A string instrument is a fragile and temperamental investment. Although one of the most fragile elements of your instrument is its varnish, there are a few things you can keep in mind to help protect it. One of the most important things you should remember is that varnish is very sensitive to finger prints and so you should avoid unnecessary contact to the instrument’s surface whenever possible. Of course you do need to hold your instrument so just try to keep it on the edges or of course you could hold it at the neck. Most necks are left unvarnished for that reason.

Another important thing to remember is that varnish responds to big changes in temperature humidity and often in unpleasant ways. Try to store your instrument at a constant level of humidity, somewhere between 40% and 60 % and don’t expose it to extreme temperatures, hot or cold. For example, don’t leave it in your car.

Finally, it’s important to clean your instrument regularly. Remember to wipe it down with a soft cloth like this one after every time you play to remove rust and dusts or finger prints that might accumulated. If over time, rusts or other dirt do start to build up on your instrument, you may want to consider using a cleaning product, especially formulated for violins. These products are strong however, so only use them sparingly and always test in a small, inconspicuous area of your instrument before applying them to the thing.