clean your guitar before it’s too late

I’ve been thinking a lot about how many of us forget to properly clean our guitars until something goes wrong. Rusty strings, dirty frets, sticky neck, weird smells… it all builds up slowly.

I play almost every day, and I used to think wiping it on my shirt was “good enough.” Now I’m starting to see wear and grime on my guitar, and I’m worried I didn’t take care of it early enough. Whether it’s a cheap beginner guitar or a nice one from Gibson or Fender, they all need maintenance.

Since I started cleaning it more carefully, it feels better to play and even sounds nicer.

How often do you clean your guitar? And what’s your routine to keep it in good shape long term?

Any tips are welcome