Fretboard cleaner

A product used to lift dirt and skin oils out of the grain of an unfinished fretboard before it is conditioned.

Rosewood and ebony fretboards are left unfinished, so they absorb everything a hand carries, and a dark board can look filthy long before it affects playability. Cleaning is usually done with a mild product or a fine abrasive pad, working along the grain between the frets and wiping the residue away. Only after cleaning should an oil be applied, because conditioning a dirty board simply seals the dirt in.

Example: A rosewood fretboard that has gone grey and tacky under the strings is ready for cleaning before it is oiled.

Fretboard cleaner

See also