Proper Maintenance

Making sure your trumpet is kept clean and well taking care of makes sure your trumpet performs as you would like it to. There are a few general rules for proper maintenance.

#1 - Oil Your Values

It is recommended that if you played an hour or to a day, for a week, you should oil your valves at the start of every week. Every week. So around 5, 5 to 10 hours of playing, you should oil your valves around that time frame. You might think that's Overkill, but proper oil. Make sure it doesn't wear away your valves.

#2 - Bathe Your Trumpet Regularly

Giving your trumpet a bath and fully cleaning it out is beneficial for cleaning everything out of it as well as gives your mind a sense of peace. You should do this fairly regularly as it cleans out everything, making sure you have a consistent sound, removes little bits of crud, and maybe even some food you ate last week. Beware, you will likely be disgusted and what comes out of it, especially after not cleaning it in a while.

#3 - Use Slide Grease

Especially after giving your trumpet a bath, using slide grease. Make sure that one your slides don't stick and freeze, having to go to a repair shop. Third valve slide for certain notes that tend sharp, staying in tune. To grease your slides nearly as much as valve oil.

#4 - Wipe Your Trumpet Down Regularly

Wiping your trumpet down regularly is very important, not only because it makes it shinier, but it also wipes off the oils from your hands that slowly deteriorate the finish. You can use a microfiber cloth to do so.

#5 - Clean Your Mouthpiece

Occasionally your mouthpiece will build up little specks in the inside. There's a little brush for it and it only takes about 10 seconds.

Doing all five of these will dramatically increase the lifespan of your instrument, allow you to produce better and more consistent sound, and provide many other benefits.