When a cymbal gets dirty, the added weight and impromptu coating change its tone. It goes dark. Cleaning and polishing the cymbals is the only way to restore their factory sound.
Today, we are going to show you what we think are the best cymbal cleaners you can get. We chose those products which got the job done and didn’t damage the cymbal in the process. Let’s get started with the rundown.
(A warning, though: some cymbals are not meant to be polished. Just make sure you consult your cymbal’s user manual to make sure if this is the case. Here’s a good explanation of which cymbals can be cleaned and polished and which can’t.)
Lizard Spit MP03
This is a very unusual-looking cleaner that has an equally unusual name. However, it has been the choice for many drummers in the business. When you want to get the job done on the go, this solution is what you want to have in your gig bag. In terms of price to volume, it’s a bit on the expensive side. However, it is definitely worth the money.
Performance
This 4-ounce bottle contains a solution that was carefully synthesized to provide best results when applied to bare metal cymbals. It quickly works through the dirt and grime that you have collected over time, but it also removes oxidation.
One of the great things about the Lizard Spit MP03 is the fact that it’s a polish as well—likely the best cymbal polish, in fact. This means that you can clean and protect your cymbals in one swoop. Once you apply the MP03, you have coated your cymbal with a thin protective film that makes them preserve that sweet polish longer and effectively reduces the risk of oxidation.
Groove Juice
Groove Juice is a bit of a niche cymbal-cleaning solution, but that is what makes it so great. This product has been on the market for a while now, and it has successfully passed all the trials it was put on by a variety of drummers. What truly sets it apart is the way you use it.
Performance
Groove Juice comes in an 8-ounce bottle with a spray nozzle on top. That alone could probably hint a few things about this product. When you want to apply the Groove Juice to your cymbals, simply spray it on in a way that covers the entire surface, and let it sit for some 30 seconds.
Once that time is up, rinse the cymbal under warm water, and dry with a new rag. This thing removes just about everything. It gets into grooves, and simply eradicates the dirt from the surface of the cymbal. It’s actually so strong that it can easily remove the logos, so be careful with that. With that limitation in mind, you can be assured this is among the best cymbal cleaners period.
Zildjian Cymbal Cleaning Polish
Aside from giving us some of the best cymbals on the market, Zildjian also has a very fine line of care products that are great for cymbal maintenance. The one we are talking about today is a perfect example. The Zildjian Cymbal Cleaning Polish is meant to be used with brilliant finish cymbals only and works pretty well for that application.
Performance
This quite inexpensive 8-ounce bottle contains a pretty potent formula that works some serious magic on dirty cymbals. Even if you have heavy oxidation on your set, Zildjian Cymbal Cleaning Polish restore them all back to mint condition. It works great on just about any design of cymbals, including grooved ones. All you have to do is apply it and use some elbow grease to work the dirt out. This should be on anyone’s list of the best cymbal polishes on the market.
Music Nomad MN117 Cymbal Cleaner and Drum Detailer
Music Nomad is a company committed to the care and cleaning of musical instruments. This two-pack goes beyond the one-stage cleaning offered by the products above. You’ll get both an acid-free cymbal cleaner and a detailing spray that can be used on your cymbals, drum shells, or drum hardware. Having two options of cleaners lets you really dig in and get a like-new shine on your equipment.
Performance
The cymbal cleaner included in this set is designed to remove oxidation from the surface of the metal. You’ll be shocked by how much shine your cymbals have after using it, and the sound will brighten up just as much as the look. Getting the cymbals to that point does take a lot of elbow grease, but if you’re willing to put in the effort to buff them, the results are worth it.
Now you don’t get a lot of cleaner in this two-pack. Each bottle is only two ounces, but the cost overall is also a bit lower, so it does average out. Having the detailer spray is handy, too, especially if your cymbals aren’t the only part of your kit that could use a touch-up.
Conclusion – How to Chose the Best Cymbal Cleaner?
All of the cymbal cleaning fluids we’ve presented you with do an awesome job at taking care of your shiny babies. Some are more expensive than others, and some require a bit more work that the others.
As you can see, the factors that make the best cymbal cleaner are pretty clear: you need a product that gets the job done efficiently while not damaging the goods and doing so at an affordable price.
At the end of the day, it all depends on how keen you are to keeping those cymbals in a nice, polished state. No matter which one you choose from these models we’ve shown you, the results are going to be more than satisfying. Make your cymbals shiny again. They deserve it.
