Cleaning the Bell Section

Although the slide is much of the value of the trombone, the cosmetic appearance of the bell is probably next in line for most instruments. Valves add a lot of value due to their complication, but they naturally take a beating on the surface - they sit against the neck or shoulder, and pick up oils from the body.

That being said, care of the bell can help extend the lifetime of an instrument and protect its value.

Gradually, the bell gathers water spots, dust, and other airborne particles. It is possible to just wipe many off with a polishing cloth, but doing this too often can scratch the surface of the bell. I leave most of them on until I can do a proper bath. From the pictures below, you can see that my bell section needed this cleaning.

The tuning slide receiver (small end of the bell) collects grease from the main tuning slide. Just wipe the inside and edges using a tissue. This will help avoid spreading grease all over on the outside of the bell during cleaning.

I clean my bell using a fresh bath of warm and soapy water, and a soft, non-abrasive cloth. Warm water will dissolve and carry away most of the things that sit on the surface. A few spots will need just a slight pressure, but be careful. The bell metal is very thin, soft, and easily bent or damaged. The finish is also easy to scratch.

With a few minutes of gentle washing, a beautiful finish will be restored. I dry mine with a lint-free cloth (just a simple towel) while avoiding the screws - these still may have a bit of metal soot or grease. Avoid a complete air dry, as water spots will remain. I have used a slow, cool air blow dryer before, but it took just as much time as hand drying.

A few spots will come out with the normal brass polishing cloth. I try not to over-polish the surface, though, as I want to avoid scratching the finish.