CLEANING THE SHOFAR
The reason that most shofars smell bad is that when they are clean at the factory they cannot remove all residues from the inside. This residue is sinew and flesh that is clinging in crevices and the smell is it decaying.
1.The simplest method is to brush out whatever
residue can be seen (and smelled!) in the shofar. Pour enough hydrogen
peroxide to fill half the horn with the mouthpiece plugged. Swirl it back
and forth until the residue is bubbled out (like disinfecting a wound).
Pour out the liquid and repeat.
Eventually no more residue will come out. At this
point, swab out the horn with a rag tied to a piece of wire, like coat hanger.
2.Another method of cleaning was demonstrated
on a video by Dick Reuben.
Step 1. Buy a “nerf” ball (soft and pliable), an ear plug (the squeeze
and insert type available at most drug stores), some fish tank gravel (not sand
and not very big) and some alcohol.
Step 2. Plug the mouthpiece with the earplug. Pour in enough gravel that
it can be shaken easily. Plug the bell end with the nerf ball.
Step 3. Play the “moraca” (shake it hard!) for about 15 minutes.
Step 4. Pull out the nerf ball and empty out the gravel. Pour about
a cup of alcohol in and replace the ball. Shake for about a minute.
Step 5. Pull out the ball. Pour out the alcohol. Remove the
earplug. Let it dry.
The alcohol should dry quickly. It should eliminate
the smell and disinfect the horn.
DO NOT let any liquid stay in too long. If necessary use a mild bleach
solution but realize it will take a few days for the chlorine smell to
dissipate. You could also use witch hazel with spearmint but use it
sparingly.
Stubborn smells can also be eliminated with odor
neutralizers.
When the horn is clean, anoint the bell end with some
anointing oil that has frankincense and myrrh. Put some up the mouthpiece
channel with a trumpet valve brush (purchased at a music store). It will
be the soft bone of the neck part of the horn that will begin to stink again as
you blow moisture back into it as you sound the horn. The myrrh will
seal the bone and stop the odor. Remember, myrrh is what they anointed
dead bodies with! It doesn’t hurt to ask YHVH to bless the horn and
your efforts to glorify Him at the same time.
3. A
great method that has worked well is to use "Oxi-clean" or a similar product
Fill the horn half full of hot, but not boiling water.
(use some boiling water and create a volcano!) Put in the scoop of product
and then
shake the horn with both ends plugged or capped (corks or balloons with
rubber bands, etc.) or a while. Fill it all the way with water and let
sit for an hour.
When you pour out the water you will notice all sorts of
discolored junk pouring out. Take a cloth on a wire hanger and swab the
inside out
of all loosened material. Rinse with boiling
water and let dry. You may have to repeat the process.
4. Finally, if you have access to an ozone
producing machine, you can put the horn with the bell up against the outlet and
let it deodorize overnight. Some commercial models will do it in an hour.
Any other questions can be referred to my e-mail listed on
our website.
