The inside is definitely one of the hardest things to clean on a guitar. And if you aren’t in the mood to take off the strings, it can make the cleaning process even harder. That’s why we have researched and tested a couple of different ways to clean the inside of a guitar. 

We have looked all over the internet, looked through forums, and asked other guitarists what they have done to get the inside clean. In this article, we will be going through those ideas and testing them to see how effective they are. 

Some of these methods work better than others, but at the same time, some are much harder and more annoying to do. So, it’s up to you which method you want to choose.

Before we start….

Before we get into the methods I just need to clarify something. This is 100% optional. The inside doesn’t need as much cleaning as the outside. So, you do not have to make yourself that crazy over this. Not only that but there are some ways to clean the inside but those ways can end up ruining the guitar.

But if you’re a perfectionist like me and want the inside clean anyway, or your guitar’s inside got some real issues, I’m here to help.

Now we can start.

Ways to clean the inside of a guitar

Here is where we are gonna go over __ ways to clean the inside of your guitar. All of the methods listed here are DRY ways you can get the dust out of there. I know you are probably tempted to put water in there but you can potentially ruin the wood this way (especially since the wood on the inside isn’t polished and the water can seep in). It can also ruin the guitar’s tone. You might be able to get away with very very little water but I wouldn’t risk it

1. Vacuum hose

This vacuum hose has the ability to go inside the guitar and collect most of the dust. The best way to accomplish this is to add a brush attachment at the end. Adding a brush at the end will help lift the dust making it easier for the vacuum to pick up the dust.

You can check out a vacuum hose here. Before you buy it make sure it’s compatible with the vacuum you have.

2. Rice

I found this method quite interesting but I still liked it. All I needed to do was put some uncooked rice inside and start moving it around. The rice inside will lift and collect dust. After you shake it for a couple of seconds pour out the rice and dust with it.

3. Compressed air

The way you do this method is simply blowing air into it to get rid of the dust. However, you must be careful not too put too much pressure. This may hurt the inside and potentially affect the guitar’s sound. 

This method is okay but I don’t like it as much as the other ones. One reason is that the inside of the guitar is an enclosed area so a lot of the dust that gets pushed around stays inside still. As opposed to a vacuum that actually takes it out.

What you can do is a combination of both. You can use compressed air to lift the dust. Then, use the vacuum to pick it up.

You can check out a compressed air duster here. the one I linked to also has a brush attachment which can be very helpful in our scenario.

for cheaper options you can check out this compressed air duster or you can check out the Falcon Dust Compressed gas for even cheaper

4. Duster

This method is pretty simple. Use a duster to pick up dust. Who would’ve thought? Anyway, you can use any duster that can fit inside. Once it’s inside you move it all around to pick up the dust.

you can get a great duster on amazon here.

5. Hanger with cloth

This method is the most interesting by far. If you are crafty, you are gonna like this one. Basically, you are gonna need a metal bendable hanger and fold it in a way where you can put some cloth at the end. Once that is done you put it in and get to the spots you need to get to.

What I like about this method is the fact that you can bend the hanger in any way so you can reach those tough spots on the inside. Unlike the duster which it’s just a straight line.

What I don’t like about this method is that it’s quite hard to get a handle on the cloth with the hanger. 

Conclusion

So, there you have it. I hope you like the tests we conducted! We gave you just enough options to try on your guitar. You can refer back to them and decide which one is easiest for you. Some can be easier regarding how to actually do it and some might be easier regarding accessibility to the items. 

I hope you end up getting that dust out! But remember, if you don’t, DON’T PANIC. It’s not that big of a deal. It doesn’t affect the sound as much and no one can see it. Cleaning the body is much more important. Check out our article on how to polish your guitar at home.

I hope you enjoyed!