Bagpipers lung

[Pleater]

I just dowsed all but one of my recorders in bleach.

They will come to no harm being plastic - but I recalled that each year I have had a bad cough after going to the Sidmouth Folk Festival, the only time of year I play them. The rest of the year they sit in a bag and although I give them a bit of a clean before I leave home I have never been all that serious about sterilising them. I run them under the tap and wipe them over, but don't get really serious on a chemical level.

The cough usually clears up in a couple of weeks, because my husband doesn't like me singing and playing instruments.
Whilst I was away this year I was chatted up by a man selling instruments - during which time he gave me tea and cleaned the wooden recorder so it is probably safe, and I am going to make a pull through to clean the insides and get some pipe cleaners, the smokers sort so I can clean the holes.

I suspect that next year I will not get a cough, which is probably a good thing as my immune system will be another year older.

Anne the Pleater