accordion, sound each of the keys and buttons in order to prepare them for your practice session, as this will make the sounds more beautiful and fluid. Even if you don’t want to play for practice, taking your accordion out and playing the notes daily will keep your components in good shape. Otherwise, the reeds can become somewhat “stiff”, which will negatively affect the sound in the long run. Also, remember to treat the bellows carefully, without pulling it abruptly, to avoid detachment and irreversible damage to the instrument.

If you buy a new accordion and want to play it, you should keep in mind that it is not recommended to apply too much pressure the first month of use to avoid forcing the keys and wearing out the structure.

When you need to move it from one side to another

If, due to a presentation or because it is close to you, you must transport it, the first thing you should do, like any instrument, is to place it in a case. This will protect your accordion from bumps, drops and also keep it clean.

If you will be traveling by plane or going on long road trips, always take your accordion with you, as hand luggage if you are at the airport. Leaving it in a car trunk or airplane hold subjects the instrument to vibrations from movement and minor shocks from this.

By keeping it in your home

If you don’t use it very often and keep your accordion in your home, it needs to be protected from three things above all others: humidity, temperature and dust.

For example, humidity greater than 65% causes poplar wood, like any other, to swell and instrument parts to begin to deteriorate. This risk increases when you live near the sea, since the air, in addition to humidity, comes with saltpeter. This beach environment causes rapid oxidation and corrosion can damage the instrument.

Exposing the accordion to extreme temperatures can also completely damage it. If the temperature is below 12°C, the cold can wear down the metal parts and distort the tones of the instrument. For its part, temperatures above 25°C can contribute to the deterioration of the wood and the softening of the wax used for gluing and coating. Keeping the accordion in a place free of humidity and at a temperature between 15 and 25°C is ideal.

In addition to this, keeping the accordion free of dust will allow it to remain intact longer. Storing it in its case is the easiest thing to do, while cleaning it will actually prevent the valves from closing due to dust.

If you decide to take care of the accordion, you will surely enjoy it for years and you will not notice the passage of time. Therefore, keeping these tips in mind will mean that you will not need to acquire another instrument for quite some time.