Taking care of your brass instrument:

. Always keep your instrument in the case when not in use.

. Avoid extreme temperatures, leaving the instrument next to a radiator or in a cold damp room, or in direct sunlight in a car and so on.

. When assembling brass instruments, take care to ensure the keys are not strained by rough handling. Always make sure the parts are connected correctly.
 

. Keep your instrument clean with a DRY micro fibre / lint free cloth. Use it to wipe away fingerprints and residue after use.

. You can boil your mouth piece to clean it, or use warm soapy water. Make sure it is dried thoroughly afterward.

. Brass instruments should be flushed out once a month to clean out any accumulation of dirt and to prevent corrosion. This can be done in the bath. Fill the bath with lukewarm water and a mild soap (not detergent). Remove all tuning slides. Unscrew top and bottom valve caps, removing the valves at the same time. Any felts on valves should be removed so they don't get wet. Place the instrument in the bath and flush interior with water and soap. Use a snake brush to clean tubes of tuning slides and bore of instrument. The snake brush can also be used on trombone slides, inside and outside.When the tubing has been cleaned, remove the instrument and dry with a soft cotton cloth. Place any felts on valves and reassemble using a high quality valve oil. Reassemble tuning slides using a lanolin based slide grease (never Vaseline). A good habit to get into is to always push the tuning slides closed when you're finished playing ( this prevents the air from drying out the grease).

. Avoid placing anything on top of your instrument. Damage can occur very easily, particularly if your instrument is hidden under sheet music or a coat. It can get knocked or sat on.

. If you notice any broken solder joints, take your instrument to be repaired immediately to a professional.

. If you have a very good instrument that is being used frequently, it is advisable to bring it to a professional once a year to 18 months for a professional clean and service.