Can I Use Pledge to Clean My Guitar?

If you’re not new to Music Gear Heads, you’re probably well aware that, in our texts, we’ve considered just about every guitar cleaning solution out there. However, we’ve somehow missed posing the following question: can you use Pledge to clean your guitar? Needless to say, today we’ll try to even out the score.

Okay, so, you might be wondering: what’s so special about Pledge? Why would anybody consider cleaning their instrument using the product in question? If you’ve noticed any similarity between this and your own thoughts, that might mean we’ve written this one for your eyes only. As always, stay tuned for some useful info!

We’d suggest you steer clear of using Pledge to clean your guitar. That’s because it might damage the finish, especially if it’s Nitro, and dry out the exposed wood. Use products that were meant to be used on your instrument. 

Now, if you’re worried about cleaning your favorite instrument in a proper manner, simply reading the snippet won’t help. Therefore, feel free to dive deeper.

What is Pledge?

Before we tackle our main topic with all the arsenal we’ve got, it’s of utmost importance that we consider the product we’ll mention a lot in this article. In other words, let’s figure out what kind of a cleaning solution (or whatever it may be) Pledge represents! So, what is Pledge?

You’ll want to know that Pledge is a solution that’s used to gently clean most hard surfaces. Pledge deals with dust and various messes without leaving any streaks or residue behind, revealing the natural beauty of whatever it is you’re using it on, something which made this solution very appealing to a wider audience ever since the product was first introduced. Also, you can rest assured that it won’t damage the surface you’re cleaning (keep in mind: we still didn’t say your guitar was a “surface”). When we say surfaces, we’re talking about various hard surfaces such as wood, granite, or, for instance, stainless steel. Not to mention the fact that it has a nice, pleasant fragrance to it, making your every cleaning ordeal a little more bearable.

Lastly, let’s just say that since Pledge is something you’d call a household name, it should come as no surprise that folks imagine cleaning their guitars using the product. However, will that bring any good to your favorite instrument? Let’s find out if you can use Pledge to clean your guitar!

Also, if you’re thinking about using WD-40 on your guitar, read this piece.

Can I use Pledge to clean my guitar?

Did you know that there’s a large debate in the online guitar-playing community about whether a person should use Pledge to clean their guitar? Luckily, you won’t have to go through all of these most-of-the-time unfruitful discussions. In other words, we’ve done it so you wouldn’t have to. Instead of bragging a little more about just how miraculously brave we are, let’s see if there’s an answer we’re satisfied with!

Okay, so can one use Pledge to clean their guitar? Some folks note that once upon a time, Pledge was one of the so-called unofficial guitar-cleaning solutions since guitar finish was much more resistant. However, things have changed. Even though the consequences of using Pledge on your guitar aren’t immediately visible, that shouldn’t mean they’re nonexistent. Here’s the thing: in newer guitar models, Pledge can work its way into the finish and soak the wood, even if you’re just to wipe it on (especially if your guitar has a Nitro finish).

Needless to say, that last sentence doesn’t leave us with anything else to do but steer clear of using Pledge on our favorite instruments. Instead, you can use a vast variety of products that were designed for guitar cleaning. By using them, you can rest assured knowing that you’re using a product that can’t do any harm to your precious instrument. Anyway, now that we’ve got this topic covered, let’s consider some other unofficial guitar-cleaning solutions folks like to inquire about on Google!

Can you use car polish on acoustic guitars?

You’ll be happy to know that you’re actually able to use this unofficial guitar solution to polish your acoustic guitar’s main body. That’s because car polish is known to work well with satin finishes. Here’s what’s weirdest: certain guitar brands even suggest you use car polish with their products. However, you’ll need to be cautious and fill the soundhole of your trusty instrument with some paper towels in order to prevent the hard auto wax pieces from finding their way into it. Also, keep in mind that you’re only able to use this solution on your guitar’s body, not the neck or the fretboard.

Here’s a pro tip: if you’re considering using sunflower oil on your favorite string instrument, you’ll want to find out a thing or two about the consequences of such an action. Needless to say, follow the link above these words.

How to polish an acoustic guitar with car wax?

Now, we’ll introduce you to a simple step-by-step guide on how to polish your trusty instrument using car wax. Here’s what you’re going to do:

• Step #1: Gather the necessary ingredients you’re going to need for the ordeal: some warm water, paper towels, Dawn dish soap, car wax, and microfiber cloths. Got everything? If so, let’s continue!
• Step #2: Remove the strings. Next up, dampen the microfiber towel with soapy water. Use it to deal with dirt, grimes, and residue you’ll find on the guitar body. You might want to use this chance to wipe your fretboard with your favorite fretboard cleaner.
• Step #3: Once everything’s completely dry, apply the car wax to the body using a clean microfiber cloth. Make sure that you don’t get any of the wax onto the hardware pieces (pickups, saddle, bridge, etc.) by covering them using some painter’s tape. That’s because it won’t level any residue behind once you’re done. We’ll repeat this one more time: use car wax only on your instrument’s body, not the neck or fretboard.
• Step #4: Use a dry cloth to clean up the wax and that’s all there’s to it!

Let’s see if there are other products folks to ask about!

Can you use furniture wax on a guitar?

Besides using car wax, are you also able to use furniture wax on your guitar? The answer is: nope, you don’t want to. That’s because it will most probably damage the instrument’s finish, leaving stains. Also, it will possibly dry out any exposed wood.

All in all: using furniture wax is not only pointless but pretty dangerous, too. So, yeah, don’t do it.

Can you use linseed oil on guitar?

Most guitar players that have tried it would agree that it’s completely fine to use linseed oil on a guitar. More precisely, you’ll be using it on your fretboard. We’ve heard stories about some folks using this oil for decades only to witness nothing bad happening to their instruments because of it. However, you should keep in mind that you’ll need to wipe the oil off your fretboard in a thorough manner since you don’t want to store your instrument with some extra oil on it. Dealing with excess linseed oil might take some time, so try not to be in a hurry or something, as you’ll make things worse for your trusty guitar.

Also, be aware that you don’t want to use the so-called “raw” linseed oil for this. Use the “boiled” version instead. Lastly, how often should you do this? Two times per year is something most folks would recommend. If you’re interested in hearing more about the subject, we’ve published an article about it recently. Read it right here.

Is baby oil good for guitar strings?

Nope, you’ll want to know that baby oil’s no good for your guitar strings. You shouldn’t apply anything to them. There are other ways to prolong the life of your strings. To be more precise, there’s a single way you’re able to do that: simply wipe your strings using an old T-shirt each time you’re done playing and that’s it! Once they get too old, just repair them without trying out some weird experiments.

Now, whether you can use baby oil to clean your fretboard is a whole other topic. Follow that link to learn more about it!

Can you clean a guitar with Clorox wipes?

Do you have a guitar that sports a Nitro finish? If so, don’t use Clorox wipes. Otherwise, you’re free to use them since standard gloss instrument bodies are safe to be cleaned using alcohol, purell, and, of course, Clorox wipes.

When using alcohol, simply apply a small amount of it onto a cloth and wipe the guitar body with some care in order to disinfect it. Once you’re done, use a piece of dry cloth to handle any residue left behind. Also, keep in mind that you don’t want to use any harsh cleaning products to sanitize your instrument.

Final thoughts on the subject of using Pledge to clean your guitar

Alright, folks, that’s about all there we’ve prepared today on the subject of using Pledge to clean your guitar. Hopefully, you’ve had some good, clean fun reading this one. If you’re on the lookout for more guitar tips, we kindly recommend you visit this page.