How to Care for a Guitar With a Lacquer Finish
- 1). Clean the guitar with a 100-percent cotton cloth after playing. Wiping the guitar protects the finish by removing sweat, dirt and debris buildup.
- 2). Polish the guitar periodically with high-quality guitar polish, which can be purchased at music stores or online. Avoid using furniture polish or other abrasive polishes that may damage the finish. Apply guitar polish with a 100-percent cotton cloth.
- 3). Store the guitar in a hard-shell case. Soft cases are more portable but don't offer as much protection. Avoid storing the guitar in a humid climate. The humidity level should be between 45 to 50 percent.
- 4). Protect the guitar while you play. Avoid extended periods of direct sunlight. Protect the back of the guitar with a scratch-protection pad. A lot of scratches and damage to a guitar come from belt buckles and buttons during use.
- 5). Put the guitar in its case inside the car, not the trunk, when you travel.
