Guitar maintenance is one of those jobs that is easy to postpone.

The strings still work. The guitar still plays. A few fingerprints do not seem particularly important.

Then the next string change arrives and suddenly the fretboard is covered with grime, the frets have lost their shine and the body carries months of fingerprints, sweat and dust.

The good news is that routine guitar cleaning does not need to be complicated.

But there is one important principle to understand:

That distinction is exactly what makes the DMI Guitar Labs range interesting.

Rather than trying to make one product perform every possible cleaning job, DMI offers three products with clearly different roles.

In this guide, we will look at:

• DMI Guitar Labs Fret Butter – an all-in-one treatment for cleaning the fretboard, conditioning suitable fingerboards and removing oxidation from the frets.
• DMI Guitar Labs Maple Butter – a cleaner developed specifically for maple and other non-porous fretboards.
• DMI Guitar Labs Guitar Clean – a cleaner for the finished and hard surfaces of the instrument.

We will also explain how to build a simple guitar-cleaning routine around a string change, why maple often needs a different approach, what fret oxidation actually means and which common cleaning mistakes are best avoided.

Why guitar cleaning is more than cosmetic

A clean guitar obviously looks better.

But regular maintenance is about more than appearance.

Your hands continually transfer sweat, skin oils, salts and dirt to the strings, frets and fretboard.

The body of the instrument also accumulates fingerprints, sweat and general handling marks.

Over time, metal frets can begin to oxidise and lose some of the smooth feel they had when new.

A sensible maintenance routine can help:

• Remove accumulated grime from the fretboard.
• Remove normal surface oxidation from the frets.
• Condition suitable wooden fretboards when necessary.
• Remove sweat and fingerprints from the body.
• Maintain a smoother playing surface.
• Make it easier to inspect frets, strings and hardware during a string change.

It is also much easier to maintain an instrument regularly than to wait until years of contamination have accumulated.

The best time to clean a guitar is usually during a string change

You can wipe down a guitar at any time, but one of the easiest opportunities for a more complete cleaning is when the strings are being replaced.

With the strings removed, the entire fretboard and every fret become accessible.

That makes it much easier to clean evenly from the first fret to the last.

It is also a useful opportunity to inspect the instrument.

While the strings are off, check:

• Whether the frets are becoming oxidised or rough.
• Whether dirt is accumulating beside the frets.
• Whether the fretboard appears unusually dry.
• Whether screws or hardware have become loose.
• Whether the bridge and normally inaccessible areas need cleaning.
• Whether the body has accumulated sweat, fingerprints or grime.

You do not need to perform a deep clean every time you replace strings.

The actual condition of the instrument should determine how much maintenance is necessary.

First identify the type of fretboard

Before applying any fretboard product, understand what surface you are actually cleaning.

This is particularly important because an open, relatively porous wooden fretboard behaves differently from a sealed, finished or otherwise non-porous surface.

Rosewood and ebony fretboards are commonly used with relatively open surfaces.

Maple fretboards are often finished or sealed.

That means a treatment intended partly to condition open wood is not automatically the most logical product for every finished maple surface.

This does not mean Fret Butter should be described as universally incompatible with maple.

DMI states that Fret Butter is compatible with common guitar finishes including nitrocellulose, polyurethane, UV-catalysed and waterborne finishes.

However, when the job is specifically cleaning a finished or otherwise non-porous maple fretboard, Maple Butter is the product DMI designed for that application.

DMI Guitar Labs Fret Butter – clean the fretboard and frets together

Fret Butter is probably the best-known product in the DMI Guitar Labs range.

The concept is straightforward.

Instead of masking the fretboard and treating the metal frets separately with a traditional metal polish, Fret Butter is designed so the fretboard and frets can be treated together.

According to DMI, Fret Butter cleans the fretboard, conditions suitable wood and removes oxidation from the frets during the same maintenance process.

DMI also states that it helps protect against sweat, acids, corrosion and normal string wear.

The product is supplied as a pre-treated applicator cloth inside a resealable package.

After applying it to the fretboard and frets, the instrument is buffed with a separate clean cloth until the loosened contamination and remaining residue have been removed.

The applicator can then be resealed for future use.

Fret Butter is designed to:

• Clean accumulated fretboard grime.
• Condition suitable wooden fretboards.
• Remove normal surface oxidation from the frets.
• Restore a cleaner and smoother feel to the fret surface.
• Reduce the need for separate fret-cleaning and fretboard-conditioning stages.

Fret Butter is also lemon-oil free.

That is worth mentioning because lemon oil has traditionally been associated with guitar fretboard maintenance, even though it is certainly not the only way to clean or condition a fretboard.

DMI describes Fret Butter as being made with food-grade ingredients, and the company also identifies the product as vegan and cruelty-free.

What is the dark residue when using Fret Butter?

One of the first things many users notice is that the cleaning cloth can become very dark during the process.

Some of this can be accumulated fretboard dirt, while oxidation and contamination removed from the fret surfaces can also contribute.

This is why the final buffing stage is important.

The goal is not simply to wipe Fret Butter across the fretboard and immediately install new strings.

Use a clean cloth after application and continue buffing, turning to a clean section of cloth when necessary, until the loosened contamination and remaining residue have been removed.

How to use Fret Butter

A practical Fret Butter routine is:

1. Remove the strings so the entire fretboard is accessible.
2. Remove loose dust and debris with a clean dry cloth.
3. Remove the Fret Butter applicator from its resealable package.
4. Work the treated cloth across the fretboard and frets.
5. Pay particular attention to visible grime and oxidised fret surfaces.
6. Use a separate clean cloth to buff the fretboard and frets.
7. Continue using clean areas of the cloth until remaining dark residue has been removed.
8. Reseal the Fret Butter applicator for future maintenance.
9. Install the new strings when the surface is clean and properly buffed.

There is normally no reason to saturate the fretboard with excessive product.

More product does not automatically mean better maintenance.

The important part is an even treatment followed by proper cleaning and buffing.

See Fret Butter in action

DMI Guitar Labs demonstrates the process on a used rosewood fretboard, showing application, removal of accumulated contamination from the fretboard and frets, and the final buffing process.

Which fretboards are best suited to Fret Butter?

Fret Butter makes particular sense where cleaning the fretboard, conditioning suitable wood and cleaning the frets are all part of the same job.

Common examples include rosewood and ebony fretboards.

These materials are often used without the continuous hard surface finish commonly found on many maple fretboards.

For a finished or otherwise non-porous maple fretboard, DMI offers Maple Butter as the dedicated cleaner.

If an instrument uses unusual materials, has a damaged or worn-through finish, or has a fretboard treatment you are uncertain about, check the instrument manufacturer's care recommendations before applying any cleaner.

Fret Butter is also used by guitar manufacturers

DMI states that Fret Butter is used on new Hagstrom guitars.

That is an interesting reference because factory-level instrument preparation has different requirements from occasionally cleaning one personal guitar.

The process needs to be predictable, practical and efficient across repeated instruments.

This helps explain why the all-in-one approach of Fret Butter has attracted professional users as well as musicians maintaining instruments at home.

Independent tests and real-world use

Fret Butter has been available long enough to build up a meaningful amount of independent testing and user experience.

European guitar publications have tested the DMI Guitar Labs cleaning products, and there are also many long-term user reports from guitarists who have used Fret Butter during normal string changes and fretboard maintenance.

A recurring theme is convenience.

Users often highlight the fact that the frets and fretboard can be treated during the same maintenance process rather than using a separate abrasive metal polish and protecting the fretboard first.

That does not mean Fret Butter replaces every guitar-maintenance tool.

It does mean that several routine jobs can be handled with a relatively simple process.

DMI Guitar Labs Fret Butter – €6.99

At the time of writing, Fret Butter is available from ScaleNordic for €6.99.

Why maple fretboards are different

Maple is one of the most common sources of confusion in guitar maintenance.

A player may correctly learn that a rosewood or ebony fretboard can benefit from suitable conditioning and then assume exactly the same treatment should automatically be used on maple.

But many maple fretboards have a hard finish or sealed surface over the wood.

In that situation, the player is largely cleaning the finished surface rather than trying to condition open wood.

That changes the job the cleaner needs to perform.

A product designed partly to penetrate and condition open wood is not necessarily required when the surface is sealed and non-porous.

This is the role DMI designed Maple Butter to fill.

DMI Guitar Labs Maple Butter – for non-porous fretboards

Maple Butter is a non-abrasive cleaning solution designed specifically for maple and other non-porous fretboards.

The formula is described by DMI as free from abrasives, fragrances, waxes and polymers.

That is an important distinction from Fret Butter.

Maple Butter is primarily a cleaner for the surface rather than a treatment intended to condition exposed porous wood.

Maple Butter is intended for:

• Finished or non-porous maple fretboards.
• Other suitable non-porous fretboard surfaces.
• Removing normal playing grime.
• Cleaning without adding a wax or polymer coating.

How to use Maple Butter

For routine cleaning:

1. Remove the strings if you want full access to the fretboard.
2. Remove loose dust with a clean cloth.
3. Apply Maple Butter to a clean microfibre cloth.
4. Wipe the fretboard surface carefully.
5. Continue with a clean part of the cloth until the surface is clean and free from remaining residue.

Take additional care if the finish is damaged, worn through or unusual.

A heavily worn maple fretboard may contain both sealed and exposed areas, so it should not automatically be treated in exactly the same way as an intact finished fretboard.

DMI Guitar Labs Maple Butter – €6.99

At the time of writing, Maple Butter is available from ScaleNordic for €6.99.

What about the rest of the guitar?

The fretboard often receives the most attention because it sits directly under the strings.

But the rest of the instrument collects contamination every time it is played.

The body and other frequently handled surfaces can accumulate:

• Fingerprints.
• Sweat marks.
• Water spots.
• Dust.
• General handling grime.
• Residue around bridges, controls and other frequently touched areas.

This is where Guitar Clean enters the system.

DMI Guitar Labs Guitar Clean – for finished and hard surfaces

DMI Guitar Labs Guitar Clean is a dedicated cleaning solution for instruments and other hard surfaces.

It is designed to remove fingerprints, water spots, sweat and everyday grime from the instrument surface.

DMI describes Guitar Clean as suitable for both matte and gloss finishes.

The formula is also described as free from abrasives, fragrances, waxes and polymers.

That means its role is primarily cleaning rather than leaving behind a traditional wax-style coating.

Guitar Clean is designed for jobs such as:

• Cleaning fingerprints from the instrument body.
• Removing sweat and handling marks.
• Cleaning water spots.
• Cleaning hard finished surfaces.
• Maintaining matte and gloss finishes without adding a wax coating.

How to use Guitar Clean

A simple routine is:

1. Remove loose dust before rubbing the surface.
2. Apply Guitar Clean generously to a clean microfibre cloth.
3. Wipe the instrument surface.
4. Work gently over areas with fingerprints, sweat or visible contamination.
5. Buff until remaining cleaner and contamination have been removed.
6. Turn the cloth frequently so dirt is not simply moved around the instrument.

Avoid using dirty workshop cloths that may contain metal particles, grit or abrasive debris.

The cleaning solution can only work safely if the cloth touching the finish is also clean.

Matte finishes need special consideration

Matte and satin finishes can be surprisingly easy to alter through inappropriate polishing.

Abrasive compounds or repeated aggressive polishing can gradually create shiny areas on a surface that was intended to remain matte.

That is one reason a non-abrasive cleaner designed for both matte and gloss finishes can be useful.

The goal on a matte instrument should normally be to remove contamination without mechanically polishing the finish into a different sheen.

DMI Guitar Labs Guitar Clean – €6.99

At the time of writing, Guitar Clean is available from ScaleNordic for €6.99.

Fret Butter vs Maple Butter vs Guitar Clean

A complete guitar-cleaning routine during a string change

If you want to use the three-product approach as a simple maintenance system, the process can be very straightforward.

We would use this order:

1. Remove the old strings.
2. Inspect the fretboard and frets. Decide whether they need a full treatment or only a light cleaning.
3. Choose the appropriate fretboard product. Use Fret Butter where cleaning and conditioning are appropriate, or Maple Butter for a suitable non-porous maple fretboard.
4. Buff thoroughly. Do not leave loosened dirt or cleaning residue on the fretboard or frets.
5. Clean the body and finished surfaces with Guitar Clean.
6. Use a clean cloth for the final buff.
7. Install the new strings.
8. Give the instrument a final wipe after tuning.

This creates a logical separation between fretboard care and general surface cleaning without turning routine guitar maintenance into a complicated workshop process.

Common guitar-cleaning mistakes

A good product can still produce a poor result if it is used incorrectly.

Common mistakes include:

• Assuming every fretboard material and finish should be treated identically.
• Using an abrasive metal polish without protecting a surface that requires protection.
• Applying excessive quantities of conditioning product.
• Failing to buff away remaining residue.
• Using dirty or abrasive cloths on delicate finishes.
• Aggressively polishing a matte finish until shiny areas appear.
• Using household cleaners that were never designed for musical instruments.
• Ignoring damaged or worn-through finishes before applying a cleaner.

Do you need to condition a fretboard every time you change strings?

No.

A guitar should be maintained according to its actual condition rather than a rigid schedule.

If a suitable wooden fretboard is already clean and in good condition, there is little reason to continually add conditioning product.

Climate, playing frequency, hand chemistry, storage conditions and fretboard material all influence how often maintenance is required.

Some instruments may need more attention in very dry conditions.

Others may mainly need frequent cleaning because the player produces more sweat or plays for several hours every day.

Do you still need lemon oil?

Not necessarily.

Lemon oil has become strongly associated with guitar fretboard care, but it is not a mandatory part of maintaining a guitar.

The more important question is whether the treatment is appropriate for the material and finish of the instrument.

Fret Butter is specifically described by DMI as lemon-oil free and is intended to combine fretboard cleaning, conditioning and normal fret-oxidation removal in one process.

For a finished or non-porous maple fretboard, Maple Butter addresses a different surface requirement.

The goal should therefore be to choose a product for the actual surface rather than automatically assuming every fretboard needs lemon oil.

Can cleaning improve how a guitar feels to play?

It can improve the physical condition of the playing surface.

Oxidised or dirty frets can feel rougher during bends than clean, smooth fret surfaces.

A fretboard covered with sweat and grime can also feel less pleasant than a properly maintained surface.

This does not mean a cleaning product performs the same job as fret levelling, crowning or professional fret dressing.

If a fret is physically damaged, uneven or heavily worn, cleaning cannot repair its geometry.

But when the problem is normal surface oxidation and contamination, proper cleaning can make a noticeable difference to how the instrument feels.

What about heavily oxidised or worn frets?

Fret Butter is intended to remove normal fret oxidation during routine maintenance.

However, there is a difference between ordinary surface oxidation and severe corrosion or mechanical fret damage.

An instrument that has spent years in poor storage conditions may require more extensive work.

Likewise, flat spots, deep string wear and uneven fret heights are mechanical problems rather than cleaning problems.

In those cases, fret dressing, levelling or other work by a qualified guitar technician may be the correct solution.

Why an all-in-one treatment can make sense for touring musicians

A home workshop can contain shelves full of cleaning and maintenance products.

A touring guitar case cannot.

Space, time and simplicity matter when an instrument needs to be restrung and prepared between rehearsals, shows or sessions.

That is one reason the Fret Butter format makes practical sense.

The applicator is small, resealable and designed to handle several routine fretboard-maintenance tasks without requiring a collection of separate polishing products.

Guitar Clean provides the corresponding solution for the rest of the instrument.

For players using finished maple fretboards, Maple Butter completes the system.

DMI Guitar Labs and its product philosophy

DMI Guitar Labs places considerable emphasis on developing instrument-care products that are practical while avoiding several ingredients commonly found in traditional cleaners and polishes.

The company's current product information describes Maple Butter and Guitar Clean as vegan and free from abrasives, fragrances, waxes and polymers.

Fret Butter is described as vegan, cruelty-free and lemon-oil free.

DMI also publishes environmental and regulatory information for products in the range.

Those characteristics do not replace actual cleaning performance, but they can matter to musicians who want to know what they are repeatedly applying to instruments they handle every day.

Which DMI Guitar Labs product should you use?

Choose Fret Butter if:

• You want to clean the fretboard and frets in one process.
• You want to remove normal fret oxidation.
• Your fretboard is a material and surface where conditioning is appropriate.
• You want a compact, reusable maintenance treatment.
• You prefer a lemon-oil-free approach.

Choose Maple Butter if:

• You have a suitable finished or non-porous maple fretboard.
• You want to clean the surface rather than use a traditional wood-conditioning treatment.
• You want a non-abrasive cleaner without wax or polymers.

Choose Guitar Clean if:

• You want to remove fingerprints and sweat from the body.
• You want to clean hard instrument surfaces.
• You have a matte or gloss finish.
• You want a cleaner without wax or polymers.

Frequently asked questions

What is DMI Guitar Labs Fret Butter?

Fret Butter is an all-in-one fretboard and fret treatment. DMI designed it to clean fretboard grime, condition suitable fretboards and remove normal oxidation from the frets during one maintenance process.

Does Fret Butter polish guitar frets?

It is designed to remove normal surface oxidation from the frets and restore a cleaner, smoother appearance and feel. It is intended for routine maintenance rather than mechanical fret levelling, crowning or repair.

Do I need to mask the fretboard before using Fret Butter?

Fret Butter is designed to be applied across the fretboard and frets together, which avoids the masking process commonly required when using some traditional abrasive metal-polishing methods.

Can I use Fret Butter on a maple fretboard?

DMI states that Fret Butter is compatible with common guitar finishes, but the company specifically developed Maple Butter for non-porous fretboards, especially finished maple. For that reason, Maple Butter is the dedicated DMI choice when the job is cleaning a non-porous maple fretboard.

Does Fret Butter contain lemon oil?

No. DMI specifically describes Fret Butter as lemon-oil free.

What is Maple Butter?

Maple Butter is DMI Guitar Labs' non-abrasive cleaner for non-porous fretboards, particularly maple. It is designed to clean the surface without adding wax or polymer residue.

Can Maple Butter remove a guitar finish?

DMI describes Maple Butter as non-abrasive and polymer-free and states that it is designed not to remove the finish. Damaged, unusual or worn-through finishes should nevertheless always be treated cautiously.

What is Guitar Clean used for?

Guitar Clean is designed for cleaning finished and hard instrument surfaces. It removes fingerprints, sweat, water spots and normal everyday contamination.

Can Guitar Clean be used on matte guitars?

Yes. DMI describes Guitar Clean as suitable for both matte and gloss finishes.

Does Guitar Clean contain wax?

No. DMI describes Guitar Clean as wax-free and polymer-free.

How often should I clean my fretboard?

There is no universal schedule. Clean it when contamination has accumulated and condition it only when the fretboard material and condition justify it. A string change is often the most convenient time to inspect the fretboard and frets.

Should I clean my guitar every time I change strings?

A quick inspection and wipe are sensible, but a full deep clean is not always necessary. Let the actual condition of the instrument determine how much maintenance is required.

Can Fret Butter repair worn frets?

No. It can remove normal surface oxidation and contamination, but worn, uneven or mechanically damaged frets may require professional fret work.

Can I use household cleaner on a guitar?

We would avoid general household cleaners unless the instrument manufacturer specifically approves them. Guitar finishes, adhesives, plastics and fretboard materials can react differently to chemicals intended for kitchens, glass or household furniture.

Is Fret Butter reusable?

Yes. The treated applicator is supplied in a resealable package and is designed for repeated maintenance sessions.

Is Fret Butter only for guitars?

No. DMI describes it as a fretboard treatment for stringed instruments, so the same basic concept can also apply to suitable basses and other fretted stringed instruments.

Our final advice

Good guitar maintenance does not need to involve ten bottles, several polishing compounds and an hour at the workbench.

What matters is understanding which surface you are cleaning and choosing a product appropriate for that surface.

For a suitable wooden fretboard and the frets, Fret Butter offers a particularly simple approach because cleaning, conditioning and normal fret-oxidation removal can be handled together.

For finished and non-porous maple fretboards, Maple Butter provides a dedicated alternative.

For the body and other finished surfaces, Guitar Clean takes care of fingerprints, sweat, water spots and general grime.

The three products therefore make more sense when viewed as a small maintenance system rather than as three competing cleaners.