During these dry winter months it is very important to keep your clarinets from drying out. According to an article on LeBlanc's website, the ideal humidity for granadilla clarinets is between 45-55%. There are many ways to humidify your case and we are going to outline a few of the options here.
Dampit® ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Price: $20
The Dampit is an effective and easy way to increase the humidity in your clarinet case. The product consists of a rubber rube with a sponge inside. You then wet the Dampit and place it within the case where it releases the moisture.
Pros: Effective, simple, comes with a card that can be placed within the case to determine humiditiy.
Cons: More expensive than alternatives, must be refilled often, needs to be checked daily for moisture, the spong deteriorates after a period of time. Will need at least two for double case.
WARNING: Don't put this product inside the bore of the clarinet under any circumstance. This will greatly increase the likelihood of cracking.
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Humistat ®® ★★★★★ (5/5) TOP CHOICE!
Price: $9
The Humistat is a cheap, convenient, and very simple product. It consists of a water reservoir, a spong, and a sleeve to adjust the amount of moisture released.
Pros: Cheap (includes free shipping), clear reservoir makes it easy to determine if there is still water in the unit (vs the Dampit), only needs refilling every few days, small enough to fit in a clarinet bell or an accessories pocket.
Cons: You will probably need to buy two for your case, but at this price, and for the product you are getting, it is a very small con.
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Orange Peels ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Price: an orange
The peels of this readily available fruit make a great addition to a clarinet case. It provides moisture while added a great citrus scent.
Pros: Virtually free, effective, adds a pleasant smell to case.
Cons: Can be difficult to keep fresh peels in case if you don't eat oranges regularly, will turn moldy if not replaced every couple days.
Room Humidifier: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Price: $25+
Room humidifiers are a great way to humidify your instruments. As well as being good for the wood, it also provides moisture to the room and anything else stored in it. If you own multiple clarinets, or ever other wood instruments, this is the way to go.
Pros: Can humidify multiple instruments being stored in the room, being a better alternative than buying many small, individual humidifiers.
Cons: Room humidifiers can be expensive and are not very effective unless the clarinet is the the room a lot of the time.
Medicine Bottle ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Price: >$5
Take an old, plastic medicine bottle. Drill some holes in the sides and put a cosmetic sponge inside. Wet the sponge when needed and leave in your case.
Pros: Very cheap and effective. Most people have a medicine bottle lying around and probably a cosmetic sponge as well. It is also a fun experience to make your own humidifier.
Cons: Some medicine bottles won't fit in certain cases, though most will. There is also a chance of leaking if you over-wet the sponge.
Hygrometer
Price: $8+
For any of these methods I would recommend buying a hygrometer. A humidor hygrometer will work great and is what I choose to use. This is a good way to monitor the humidity of your case and will keep you from over-drying as well as over-humidifying your clarinets. I prefer the look of the analog, but there are digital versions available as well.
