TromboneChat

Is there any maintenance associated with mouthpieces?

I usually rinse mine out after playing and run a brush through it. Don't know if it matters, but it's a easy habit I don't think about.

Do minerals or scale ever build up and need to be removed? Vinegar soak good or bad?

Does the silver plating ever need any attention?

If the plating tarnishes you can hit it with some silver polish. Brings it right back.

I twist a facial tissue into the mouthpiece after every use to dry it out. Once a week I rinse the mouthpiece with 91% rubbing alcohol.

The silver plating will eventually wear off. I have a Doug Elliott LB114 rim that needs replating. But it's 30 years old.

If you rinse your mouthpiece out after every use I don't expect you to ever need to remove a scale deposit.

I wash mine out (mouthpiece brush, hot water, dish soap) every couple weeks. Nothing more.

I wash my Wedge regularly, run a brush through it every week or so, and every couple of weeks, polish it with Wright's Silver Cream. It looks like new after almost 6 years of constant use.

I run hot water through the MP maybe 5 - 10 times a year pretty much to warm it up in the middle of winter when I left my trombone out in the car during the day. Other then that I will wipe chucks out of the cup when needed with my finger. I give the MP rim one wipe with the palm of my hand before I play, or the bottom of my shirt if needs a deeper clean. After playing I just throw it loose into a large pocket that has my other MP's, tuner, slide oils, a rag, spray water bottle, a few of those Silica gel packages and my trombone stand (It's a really big pocket)...

I'm not joking be the way.
I think I will give all my MP's a good clean tonight.

Washed and towel-dried before I play, however many times a day that might be.