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From Dave Gage's Harmonica Lessons   http://www.harmonicalessons.com/repairs_clean.html



    Cleaning Your Harmonica

   
    Cleaning without taking the harmonica apart- If your diatonic harmonica has a plastic comb (versus a wood or metal comb), you can do a quick cleaning by running lukewarm water through it and then rapping it firmly (mouthpiece side down) against your leg or palm to knock out the excess water. Repeat 2 or 3 times being careful to knock out all the water. Lightly playing big full mouth chords (4 or 5 notes) throughout the harmonica will also help clear out the excess moisture. For a light cleaning, this may be all you need.

   
    For a more thorough cleaning, disassemble cover plates, reed plates, and comb.- Use the appropriate screw driver for your brand of harmonica (flat head or phillips). Find a safe place to temporarily store the little screws and nuts that you will get from your disassembly. If they fall to the floor they may disappear forever.


   

    Parts of diatonic
    Disassemble cover plates, reed plates, and comb.



   
    Cleaning the comb- You may clean the plastic comb with warm water, soap, and an old tooth brush -- rinse completely. If your comb is made of wood, skip the water and soap and merely rub it down with the old toothbrush. If your comb is metal, be sure to dry it thoroughly upon completion to avoid rust and tarnish.

   
    Cleaning the cover plates- You may clean the plastic comb with warm water, soap, and an old tooth brush. Rinse well. If your comb is made of wood, skip the water and soap and merely rub it down with the old toothbrush.

   
    Using metal cleaner or brass polish on the cover plates- Not recommended. It is very difficult to completely remove the chemical smell even after a thorough wash and rinse. The tarnishing of the cover plates won't hurt anything including the sound. In fact, some might take it as a sign of an experienced player.


   

    Parts of diatonic 2
    Disassembled cover plates, reed plates, screws, and comb.



   
    Cleaning the reed plates- You may clean the reed plates with warm water and soap and your fingers. Rinse well. You should not wash the reed plates with an old toothbrush. The bristles could get caught on a reed and do damage. Please note that some brands and models of harmonicas have reed rivets that are made of a non-rusting material, others do not. It is possible that without thorough drying, the rivets may begin to rust over time. Therefore, dry as completely as possible before re-assembly.

   
    Cleaning the reed plates while attached to the comb- Very carefully take the harmonica apart down to the comb and attached reed plates. Then take Q-tips and Hydrogen Peroxide Solution (found at any drug store and most supermarkets) and clean the areas that seem to need cleaning. The Hydrogen Peroxide will sanitize, clean, disinfect, and is perfectly safe. Focus special attention on the areas where you will be putting your mouth. Be very careful not to leave any of the extra fuzz from the Q-tips, especially around the reeds (the little thin brass things with a rivet at one end). If you can find some Q-tip type swabs that are not made of cotton but made of some material that doesn't leave lint, that would be even better. This method when carefully applied will also work with chromatic harmonicas.


    Re-assembling Your Harmonica

   
    Re-attaching the reed plates back on the comb- Use your thumb and forefinger to squeze and slide the plates and comb around until the plates feel "seated" properly within the comb. While securely holding the "seated" reed plates in place, replace the reed plate screws. Do not over-tighten these screws, it doesn't help. Over-tightening tends to cause a warping in the screw areas and increase air leakage. Loose is better than tight. Remember, these plates will also be held securely in place with the final cover plate screws.

   
    Replace the cover plates, not too tight or loose- As with the reed plate screws, do not over-tighten the cover plate screws. Be sure to check that the cover plates are aligned correctly on top of the reed plates before final tightening.

   
    Should one cover plate screw be tighter than the other?- Not necessarily, but you may find that the screw located on the "high end" can cause the harmonica to feel slightly more airtight if it is a bit tighter than the "low end" screw. Sometimes this helps, sometimes not.