Guitar Polish: A Complete Guide

Guitar polish is a cleaning and protective product designed for the finished surfaces of guitars. It removes fingerprints, light oxidation, skin oils and airborne dust that accumulate on the body and neck during use and handling, and it leaves a thin protective layer that slows the rate at which the surface is affected by the same contaminants in future. The type of finish on the instrument determines which polishing products are safe to use and which can cause permanent damage.

Finish Types and Compatibility

Modern guitar finishes fall into two main categories: nitrocellulose lacquer and polyurethane. Nitro finishes are thinner, more delicate and were used extensively on vintage instruments and many higher-end contemporary guitars. They react with solvents and chemicals that polyurethane finishes tolerate easily. Polyurethane and polyester finishes are thicker, more durable and less reactive — a wider range of cleaning products is compatible with them. Confirm the finish type of your instrument before applying any product. Many manufacturers publish this information in the instrument's documentation or on their website.

What Polishing Does and Does Not Do

A guitar polish works on the surface of the finish rather than the finish itself. It does not repair deep scratches, cracks or missing clear coat. What it does do is remove superficial smearing, restore shine to a dulled surface and apply a thin protective film. For light marks and routine maintenance between professional setups, it is the appropriate tool. For structural finish damage, professional refinishing or spot repair is required.

Application Basics

When applying guitar polish, put a small amount on a clean, soft microfibre cloth — not paper towels or rough fabric — and work in small sections with light circular or straight passes. Buff off any residue with a separate clean section of the cloth or a second cloth before it has a chance to haze. Avoid letting product build up around binding, pickups, nut or saddle areas, where residue can be difficult to remove.

For help choosing the right product, see our buyer's guide. New to this? Our beginner's guide covers the basics.

Frequently Asked Questions