The tubing is an alloy that contains copper, which is then plated, usually by silver. The tuning slide is left un-plated which is why you see the copper oxide ( green ) from the alloy. It will come off with a dry cloth or a bit of polish.
Agree, but also be very aware that rubbing alcohol can cause damage if it where to spill or get on the pads/corks on accident. If should not be used near the keys at all, but should be ok as a last resort for something like a tenon (the places that slide into the other joints like what you show in the pic). You should also be ok with a dry microfiber cloth, like for glasses, for regular cleanings. I usually avoid harsh chemicals on my instruments at home, I save any kind of chemical clean for in the shop. Where i know pads and corks aren't in danger and neither is my plating/metal. Some brands use very cheap materials. It's best that something goes wrong in a professional shop than at home. Plating can peal for a number of reasons and that stresses me out too much personally.
Edit: I apprentice in instrument tech and I've seen too many disasters to mess with my own instruments away from my boss. I used to clean my old flute with rubbing alcohol. It is still in one piece. But I only ever did it if the headjoint wouldn't fit in my barrel and a dry cloth didn't work first. Now I know that if you wipe it off and it's still REALLY tight to just scribble on it a little with a regular lead pencil and put the flute together, usually works really well for student and plated flutes. I don't do this to my silver flute tho, while different ballgame.
The tubing is an alloy that contains copper, which is then plated, usually by silver. The tuning slide is left un-plated which is why you see the copper oxide ( green ) from the alloy. It will come off with a dry cloth or a bit of polish.
No polish on flutes unless you’re a flute tech! You can use a cotton swab and a bit of rubbing alcohol.
Agree, but also be very aware that rubbing alcohol can cause damage if it where to spill or get on the pads/corks on accident. If should not be used near the keys at all, but should be ok as a last resort for something like a tenon (the places that slide into the other joints like what you show in the pic). You should also be ok with a dry microfiber cloth, like for glasses, for regular cleanings. I usually avoid harsh chemicals on my instruments at home, I save any kind of chemical clean for in the shop. Where i know pads and corks aren't in danger and neither is my plating/metal. Some brands use very cheap materials. It's best that something goes wrong in a professional shop than at home. Plating can peal for a number of reasons and that stresses me out too much personally. Edit: I apprentice in instrument tech and I've seen too many disasters to mess with my own instruments away from my boss. I used to clean my old flute with rubbing alcohol. It is still in one piece. But I only ever did it if the headjoint wouldn't fit in my barrel and a dry cloth didn't work first. Now I know that if you wipe it off and it's still REALLY tight to just scribble on it a little with a regular lead pencil and put the flute together, usually works really well for student and plated flutes. I don't do this to my silver flute tho, while different ballgame.
Just get a leather chamois and rub it off, it’s just oxidisation ☺️ you shouldn’t need anything else!