Music Box Repair 101: How to Fix a Music Box

Key Takeaways

• Music boxes can be heirloom keepsakes that you can pass down for generations, as long as you take good care of them.
• Caring for a music box includes general cleaning and maintenance, as well as knowledge of simple repairs.
• Store your music box in a safe place, play it periodically to keep the mechanical movement agile, and use a damp towel and dish soap to wipe down the exterior of the box. Doing these simple tasks will ensure you almost never need to do repairs.

Music Box Care

Have you bought a traditional music box for yourself? Or perhaps you received one as a gift? With proper care, music boxes can bring joy to you and generations of your family. Like other musical instruments, it can be tricky to look after music boxes. If you need tips on music box repair or are looking for advice on cleaning and maintaining your music box, you’ve come to the right place!

At Music Box Attic, we know that music boxes can feel very special. You might be intimidated by the thought of handling or fiddling with your precious gift. But don’t fear. Music box fixes can be easy and hassle-free. There are a few things you should consider when maintaining your music box:

• General care
• General cleaning
• Movement cleaning
• Fixes/repair

Below, we’ll go over how to clean your music box, how to fix a music box, and how to perform general maintenance so you can keep it in tip-top shape for years to come. Don’t forget to visit our troubleshooting page for more informative videos and tips.

General Care of Your Music Box

Music Box Attic’s products are high-quality and made to last. But even the best-made music boxes benefit from general care, regular cleaning, and knowing how to repair a music box. To help your music box look and function at its best, follow the general care tips below:

• Store your music box in a cool, dry environment. Heat, direct sun, and moisture can damage your instrument.
• Remember to wind and play the music periodically. If it sits idle for too long, it could create issues. A good rule of thumb is to wind it up and let it unwind all the way once in a while. Note: Not all music boxes have a winding feature.
• Even more importantly, after winding it, allow it to wind down. Do not fully wind the box and close the lid right away. It is a bad idea to have the movement under a lot of pressure, so let it play out a bit after you wind it.
• You should not touch the movement components. The only part of the movement designed to be moved manually is the winding key.
• If your music box has a winding key, be careful when winding the movement. Never force it to turn. If it doesn’t turn smoothly, it could mean a repair is needed.
• Keep the box’s lid closed when not in use to limit exposure to dust and other elements. Most music boxes will have a protective acrylic cover. Please keep it in place and do not remove it unless you need to adjust something like a wire stopper.

Now that you are an expert in general care, let’s discuss music box repair and cleaning.

Cleaning Your Music Box Exterior

There are essentially two parts to the cleaning stage of music box maintenance. Part one involves cleaning the non-mechanical components, such as the wood inlay, porcelain, and crystal exteriors, and the fabric and felt interiors. Part two involves cleaning the mechanical parts. This process is also called lubrication, which we’ll cover next.

Cleansing Essentials

We recommend you start cleaning your music box by using warm water, a dry, soft towel, and dish soap. Stay away from hot water as it could damage the components and the box. A light touch with a clean, damp towel is best. 

Cleansing Don’ts

Don’t ever submerge your music box in water or clean it in a dishwasher. If your music box includes painted design elements, gently wash the painted areas and avoid applying pressure. Applying force can cause these elements to scrub off and deteriorate.

Cleansing Interiors

For felt and fabric elements, like the inside of a jewelry box, do not use dish soap. Instead, gently clean with a soft cloth and warm water when needed. Allow to dry by keeping the lid open, or use an air compressor to dry more quickly. You can also use a compressed air duster to clean out dust from the inside. Use helpful accessories, such as Q-tips or toothpicks, to reach tight spaces.

After you’ve cleaned the interior and exterior of your music box, it’s time to clean its moving parts.

Cleaning the Movement Components

General care and regular cleaning of non-mechanical parts will give your music box a long, healthy life, minimizing the need for music box repair. However, dust and particles may find their way into the mechanical movement over time.

If you feel uneasy about cleaning the mechanical components, ask a mechanical-minded friend to help you out, or watch our troubleshooting videos to see how an expert handles the movement. Remember, music box maintenance should be fun and relaxing, not stressful!

If you still feel overwhelmed, call an expert who specializes in how to repair music boxes and how to clean them. You can also reach out to mechanical watch experts to get help with your music box. Mechanical music boxes work similarly to mechanical watches, so these specialists can help with music box repair and more!

Cleaning Materials

If you feel confident about cleaning your music box yourself, you’ll need the following materials:

• Latex gloves to protect the movement module while you clean
• An aerosol cleaner that offers a non-chemical cleansing method
• Non-oil lubricant for smoother playing and additional protection

Your local hardware store or hobby store is a good resource to find these materials.

To clean your musical movement, follow these instructions:

• Take the mechanical movement out of the music box
• Gently use the aerosol cleaner to push dust and dirt off the instrument
• Use a regular oil lubricant and gently lubricate all gears of the movement. 

Do not lubricate the cylinder or the comb of the movement, only the gears and the flywheel. Lubricating other areas may result in the need for music box repair.

How to Fix a Music Box

With good general care and regular, careful cleaning, you will be able to enjoy your music box for a very long time. However, mistakes happen with even the best care and maintenance. This is where you will need music box repair. So, how do you fix a music box?

Learning how to repair a music box can be a pretty advanced do-it-yourself project. To start you off, check out our how-to videos to see if your problem is already covered. If you can’t find your issue, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to discuss a repair strategy to help you restore your cherished keepsake. 

Although we don’t do major music box repairs, we will help direct you to someone who does at the time. You can also look for local watch repair shops that may know how to fix a music box.

Care For Your Keepsakes

With this guide, we’ve given you a starting point. Keeping your music box in good shape is not as hard as you think. With proper cleaning and maintenance, a good-quality music box can last for decades. If you need advice on music box repairs, please get in touch with us today.