Basics of Guitar Maintenance

1. Keep the guitar from falling: Don’t leave it leaning on the wall or the edge of a table or some other furniture. For a short while you can leave it lying down on a sofa, table or bed. For longer periods it is best to hang it on the wall.
   


2. It is best to keep the guitar in its case or gig bag. There it will be kept safer from dust or accidental scratches, and also have some protection from temperature and humidity. A hard case is a safer place, but is more expensive and heavier. It is an essential when traveling, but otherwise a gig bag will suffice.
   


3. Don’t expose your guitar to big temperature changes. Normal room temperature (25 °C) is best. Don’t leave you guitar outside in your car exposed to the sun, or near a hot radiator or oven.
   


4. Humidity is the biggest enemy of the guitar, especially guitar neck. A humidity range of 40-50% is best. If your house is constantly dry because of the air conditioning, use a humidifier.
   


5. Change the full set of strings once in two-three months. Don’t remove all strings at once: replace the strings one at a time.
   


6. When replacing the strings, it is a good idea to go over your guitar with a screwdriver and make sure everything is bolted in place. Don’t screw the screws to tight. Also use this time to check your pickups’ batteries if you have active pickups. Get a battery tester for this purpose.
   


7. Clean your guitar body with a soft cloth.
   


8. Clean the fretboard of the guitar from regularly, before dirt builds up. Clean especially the wood between the frets with a clean damp cloth. Make sure the neck does not remain wet after your cleaning.
   


9. Don’t spray any cleaning solution directly on your guitar: Apply it to a cloth and wipe the guitar with the cloth.
   


10. Wipe your guitar strings with a dry cloth after playing.
    


11. When storing the guitar for a long period, loosen the strings to reduce the tension on the guitar neck.