Looking after Your Guitar

Your guitar is an expensive instrument, so it makes sense to take proper care of it so that you can continue playing it for years to come. Here are a few tips to assist in keeping  its longevity.
Dust. Don`t let dust cover your guitar. Dust build up  can actually affect your guitar`s performance. A very simple approach is to wipe off your guitar with a clean and soft cloth. You can use your own clean cloth or you can purchase special cloths that are available in music stores.
If you are a bit fancy about your cleaning, then you can choose many products available in the market that are designed for cleaning guitars. Guitar cleaners,  liquid solvent and even solutions especially meant for cleaning the fretboard of guitars are available. If your guitar has a matte finish surface, it is suggested to use a water-based guitar cleaner. Don’t use the creamy polished cleaners as they are abrasive.
Use lighter fluid to remove the stains or stickers on your guitar. This solvent won`t harm the finish of your guitar. Use a damp cloth with the solvent and wipe off the tape and stickers.
Before you start playing your guitar, wash your hands as this will significantly lengthen the life of your strings.
Polishing is equally important as cleaning. You will get an excellent shine and it also preserves the wood of your guitar. Always choose a polish that is designed specifically for guitars as any general polish might ruin the smooth finish on guitars.  Areas such as bridge or tuners or even the neck region of the guitar should not be polished.
Your fingerboard needs regular cleaning including the strings and the fret wire. These areas are prone to high-temperature and humidity and also of acidity by the constant touch of the player`s hands.
Lastly, where do you store your guitar. A guitar-case is a must and it should not be stored in too humid, warm or even too cold surroundings. Cheers David www.guitartime.com.au