How To Clean A Drum Set

Unboxing a brand new set of drums is mesmerizing. The flawless colour finish, the pristine chrome hardware and the untouched skins look so inviting to play. But it's time you learned how to clean a drum set, because over time drums will naturally collect plenty of dirt, moisture and fingerprints.

You will want to make sure your drums look and sound great for years to come. In this article I will explain how to clean a drum set and perform maintenance so that it lasts as long as intended. Drums aftercare is not particularly difficult, but it is good to develop a routine for aftercare so your new drums and cymbals will be kept in excellent condition.

Once a year is a great time to perform a full drum set maintenance by cleaning your drums properly. This will require replacing all the batter heads with brand new skins to keep them sounding as good as new. The resonant drum skins will also require replacing but not as frequently, I would advise every 2 or 3 years. Read on to learn how to clean a drum set!

1) Using a drum key, remove the batter and resonant drum skins

Working your way around the drums clockwise, loosen the tuning rods with one full rotation of the drum key. It is important to loosen the lugs in pairs from opposite ends of the drum to provide even distribution across the hoop and the shell. Once both skins on each drum are removed, make sure you keep all the tuning rods together not to lose any loose parts.

2) Gently wipe down the exterior and interior of the drum shells

Don't forget to go in between the lugs, to remove fingerprints, dust and any grime. I recommend using lemon oil and a soft, clean cloth but it is also okay to use wood polish. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or any harsh cleaning agents for drum shells.

3) Clean the bearing edges on the drums

The bearing edge is hugely responsible for the sound of the drum, because it transmits the vibration of the drum skin to the shell of the drum. The manufacturer precisely cuts the bearing edge to a desired angle in order to obtain a good sound for a drum.

The bearing edges collect dust and debris over time, and this has an impact on the sound and performance of the drum. When learning How To Clean A Drum Set, very gently rub down the bearing edges with a soft, oiled cloth and then apply a generous application of Vaseline to smoothen the edges.

4) Clean the chrome hardware to a mirror-shine

Polish the chrome hoops with a cloth and some chrome cleaner or metal polish to remove marks and any light surface grit. If the hoops are very dirty or there are rust spots, use some wire wool to remove the blemishes.

After buffing the hoops, the next step is to dip the tips of the tuning rods lightly in Vaseline petroleum jelly. This will lubricate them and ensure they will remain slick inside the lugs.

5) Re-skin the drums with the brand new heads

Now that the shells, bearing edges and chrome hardware have all been cleaned, its time to apply the brand-new drum heads onto the drums and tune them to your desired pitch.

Firstly, tighten the tuning rods into the lugs across the drum to 'finger tight' level. Now go across the lugs with a drum key to one full rotation until the drums are tuned correctly.

6) Lastly, polish the cymbals with a cymbal cleaner solution

Cymbals are an easy part of the drum set to clean, and this cleaning process can be performed as frequently as every month if so desired. Firstly, place the cymbal on a towel on the floor and evenly spray on the cymbal cleaner solution.

Whilst wearing gloves, buff the cymbal in a circular motion with a cloth until a mirror-shiny finish has been achieved. It is important not to apply too much pressure on the cymbal with the cloth to prevent any warping or damage. Repeat the process for the other side of the cymbal.

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