Your guitar’s fretboard is where all the action happens—and it’s also where sweat, oils, and dirt build up over time. A clean fretboard not only looks great but also improves playability and extends the life of your strings and wood.
At Chagrin Valley Music, we recommend cleaning your fretboard regularly as part of good guitar maintenance. Here’s how to do it the right way.
🛠 What You’ll Need
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Soft, lint-free cloth (microfiber is best)
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Guitar-safe cleaner or lemon oil (for unfinished rosewood/ebony boards)
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Fretboard conditioner (for deeper cleaning)
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Masking tape (optional, for protecting frets during deep clean)
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Guitar polish (optional, for the body—not the fretboard)
1️⃣ Remove the Strings
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Loosen and remove all strings to give you full access to the fretboard.
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If you’re doing only a light cleaning, you can clean between strings without full removal, but deep cleans work best with the strings off.
2️⃣ Wipe Away Surface Dust
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Use a dry microfiber cloth to remove loose dust and debris.
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Gently run the cloth along the length of the fretboard, covering the entire surface.
3️⃣ Clean the Fretboard Surface
For Rosewood or Ebony (unfinished):
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Apply a small amount of lemon oil or fretboard cleaner to a cloth (never directly on the wood).
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Rub gently between frets to remove dirt and grime.
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Wipe away excess immediately to avoid over-saturating the wood.
For Maple (finished):
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Use a slightly damp cloth or a cleaner made for finished fretboards.
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Avoid lemon oil—finished maple doesn’t need it and it can damage the coating.
4️⃣ Condition (Optional for Unfinished Boards)
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Once clean, apply a thin layer of fretboard conditioner to keep the wood hydrated.
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Wipe away any extra product—less is more here.
5️⃣ Clean the Frets
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For stubborn gunk near frets, use a soft toothbrush or special fretboard cleaning tool.
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If doing a deep polish, mask the wood with tape to protect it, then lightly polish frets with a dedicated fret polish cloth.
6️⃣ Restring and Polish the Guitar Body
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Once the fretboard is clean, restring your guitar.
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If desired, polish the guitar body with a safe guitar polish (avoid getting it on the fretboard unless it’s finished maple).
🛠 Chagrin Valley Music Tip
If your fretboard has heavy grime, sticky residue, or dry/cracked wood, bring it to us for a professional cleaning and setup. We also offer:
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String changes
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Neck adjustments
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Full guitar repairs and maintenance
👉 Learn more about our repair services »