Keeping your cymbals clean is important for their upkeep. Do not play with dirty hands, and when carrying cymbals, use two hands on the perimeter of the cymbal to avoid fingerprints. Dirt and spills should be removed immediately with warm water and soap.

Does cleaning cymbals affect sound?

Before you actually start cleaning, you should consider how you like your cymbals to sound – because yes, cleaning a cymbal can have an effect on it. A cymbal that's either brand new or has been cleaned is going to sound brighter than one that's seen a lot of use (and hasn't been cleaned regularly).

How do you clean dirty cymbals?

Scrub the cymbal with a heavy nylon brush if it's really dirty. For cymbals with extra buildup, you may need a little more elbow grease! While the cymbal is still soaking in the soapy water, use a heavy nylon scrub brush to scrub at the grooves. Remove the bulk of the grime with the brush, then rinse it off.