How to Clean Guitar Tuning Pegs

Written By
Jonra Springs
Jonra Springs
Published: Dec 18, 2009
Updated: Feb 23, 2021
1 minute read

Guitar tuning pegs are found on the headstock of an acoustic guitar, electric guitar or bass guitar. Tuning pegs, often called tuning heads or tuning machines, are made of metal or plastic with a metalized finish. Most tuning pegs enclose the gears within a one-piece body, but some have exposed gears that require extra care. Keep the tuning pegs on guitars clean for easy tuning.

Things You'll Need:

Things You Will Need

  • Brass Polish
  • Toothpicks
  • Petroleum Jelly
  • Soft Cloth
  • Clean the tuning pegs with a soft dry dust cloth to remove settled dust and dirt as well as any oil from hands. Rub the cloth briskly over the finish for a polished shine.

    Remove stubborn dirt with a mild brass polish. Pour a small amount of polish on a corner of the soft cloth and apply to the metal finish. Do not allow the polish to contact any wood on the guitar. Remove the polish by rubbing firmly with a clean section of cloth.

    Clean between the grooves of exposed gears. Rub the cloth firmly over the exposed gears and turn the pegs to rotate the gears to clean all sides. Apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly to the gears with toothpicks. Remove excess lubricant with a clean section of cloth.

    Jonra Springs

    Jonra Springs began writing in 1989. He writes fiction for children and adults and draws on experiences in education, insurance, construction, aviation mechanics and entertainment to create content for various websites. Springs studied…

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