Fretboard grime solvent.

[Jeff Scott]

Pledge, if it's good enough for a $25, 000 motorcycle it's good enough for a $2,500 bass. Been using it for years.

Does Pledge have silicone in it?

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Does Pledge have silicone in it?

It does. If you're worried about future refinishing, please read on.

I've restored many lacquered items over the years, and nowadays that's not as much of a worry as the general world might have you think. Experienced refinishers treat nearly everything as silicone contaminated these days, because it usually is. Think about it... a body shop won't reject your collision repair because you used Turtle Wax or went through automated car washes, and an antique restorer won't ignore you because Aunt Polly bought care products at the grocery store.

The answer to silicone contamination includes dewaxed shellac or a commercial anti-fisheye additive, which is usually a silicone based product. https://www.woodshopnews.com/columns-blogs/four-methods-to-prevent-fish-eye

 

[Drredplate]

It does. If you're worried about future refinishing, please read on.

I've restored many lacquered items over the years, and nowadays that's not as much of a worry as the general world might have you think. Experienced refinishers treat nearly everything as silicone contaminated these days, because it usually is. Think about it... a body shop won't reject your collision repair because you used Turtle Wax or went through automated car washes, and an antique restorer won't ignore you because Aunt Polly bought care products at the grocery store.

The answer to silicone contamination includes dewaxed shellac or a commercial anti-fisheye additive, which is usually a silicone based product. https://www.woodshopnews.com/columns-blogs/four-methods-to-prevent-fish-eye

I have used pledge before and it works fine on guitars and probably does contain silicone.
Not a problem in car body shops as of course they use degreasers. Isopropyl alcohol I think.
The only problems body shops have is with ceramic wax where they have to attack it with a DA.

 

[Five or Six]

I have never read the ingredients on a can of pledge. It has never hurt a thing in over 50 years of use on my motorcycle's or basses.

 

[jbybj]

I would not recommend the use of pure lemon oil on an instrument. If you do insist on using it, beware. This from the Safety data Sheet of Lemon Essential Oil 100% Pure:

"Flammable liquid and vapour. May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. Causes skin irritation. Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces. Avoid breathing vapour. Wash hands and other contacted skin thoroughly after handling. IF ON SKIN (or hair), remove/take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower."

That Safety Data Sheet is from a wellness company that sells pure lemon oil as a health product. Doesn't sound healthy to me.

Every single method mentioned in this thread is potentially fatal, if you’re a moron. FWIW, the fine folks at Alembic recommend pure lemon oil for their ebony boards. They must simply assume that people won’t drink it or rub it in their eyes, because they never said anything specifically.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I absolutely adore these threads. 1000 answers, 1000 opinions.

 

[CletusMarley]

I just use a tooth brush and lemon oil. Works like a champ.

 

[Turnaround]

Every single method mentioned in this thread is potentially fatal, if you’re a moron. FWIW, the fine folks at Alembic recommend pure lemon oil for their ebony boards. They must simply assume that people won’t drink it or rub it in their eyes, because they never said anything specifically.

All guides I have found from the purveyors of pure lemon oil say that it needs to de diluted to about a 2 percent solution to be used topically. They warn against undiluted skin contact. That’s why I don’t recommend pure lemon oil as a fingerboard cleaner/conditioner.

 

[Watchootognbout]

You know the saying…”The funk is in the gunk”

An staph infection is in the funk too!

 

[B-Mac]

I absolutely adore these threads. 1000 answers, 1000 opinions.

What’s really funny is that the OP ran away laughing. Hasn’t been here since the first post.

 

[Standalone]

Does anyone have any recommendations for cleaning finger grime on an Ebony fretboard? Can you use denatured alcohol or goof off? Thanks all

I use a wood floor cleaner called METHOD

It’s available at places like Target. It’s phenomenal and has seemed to be very gentle on the wood. I’ve cleaned some *super crusty* used axes with it. And some usual player grime on my own.