A cuckoo clock can come with a range of parts and pieces which can be seen as a complicated task at first when you consider cleaning it yourself. There are professionals out there who can assist you to learn all the parts and how to properly clean it. There are plenty of intricate places where dirt and dust can become lodged which is why it needs to be cleaned quite regularly. Outside it can make your clock seem uncared for, but inside it can affect the mechanisms and in turn the performance of your cuckoo clock.
If you feel up to cleaning the clock yourself, without a professional, we have a few tips so that you can clean your cuckoo clock correctly. You need to take care of the delicate mechanism as this can cause damage and be quite costly to repair.
The exterior of the clock will need to be tended to more often every week or so to avoid too much dust and dirt. This can then make its way inside and start to affect the mechanism within. It will require regular dusting, preferably with an ostrich feather duster which is lightweight. This will avoid any breakage to the carvings that decorate your piece.
After a long time, you may find that dusting does not remove all the dirt from your cuckoo clock so you may need to utilise a cleaner. It will need to be one which has a natural oil base and appropriate for finished hardwood. You can test it on the back of the clock to ensure that it does not damage the varnish before you try and clean the entire exterior.
If dirt and grime have started to impact the performance of the interior mechanism then you may need to clean this as well. This can be signified by slowing of the clock, not keeping good time anymore. This can be done with a damp cotton bud and mild soap. Make sure that the cotton bud is not too wet as you do not want water dripping inside the mechanism.
You do not need to keep the mechanism spotless, but rather reduce the amount of buildup inside. The primary concern is the function of the piece rather than its appearance. If the gears are dry and dusty then you may want to apply some oil as well to lubricate them, but specifically not the mechanism itself. If the mechanism is dry and dusty you can use a bottle of compressed air to blow it away and sometimes clock shops add graphite powder to maintain function. You can apply this sparingly with a blower bottle.
With these tips in mind, you can successfully clean your cuckoo clock and keep it in the best working condition. It can be a great addition to your home, perhaps bringing back nostalgic memories or just aesthetically pleasing. This is why you will want to take care of cleaning and ensure that you maintain your clock frequently.
