The Cleaner Harmonica Exterior

[cisco]

My lack of experience explains my confusion but I wonder about the possible health issues that a harmonica can cause ( i.e. draw, not blow )
I got a little piece of cloth with my harmonicas but once used, is this not contaminated?
The cloth.
I may have found some help simply surfing on “disinfection cell phones” having many easy to find sites.
Germs everywhere!
Anyone try these products?

[Gnarly He Man]

I repair a lot of harmonicas, and many of them have the little cloth, unused, still in the case.
It’s good to keep your harmonica clean, but I seldom worry about getting sick from playing it.

[cisco]

I know that harmonicas do not have a historical reputation for health problems but I didn’t think that cell phones might even as a relatively non contact device.
Maybe sales hype.

[SaxonyFan]

I get a new tooth brush every 6 months.

[Keith]

If you've got germs, you're gonna blow some into your chrom, but as they are yours already, why worry.

Keeping it clean helps with playing it, I mainly just clean off the mouthpiece, & tap out any moisture.

[SaxonyFan]

Kidding aside there is at least one problem related to harmonica cleanliness that I have seen occur. If the mouth piece is not kept clean I can get small erosions at the corner of my mouth. Experience, trial and error taught me that this was due to the build up of junk on the mouthpiece - Junk that could include dead epithelial cells, keratin, various proteins and salts. Debri like this is an tissue irritant and if bacteria gets into the mix these erosions can get painful and out of control quickly.

I have not found wiping the mouthpiece down to be effective in preventing this problem. Instead I use my fingernail to scrape the junk off before playing. I usually do this before playing because it’s easier to see and scrape off the junk after it has had some time to dry. These erosions plagued me until I found this simple method of removing the debris.

[cisco]

Do you have an opinion about wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol/water mix?

I find a lot of references for this as disinfectant and it certainly is a common household item.

[Chromatonic]

Warm soapy water and a soft-bristle brush for me.
The slide runs better if it’s disassembled and thoroughly cleaned regularly anyway.
Sometimes I clean the valves as well.

I only use those alcohol wipes for prepping prior to an injection. But then, I don’t share my harmonicas.

[SaxonyFan]

Do you have an opinion about wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol/water mix?

I find a lot of references for this as disinfectant and it certainly is a common household item.

I don’t know of any justification for using them. Fingernail method works great and doesn’t add to the garbage heap.

[smojoe]

When I showed up at work to work the communications desk, I used a product used by British phone sanitizers on the phones and mics. BUT that was because many different people were liable to use them. Your harmonica is different. Unless the entire cast of the second world war is using your harmonica, what's the terror. You're over thinking..again.
smo-joe

[cisco]

Just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get me.

[Gnarly He Man]

Zinc kills rhino viruses.
It helps at harmonica conventions.
https://insidefirstaid.com/prevention/the-use-of-zinc-gluconate-lozenges-for-colds-benefits-and-more

[Scotty]

Do you have an opinion about wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol/water mix?

I find a lot of references for this as disinfectant and it certainly is a common household item.

I've used the little alcohol swabs but followed by either a paper towel or microfiber cloth dampened with clean water. I find the alcohol can be a lip irritant as well if one is prone to chapped lips. I don't allow 'stuff' to build up on my chromatic mouthpieces by simply wiping down with a dampened microfiber cloth after playing. You can also use a corner to get into the mp holes after tapping it out onto the cloth. To me, the small cloths which come with the harmonicas are a bit small to do a really good job, so I relegate those to wrap around the chrom to prevent dust/cat hair from intruding, so a square 7x7 microfiber cloth which can easily be washed fits into my bag (in a zip-lock), and can be used dozens of times to clean the mp and to buff it dry.  Fwiw, cellphones (and even home phones) are listed as among the most contaminated items in a home, especially if certain people 'forget' to wash their hands after using the bathroom.

There are sterilizing wands which will remove the contaminants (E coli and other bacteria and even viruses), but wiping down with a cloth dampened with something like the aforementioned isopropyl alcohol (diluted) or Anywhere Hard surface Spray (on a cloth only) works for me. My phones are always cleaned as well as every surface I touch in a hotel room when I travel. Others scoff, but hotel tv remotes, door handles, telephones are teeming with those kinds of germs and since I'm someone who's susceptible, I'm usually careful (on the plane as well). Life today isn't as simple as it once was and people are dying every day from sepsis and other major infections contracted IN hospitals. My own brother died from MRSA contracted in a hospital, suffering through several amputations before the final one took his life. If one has a weakened immune system, it pays to take precautions. If one chooses not to, that's entirely fine and their choice.

scotty

[beads]

I disassemle my harps and clean them once in a while just because I'm a germ phobe. It hasn't hurt them, but I'm pretty careful about it. I've been playing for 18 years. This is why I prefer harps held together with screws instead of tiny nails.
I have read that germs can't survive on brass (because of the copper). Same for silver and some other metals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligodynamic_effect

[cisco]

SCOTTY

Sorry to hear your story but well worth noting.

BEADS

Interesting.  After 18 years  I would guess you are immune. 
But I wonder what new bugs might be arriving in the future. ( or now )