How to clean a brass trumpet

use a cleaning snake designed specifically for cleaning a trumpet. You can buy one at any music store. First, disassemble the trumpet. Unscrew the valve caps that keep them in the casing and remove them. Remove the bottom caps as well. Take out the tuning slide, first second, and third valve slides. Let everything soak in luke warm soapy water (bathtub works best) for 10-15 minutes. This will help loosen any gunk and grime that's in the horn. Now use the snake to clean out any piping on the horn, including the slides. I personally don't put my valves in the water. I don't think it will hurt the springs or felt pads, it's just not something I do. I clean the valves with a wash cloth and try to get gunk out of the ports with a q-tip or by using a wash cloth wrapped around a pen. Use the cloth to wipe off any grease from the slides, as well.

When everything is clean, dry off the horn as best you can. You do not need to let it completely dry before you reassemble it. Spread a thin layer of slide grease on the tuning slide and push it all the way in. Remove it and spread the grease out again. You want to have a thin layer on both the slide and the inside of the lead pipe so the slide will move easily enough, but won't come out of place without touching it. Do not use valve oil on it. Do the same thing with remaining slides. To properly oil your valves, apply the oil before placing them back in their casings. You may want to put them in, push them a few times, and take them back out to re-oil them. I always like to put a dab of slide grease in the threads of the valve caps so they won't get stuck shut. It's that simple.

You should also clean your mouthpiece...more often than you clean your trumpet. They make mouthpiece brushes but pipe cleaners will work ok, too.

Clean your mouthpiece about once a week. If you're playing every day, clean your horn thoroughly once every 4-6 months. If you eat or drink while you play or right before you play, you'll have to clean it more often.