damp rag/towel humidifier?

RawrGazzawrs

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Looks like im gonna start needing a humidifier for my uke and I don't have any sponges laying around.
so i was wondering does a damp rag or towel work just as well when stuffed into a container with 3 or 4 holes in it?

also does a ziplock baggie work good enough in place of a prescription bottle?

plz reply below as i kinda need to know soon

P.S.
if it is safe to use a rag/towel is it safe to use tap water? if not then ignore the stuff below this :3
also i will only be using the humidifier when i go outside where it is below 20% humidity which i will only do for no more than 5-6 hours at the most
ive also heard that tap water can eventually cause mildew on a sponge, so would it be the same for a rag?
so if thats true all i would have to do everytime i go out with it is just change the rag...
 
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You can use a ziplock & poke holes in it, but... if the uke you are wanting to humidify is the Luna Tattoo Concert... its a laminate uke & isn't likely to show effects of low humidity.
 
I would think the biggest difference between a sponge and a clean rag is that a sponge probably holds more water, so a rag would dry out (and need to be resoaked) more frequently. I use an Oasis humidifier and the manufacturer recommends filling it with distilled water, I believe because when water evaporates all the gunk in it gets left behind, and the gunk in tap water (like flouride, natural minerals, etc.) could ruin the humidifier over time. I'm not sure that the ordinary gunk in tap water would harm the ukulele itself.
 
Looks like im gonna start needing a humidifier for my uke and I don't have any sponges laying around.
so i was wondering does a damp rag or towel work just as well when stuffed into a container with 3 or 4 holes in it?

I agree with mds745; I don't think a towel will hold as much moisture as a sponge. It might work in an emergency, but I wouldn't count on it long term.

You "don't have any sponges laying around???" Do you need us to send you some? I mean, you can get a pack of sponges for about a buck and a half, right? Unless you live in the Himalayas or something... :)

My favorite humidifier is a Tic Tac box with holes drilled in it, and a sponge cut to fit. If you pull out the top of the box just a bit, you can even suspend it between the strings. (Friend of mine showed me this.)

-Pete
 
Anything that will hold moisture without dripping. I use disks you can buy at any tobacco shop or pipe pub type of place for cigar humidors. I also pack cotton tightly into small canisters if I don't have any ceramic disks. Just be sure that it doesn't leak, or drip water on your uke, because that can cause damage. I also put a drop or two of Euculiptous oil in it to combat mold. A zip lock will work too, just so that the moistened whatever ya use isn't in direct contact with the uke.
 
Humidity control is something we should all understand before we attempt to use. You can cause just as much damage to an instrument by adding too much humidity as you can by letting it dry out.
-The key is consistency-
Invest in a small digital hygrometer. They are cheap and will give you a good idea of the ups and downs of moisture in your case.
It's not being wet or dry that causes the cracking and warping so much as it is the changing between the two more quickly and frequently.
Also, don't use tap water. Use purified water only, dirty water causes mold.
 
if the uke you are wanting to humidify is the Luna Tattoo Concert... its a laminate uke & isn't likely to show effects of low humidity.

Just a second opinion - in low humidity, the fretboard can also dry up and shrink. To me, that's a more serious problem. If that happens, the fretwires will stick out at the fretboard edges and that can be painful. So even if your ukulele is laminated, it's a good idea to do maintain proper huidity.

Cheers
Chief
 
Just a second opinion - in low humidity, the fretboard can also dry up and shrink. To me, that's a more serious problem. If that happens, the fretwires will stick out at the fretboard edges and that can be painful. So even if your ukulele is laminated, it's a good idea to do maintain proper huidity.

True - that, indeed.
 
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