Why Playing Guitar Can Cause Finger Odor (and How to Prevent It)
It may sound strange, but regular guitar playing can cause your fingers to smell like old garlic. Here’s what causes the stench and some simple tips on how to avoid it in the future.
Playing the guitar is a finger workout. Exercise usually means sweat, and accumulation of sweat means smell. Sweat drips on the guitar strings and fretboard when you play; and this can be especially bad when you are playing in a warmer environment. Luckily, there are some easy ways to avoid odor and take care of your guitar. Nancy Dunham of Mental Floss spoke with Richard Robinson, a 40-year-old instrument repairman at Guitar House in Rochester, NY, and this is what he suggests:
- Wash your hands before touching the guitar.
- Wipe the strings with a cloth or old T-shirt before and after playing.
- Clean the neck and strings with a special cleaning agent.
Robinson notes that when you clean and wipe your guitar, you should avoid using Windex, Linseed Oil, Lemon Oil, and Pledge. It is important to stick to products designed for tools. Washing your hands and removing excess sweat from your guitar should be enough to never smell again. Of course, if your fingers smell like garlic because you’ve actually worked with garlic, a little stainless steel will help with that.
Why do some guitarists’ fingers smell like garlic? | Mental thread