Violin Q & A: Violin Cleaner Recipe

by George Manno

Originally published in American Lutherie #11, 1987 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume One, 2000

Do you know the recipe for making the old Sacconi special violin cleaner and polish? I have tried just about everything but can’t come up with the right recipe.

No, I’m sorry I don’t. You may want to break this down into a smaller recipe, but here’s a formula for a very good cleaner.

2 qts. alcohol (denatured)
2 qts. turpentine (artist grade)
1 qt. distilled Water
1 pt. raw linseed oil
1 pt. pure lemon oil