Handpan Care: Cleaning, Oil and Storage
Pandrum
Caring for a handpan comes down to a few simple habits: a wipe with a soft cloth after every session, a thin coat of protective oil from time to time, and storage away from humidity, heat and knocks. Add two golden rules, play gently and never leave the instrument in the sun, and you give it the best chance of keeping its shine and its tuning for years. Here's how to do it, step by step.
Why handpan care matters
A handpan is a precisely tuned steel instrument. It has two main enemies:
- corrosion: sweat, humidity, sea air or fingerprints can, over time, cause stains or rust, especially on certain types of steel;
- detuning: a knock, a fall, hitting too hard or big swings in temperature can shift the pitch of a note.
The good news is that a few habits go a long way toward keeping these risks low.
Know what your handpan is made of
First, check the product page or the manual to see what your instrument is made of, because the right care depends on it:
- Nitrided steel: it's protected by a surface treatment but stays sensitive to moisture, so it needs regular oiling. A change in color or small orange spots are early signs of corrosion and should be dealt with quickly.
- Stainless steel: it resists corrosion better, and a slight change in tint over time is normal. Regular cleaning is still a good idea.
- Colored finishes (gold, bronze, blue, black…): follow the recommendations that came with the instrument first, especially when it comes to which products to use.
If in doubt, the safest move is to ask customer service before applying any product.
Cleaning your handpan after every session
This is the most important habit, and it takes thirty seconds:
- Play with clean, dry hands, no lotion, and take off rings, bracelets and your watch.
- After playing, wipe down the whole surface with a soft, dry microfiber cloth, top and bottom, paying extra attention to the areas where your hands rested.
- Never use water, household cleaners, glass cleaner or anything abrasive: they can encourage rust or damage the surface.
- For stubborn marks, start with the microfiber cloth alone. If that isn't enough, use only the product recommended in your instrument's manual.
Oiling your handpan: when and how
Oil forms a very thin protective film that limits contact between the metal and moisture. It matters most for nitrided steel handpans.
Which oil should you use?
Choose a protective oil made specifically for handpans, or the one recommended by your instrument's maker. Avoid cooking oils, which can go rancid and turn sticky, as well as penetrating lubricants, solvents and any other product not designed for this purpose.
How often?
There's no single rule. Many players oil their handpan every few weeks: more often if they play a lot or live in a humid area or near the ocean, and less often with a stainless steel instrument. Above all, follow your instrument's manual.
The method
- Clean the surface first with a dry cloth.
- Put a few drops of oil on a clean cloth rather than directly on the instrument.
- Spread a very thin layer over the entire surface: top, bottom and rim.
- Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe off the excess with a dry cloth. The surface should feel protected, not greasy.
Storing your handpan properly
- In its bag or case, safe from dust and minor bumps.
- In a dry room at a moderate temperature, away from radiators, sunny windows, bathrooms and damp basements.
- In a stable position, never balanced somewhere it could fall or get knocked over.
- With a desiccant packet in the bag if you live in a humid climate.
- With nothing on top of it. A handpan is not a shelf!
Travel and temperature: the right precautions
- Never leave your handpan in a car in the sun. Heat can affect the tuning, and dark finishes warm up even faster in direct sunlight.
- Avoid sudden temperature changes. After going from cold to warm, leave the instrument in its bag until it reaches room temperature: this limits condensation on the metal.
- Outdoors, play in the shade, stay out of rain and sea spray, and wipe the instrument down as soon as you're done.
- On the move, keep it in its bag and never set it directly on a hard floor.
Your care routine at a glance
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Before playing | Clean, dry hands, jewelry off |
| After every session | Dry microfiber cloth over the whole surface, then back into the bag |
| Every few weeks (per the manual) | Thin coat of protective oil, excess wiped off |
| Regularly | Quick check of the surface for any stain or rust spot |
Mistakes to avoid at all costs
- Hitting hard, with your fingernails or with an object (mallet, drumstick). A handpan is played gently, with the fingertips: our guide to handpan techniques explains the right touch.
- Playing with rings or bracelets on.
- Leaving it in the sun, in a hot car or near a heat source.
- Cleaning it with water or a household cleaner.
- Storing it somewhere damp, without a bag.
- Setting it down on its notes or stacking things on top of it.
- Handing it to someone who doesn't know the instrument without showing them the right touch.
What to do if…
…a small rust spot appears?
Act early: wipe the area, then apply a thin coat of oil. If the spot persists or spreads, contact customer service before trying anything abrasive, which could damage the surface.
…a note sounds out of tune?
Never try to fix it yourself: tuning a handpan is a job for a specialist. Contact the seller and describe the note in question, ideally with a short audio recording. If the instrument turns out to be defective, the warranty applies (in Europe, the legal guarantee of conformity lasts 2 years).
Key takeaways
- After every session: a dry microfiber cloth over the whole surface.
- Regularly: a thin coat of suitable protective oil, depending on the manual and the material.
- Never use water, household cleaners or abrasives.
- Store it in its bag, somewhere dry, away from heat and sun.
- Play gently and without jewelry: that's part of caring for it, too.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you clean a handpan?
Give it a wipe with a dry cloth after every session. Oiling is done every few weeks, depending on the material, your climate and the instrument's manual.
Can you play a handpan outdoors?
Yes, with a few precautions: in the shade, out of the rain and sea spray, and without letting the instrument heat up in the sun. Wipe it down as soon as you're done.
What oil should you use on a handpan?
A protective oil made specifically for handpans, or the one recommended by the maker. Avoid cooking oils and penetrating lubricants.
Does a handpan need regular retuning?
No, it isn't part of routine care. With gentle playing and proper storage, there's no reason to touch it. If a note seems to be changing, contact the seller.
A well-cared-for handpan will stay with you for a long time. To find yours, browse our Handpan collection; and to learn the right touch from day one, the free video course included with every handpan starts with touch and dynamics.
