How to clean the inside of your didgeridoo
You don't need to clean the inside of your didgeridoo, but you sure can, and it is not something that needs to be done every week. Hose it out with water, or follow Sanshi's video below, then let it fully air out and dry before you put it back in your didgeridoo bag.
When playing a didgeridoo it is inevitable that a fair amount of moisture (dribble) is going to get on the inside. Most brass wind instruments have a "spit valve" to deal with this. With the didgeridoo, this valve is the end/bottom. If you play for long enough, you may see some dribble come out the end. Don't panic, this is normal :).
So do you need to clean the inside?
You don't NEED to, but you sure can. It's not something that needs to be done every week though. How often you clean your didge is up to you.
If you play your didgeridoo straight after eating a tuna sandwich, then in a day or two you are probably going to want to clean it (or turn back time if you could :)).
Video: how to clean a didgeridoo
We've been getting heaps of questions lately about cleaning your didgeridoo so we decided to make this quick video.
Hit the play button and Sanshi will explain what to do. You can use Eucalyptus Oil or Orange Oil. Be careful with eucalyptus oil, it's extremely strong and is not something you should be ingesting, it's important that you dilute it in water when cleaning your didgeridoo.
We stock Gilly Stephenson's Australian Orange Oil Polish with our didgeridoo maintenance products.
How do I clean a didgeridoo with water?
One way to clean the inside of your didgeridoo is to hose it out with water. Put the end of the hose just inside the mouthpiece and give it a squirt through with water.
If your didgeridoo is painted, make sure that water is not going to damage the artwork. If it's painted with an acrylic paint, or is sealed over the top of the artwork, you should be fine. If the artwork is a matt finish or ochre style of paint, it is best not to get it wet as it will get damaged.
Also check the inside of the didgeridoo, try to see if it has been sealed. If it has been sealed down the inside then you don't have to worry about too much water being absorbed into the timber, so you can give it a good hose out. If it is raw timber, I would keep the hose out short and sweet, just a quick blast.
Will cleaning make my didgeridoo crack?
When timber gets wet and warm, it will expand. This will increase the chances of it cracking. The last thing we want is our didgeridoo cracking!
Make sure once you have cleaned the inside of your didgeridoo, let it fully air out and dry in a moderate temperature room before you put it back in your didgeridoo bag.
If a crack does appear, see Didgeridoo first aid.
Do I pour oil down the inside?
Some people like to oil the inside of their didgeridoo. If your didge has been sealed on the inside with a varnish or resin, don't bother oiling it as it won't soak through to the timber. It will run out the end and leave everything oily.
If it's a naked/natural finish, you can pour some linseed (or similar) oil down the inside. This will moisturise the timber and reduce the chance of it cracking. Once you pour it through, leave your didge propped upright for a few hours so the excess oil can drain out the bottom.
What if my didgeridoo smells?
Some people like to put a small drop of their favourite essential oil inside the didge to make it smell nice. Make sure you start with a SMALL drop, you don't want to overpower your senses.
Hope this info helps with your didgeridoo cleaning and maintenance. Please let us know if you have any questions or we can help in any way.
Happy didging