TromboneChat

I teach fifth grade band, and the end of the school year is coming. I know how I clean trombones in bulk, but I was wondering if anybody has a good system for one or two people to clean and sanitize 25-30 trombones. At my school site, I have access to water, but not a sink. Any tips are appreciated.

Does your school have a pool?

How about using a small kiddie pool outside w/ a garden hose and a touch of Simple Green? When you're done, dump it out. Let the bones dry out thoroughly in the sun.

dwcarder wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 10:58 am How about using a small kiddie pool outside w/ a garden hose and a touch of Simple Green? When you're done, dump it out. Let the bones dry out thoroughly in the sun.

This is a great idea, I would just use more than a touch of the simple green, let them soak for awhile, and snake them out good before rinsing thoroughly. (Knowing 5th graders, there's probably hotdogs and cookie chunks mixed with sugary soda lurking in there since the beginning of the year.)
And get the kids to stay after school and help!

dwcarder wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 10:58 am How about using a small kiddie pool outside w/ a garden hose and a touch of Simple Green? When you're done, dump it out. Let the bones dry out thoroughly in the sun.

Do know that Simple Green, much as I love using the product, can trigger an allergic reaction. A former coworker at my prior job was highly allergic to the stuff (or rather to a particular ingredient in it).

Just a word of caution. Read the MSDS if you're not 100% sure.

Wow, I had not heard that! Good to note & thanks, Kevin.

Agree that letting things soak for a while would be a plus. I say "a touch" as it comes as a concentrate. (at least how I buy it. The label says mix 1:64)

Mamaposaune wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 11:00 am This is a great idea, I would just use more than a touch of the simple green, let them soak for awhile, and snake them out good before rinsing thoroughly. (Knowing 5th graders, there's probably hotdogs and cookie chunks mixed with sugary soda lurking in there since the beginning of the year.)
And get the kids to stay after school and help!

Given these same kids are the ones responsible for the debris in the horns, and 5th graders are not well known for their fine motor skills or attention to detail, I think these are the last people you'd want helping you.

A little bit of "free pizza" buys a lot of high school kids.

Thanks for your ideas, everyone. I use two tubs, a wash tub and a rinse tub. I wash the inner and outer, and snake the inner and crook. I let them dry out and come back and polish the inside of the outer with cheese cloth and rod or my slide o mix cleaning rod.