It is always the best idea to take care of your instrument regularly and on time, instead of looking for a way to fix some damage that might happen in the future. Conclusion You should keep in mind that all of these products are made to take care of your fretboard. It is always a better option to buy a fretboard oil than to experiment with some household products that might contain chemicals that can damage the finish of the guitar.

This kind of pure lemon oil is incredibly potent. It can be helpful for removing this kind of adhesives (if this is your aim) or for removing tough stains, grease, and grime. It is even used to sanitize surfaces in some instances, the citrus acting as a fierce destroyer of undesirable bacteria. You should never use things like kitchen cleaners or bathroom cleaners because you will permanently damage the finish or wood. It is important to know the most you can about your guitar and type of fretboard because for some fretboards you can use lighter fluid or lemon-based oils and for others, that would be a mistake.Martin produces some of the finest (and most expensive) acoustic instruments on the planet, and their advice is that you should avoid using lemon oil on your fretboard completely! You probably know how hard olive oil is to get off your hands (without using soap and water, it’s nearly impossible to remove it all). So that olive oil is going to remain on your strings for a long time. While this may sound good (“I’ll never need to reapply!”), you really don’t want old olive oil clinging to your strings for an eternity. So, many of the popular guitar lemon oils sold by well-known guitar companies are comprised primarily of other oils–usually, mineral oil, which is a pretty good (and cheap) fretboard conditioner by itself. They contain only a small amount of real lemon oil, and the yellow colour comes from artificial colouring. This is something we ought to privy with all instruments – no exception with guitars of all varieties, though this can take a particular toll on the fretboard, of course.

Said products are not likely to feature very much lemon oil whatsoever, owing to the previously aforementioned potency, which can render your fretboard into a shell of its former self. Most of the chemical basis for these products is in other mineral oils – pretty solid and cheap solutions for the cleaning of your guitar’s fretboard. Maple fretboards usually have a hard, lacquered finish on them so they actually don’t need oil. It will have no effect, and could even harm the lacquer. If you have one made of maple, a simple wipe down with gentle cleaner will suffice. Exotic Wood So that sums up the debate. If you are applying oil sparingly, in the right quantities, and keeping your guitar maintained, then what oil you actually use on the fretboard becomes a bit of a non-issue.It’s true that some people recommend the lead from your pencil as a string lubricant. And when taken in context, these people might have a point. Olive oil feels silky smooth when you accidentally get it on your fingers while cooking, so does this make it a good string lubricant alternative? Bore-based oils are a nice alternative to lemon oils. They are great for treating dark wood and are made of a mixture of natural trees and seeds. They are natural, organic, 100% lemon-free, without water or alcohol. Before you put any of these items on your guitar, make sure to read on about how to use them. Even something as simple as water could damage the finish and create warping in the wood. Use special care when it comes to older and vintage guitars. These might require more specialized, professional cleaning. How to Clean Each Part of Your Guitar Using Household Items

Though some people might find cleaning inside the sound hole of your guitar unnecessary, it can be a good step to making sure your guitar produces the clear sound it is meant to deliver. Dust and dirt (or even marbles or paper clips) can disrupt the sound. This wont harm your rosewood or ebony fretboard. As long as they’re used sparingly–only a tiny dot of oil on each fret 1-2 times a year–your fretboard will look, feel, and smell great. Which is why most guitar fretboard oil products on the market are simply mineral oil. They’re only called ‘Lemon Oil’ because they’ve added a few drops of lemon essential oils to the mix for the aroma. Jim Dunlop make a number of products that are perfect for cleaning Rosewood/Ebony fretboards. But if you’ve been super lazy and a lot of gunk has built up, then steel wool might be essential to use. If you do, then make sure to only use 0000 steel wool. It’s fine steel fibres will remove any unwanted dirt without causing damage or wear to the frets. In fact, it will even polish them to an extent!This same sweat so artistically accentuated by the lighting will, over spans of time, wriggle into just about every orifice of the guitar, compromising the wood, metal, and electronics. The amount of dirt that your guitar builds up will depend a lot on the environment that you play the most in, and for how long. For example, if you’re someone gigs most weekends, then you’re probably more than used to enduring 1000-degree stages and standing under enough lights to guide a plane in for landing. Playing an hour set under intense stage lighting makes you sweat, which is the worst thing for your guitar! Using oils will hydrate the wood and keep it healthy. Usually, they will put a protective coating over the wood that can last for months. And one of the best things is that you’ll use oils once or twice a year.

From Truss Rod Adjustments To Basic Cleaning, We Take You Through The 'Must Knows' Of Proper Guitar Set Up and Maintenance Martin Guitars have been around since 1833 (longer than the state of California), and it is safe to assume that they know a thing or two about guitars. However, there is one food-based oil that does fit the criteria for fretboard oil surprisingly well. And that oil is Fractionated Coconut Oil. Can You Really Use Coconut Oil On A Guitar Fretboard?It has a huge amount of oil in it that will last you a lifetime. You don’t need to use it often, once a year should be enough. So for guitars with dark wood without any finish, this is one of the best products. This oil comes in a small, 60ml bottle with a slow-drip release. You don’t need to make any extra effort not to spill it all over the place. It’s pretty reasonably priced and one small bottle will last a long time. You will still use only a small amount of oil to clean everything. Products like Dunlop’s Lemon oil usually called just “fretboard 65” are still great. Fretboard oil comes in a larger bottle, will last for a long time, smell great, but there are different opinions on lemon oils and they can damage finish if used carelessly.