The 8 Best Cymbal Polishers & Cleaners [Updated]

Posted in Cymbals | Last Updated on October 18, 2019

hand holding cloth cleaning cymbal with polisher or cleaner

The cymbals are usually made of copper, tin, and silver, so like all instruments they must be kept free of dust or other debris; not only for the aesthetic factor but for the sonority of it.

Similarly, keeping your plates clean will be an advantage to detect any fracture that may suffer the instrument.

Therefore, it is best to clean your cymbals with consistency and regularity, so if you clean them every time you finish using them, there will be no major problem, like stronger stains attached to the structure.

Although it is important to clean them regularly, you should be careful not to abuse the frequency when cleaning them, since each time this process is performed the instrument is exposed to a wet moment, and in time the sound output may be affected.

That's why the general rule is to clean it dry every day (not several times in a day), using a soft cloth, and doing a thorough cleaning once or twice a year.
The cleaners that you will use for your plates and the regularity to clean them will depend in large part on the type of plates you have.

Usually, the Zildjian brand with traditional finish should not be cleaned until after 10 months, this as a result of the protective layer that carries the bronze when leaving the factory, so after 10-11 months, the layer weakens and It is pertinent to start cleaning them with cleansing products.

The plates with a shiny finish are a bit more delicate as they have to lose that brightness that characterizes them when they are new, it is also recommended to start cleaning them after 1 year.
In the case of maintaining its characteristic brightness, you should use more than a dry cloth, so it is necessary to use special cleaners for them.

Before buying a cleaner you should consider the smell, texture, voracity, color and of course, the price. Next, we will explain to you in more detail how to pick the best one for you.

Reviews of the Best 8 Polishers on the Market

Zildjian Brilliant Finish Cymbal Polish

badge for overall best product

Place a small amount of the product and spread with a cloth. This product reacts to the dirt and dust of the instrument, so the cloth you use will turn black soon.

In this case, always clean or rub the plate with the clean part of the cloth, exerting a little more force to remove more persistent spots and to make the final layer as bright as possible.

Use in plates with Zildjian gloss finish.
Plates with years of dirt on top.
Improves the sound.
Quick and easy.

Only use in cymbals with a shiny finish.
Clears ink logos.

Paiste Cymbal Cleaner

This cleaner protects the coating applied to the instrument at the time of its manufacture, removing dirt and eliminating use marks caused by sticks or your own hands. In the same way, it maintains the natural brightness of them.

The product is designed for all types of plates, regardless of whether they are made of copper, tin or silver. In stores you can buy them by unit or by a package of twelve units; It is generally recommended that it be used in conjunction with the Paiste Protector for a better result.

Maintain a natural finish.
Total cleaning without much scrubbing.
Remove daily dust and use marks.
Ensures proper functioning.
Cleaner without unpleasant odor.

If your instrument still has brand logos, you should be careful with them. This is because the cleaner tends to erase them.

Music Nomad MN111 Premium Cymbal Cleaner

The Music Nomad Cymbal Cleaner is easy to use and does an incredible job with your drums and cymbals, by eliminating fingerprints or dirt without chemicals or strong acids.

Depending on the amount of dirt your instrument has, just use two microfiber towels and apply a little cleaner.

Cleans polishes and protects shiny finishes.
The acid-proof formula that restores shines
The powder does not contain harsh chemicals.
Patented formula with good smell.
Leaves a layer that reduces the risk of oxidation.

This cleaner is a bit more expensive than other options in the market

Lizard Spit MP03 Cymbal Polish

Despite being green, the cleaner is effective and you get clean plates with a brighter and clearer sound.

Apply a little on the instrument and start rubbing with a cloth. If necessary, use gloves when applying it so that the product does not come into contact with your hands and stains them.

Has a special sealer that provides a longer lasting shine
Achieve a professional shine on metal surfaces, obtaining a clear sound and the brightness of a new instrument.
Special for cymbals with large layers of dirt.
Slow down the oxidation process.

Can only be used on raw metal plates.
The cleaner is very strong, so it immediately removes brand logos instantly.

Cymbal Cleaner # B-200

This cleaner is not liquid or comes in a spray. It is a cream, so you must apply it with your fingers or another brush you want to use. Similarly, use a microfiber cloth to rub the surface of the instrument.

Deep cleaning of the plates.
The product does not have lumps that can scratch the surface.
Whitish color.

It has a strong smell
Its approximate cost is $ 18, higher than the other products.

Brite Stuff

Brite Stuff Cymbal & Drum Polish is a cleaner that can be applied to more than cymbals; you can also use them on the drums of your battery.

On the downside, it won’t preserve the natural brightness of the cymbal plates as a specialized cleaner would.

Clean, seal and protect in an application.
Use on all drums, cymbals, and
Preserves brightness and minimizes fingerprints.
Safe for all drum and cymbal finishes.

Doesn’t preserve the bright like a specialized cleaner

Sabian SSSC1 Safe and Sound Cymbal Cleaner

Specially formulated to effectively clean your plates while protecting their performance, this is one of the cleaners best constituted in terms of manufacturing components, as it is totally organic, free from Acid and Biodegradable.

On the downside, being a cream is often a disadvantage in a cleaner, since generally, buyers expect a spray cleaner/polisher or at least a liquid spread with a cloth

Has a strong and natural result
Is environment-friendly

Remove logos from the plate
It is a cream

Groove Juice Percussion Cleaning

This is one of the polishers most required by musicians because in addition to the ease that comes with the product is spray, it also serves in metal plates and matte finishes.

Not being a creamy substance, some maintain their doubt when buying it because this feature is not a good polisher and will not leave enough shine on the instrument.

However, it turns out to be quite the opposite: it is not creamy and it is easy to rub, without the need to make a great effort on the instrument, even so, it leaves the surface clean and bright.

Spray product.
Non-creamy substance.
Serves in bronze finishes.
Maintains the protective layer of the dish.

It has a strong smell
It must be rinsed

The smell is important

There are some cleaners that usually have a very strong smell, somewhat similar to oil or other chemicals, so it is necessary to apply the cleaners in a sufficiently ventilated area. If so, it requires more effort to apply it since you could not use it in the comfort of your room.

The texture and voracity of the product are also often taken into account, especially because most musicians prefer to keep the printed instrument mark for a longer time.
If this is your case, it is best to look for cleaners that - despite carrying out their work - do not eliminate the logos that from the factory which are marked with a special dye.

There are some cleaners that although they do not tend to erase the marks, they clarify their color so that the finish of these looks older or older in terms of sharpness of the drawing or letters. This could also be against your cymbal’s looks.

On the contrary, if you are one of those who put the sound and cleanliness before an ink mark, then you will have one less thing to worry about when buying a cleaner.

Since you are here: check out our guide and reviews of the best cymbal packs on the market

Does the color have anything to do with the performance?

Various cleaners are black, green, pink or white; this depends mainly on the brand and product.

However, the color doesn’t tend to affect the quality of the final work obtained from the product; although in others a more "matt" cleaning is obtained.

What this means is that, on occasions, the plate may not be as bright as you expect and it turns out that it is left with a pasty texture or more prone to acquire fingerprints.

It is a myth that "the cheaper the worse" since it is not so much for the price itself, but for the possibility that you may have to buy a product that is more economical and from which you obtain an equal or better result than buying a more expensive cleaner.

Here are a few options for you to get a better idea of which cymbal polisher is better for you.

Wrapping up

This last detail should not be considered a disadvantage, but there are others that do not require rinsing, so that would be another point that will depend on your preferences and comforts.

The cleaning methods for these instruments are very varied, some made with homemade cleaners and that sometimes also work.

Using lemon or the well-known "Grasso" to clean them usually results, mainly, when you have cleaned them constantly and these are not so excessively dirty.

But what happens when the plate has never been cleaned or polished and has a large layer of dirt on it? What happens when the plate has green spots because of the humidity?

You need to apply some professional polishers, those that many times advise the same company that has made the plates. Because there are types of dirt or stains that a simple household cleaner can’t remove.

So what should be sought to choose the best polisher? How to know how to choose within the wide range of ranges and prices that exist?

These are some points that you should consider:

Try to buy less abrasive cleansers, since these tend to remove - along with dirt - a part of the instrument's metal and the protective layer they initially have.
Make sure you buy a cleaner that does not have a strong smell, or at least, that the smell does not persist in your instruments.
As good as you see a cleaner, consider the amount of product that must be used to clean the cymbals.