XXI. THE CLEANING AND CARE OF THE VIOLIN.
The instrument must always be kept thoroughly clean and after use should be carefully wiped with a silken duster. If any dirt should adhere to it in spite of this precaution, it can be easily removed by gently rubbing it with a piece of linen, moistened with water, and afterwards wiping it over with oil of turpentine. The resin which accumulates on the finger-board and strings can in case of necessity be removed by the application of a little spirit, or better still, by that of Eau de Cologne, but great care must be taken in the application, so that the spirit does not touch the varnish of the belly. Spirit will also clean the strings and remove from them the effect of perspiration; the bridge may also be cleaned with it from time to time, but as stated before, it must be done cautiously, especially in the case of old and valuable instruments of the time of Stradivarius. The more recently constructed violins are mostly varnished with shellac, and consequently are not at all or, at most, very little affected by the application of spirit.
The interior of a violin should also sometimes be cleaned; this can be done by putting through the F-holes two or three handsfull of coarse kitchen salt; these should then be covered with a cloth and the salt well shaken about, as it will thus collect all the dust, resin and other dirt which may be in the violin, and when shaken out will carry all these impurities with it. The strings need not be taken off in order to effect this.