Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

[lex666]

I was giving my Martin fretboard some TLC when the top of the bottle of lemon oil popped off and spilled lemon oil into the soundhole.

I cleaned up as much as could but it left a dark patch. I waited a few days but the oil stain still remains inside the guitar.

Is there a way to clean this up?


Should I even be worried about this?

[Mincer]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

I think eventually it will evaporate, but it will take time. It is an oil stain, after all. It shouldn't hurt anything, but it probably doesn't look great.

[ehdwuld]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

Put more in
Level out the stain

[ICTGoober]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

Put more in Level out the stain

You are just trying to be funny, but what if he actually did it? Don't be a dumbass.

[DankStar]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

Clean rag with a weight on it? Might wick more up, just a thought.

[AlexR]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

^ Paper towel??

You might also be able to clean with a thinning/dispersant material that breaks down the oil. Maybe mineral turps, or the lighter fluid stuff (naptha).
Because the oil is very good and absorbing into wood you probably won't get it all out, but hopefully enough to remove a bit of the discolouration.

At least the oil is more of a protective material for wood. If you'd done that with water you could have been in all sorts of strife.

[Demanic]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

Given that it's inside the guitar and only visible through the sound hole, how bad does it really look? I can remember needing a flashlight to even read the label in an acoustic.

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[ehdwuld]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

You are just trying to be funny, but what if he actually did it? Don't be a dumbass.

What would it hurt
...

Let me see


The inside of the back of the guitar
Not the top
The fkn back

Cmon
It won't fall apart or be destroyed
Dont be dramatic

[Mincer]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

Maybe a shop towel to draw some of the oil out? Will knowing some chemistry help here?

[nexion218]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

Try babypowder. I know its a guitar not a piece of clothing, but when I spill greasy/oily stuff on my shirt or pants, I cover it up with babypowder, tap it in gently, leave it overnight then brush or vacuum it out. The powder acts as a wick, just as you would throw sand on an oilpatch in the garage. Never done it to a guitar though, maybe some if the elders on here can tell if its safe or not.

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Routine maintenance on my Martin and then this happened...

You are just trying to be funny, but what if he actually did it? Don't be a dumbass.

Who's being a dumbass?!

Notice...he actually already did it (spilled oil in his guitar)! A little more to even out the appearance will not hurt ANYTHING!