There may come a time, in any musician's life, where they have to put their instrument down for an extended period. This could come from many different scenarios, even positive ones. A person could, say, have more than one instrument and only use one for a while. A second instrument as a backup is common enough.
Regardless, there are many things a player can do to help their instrument during long term down time. The biggest thing is, and I know I'm kinda beating a dead horse here, moisture. Moisture can affect any instrument when not played, and can even rot out a case around the instrument (see post about cases). By making sure the instrument is dry when put in the case, you increase the likelihood that the instrument will come out in a better condition. It won't be better than when you put it in, but at least it won't need to be overhauled.
Another thing to worry about is oils. Yes, oils are your friend, keeping parts wear and tear, but they don't do well when left alone for too long in the parts. Frequently, the oils will start to dry out and cause parts to stick. This happens to brass instruments frequently, due to the increased airflow to the oil coated pieces. The oil acts less like a lubricant and more like a very very light glue, causing things to stick. Before storage, wipe as much of the oil off as possible, but don't use soap and water. What is wanted is the micro-thin layer of oil left after wiping it down, to prevent tarnish, without the possibility for it to take up the space and cause sticking later.
Oils and such also affect woodwinds. The oils of playing and fingers can and will find their way to pad surfaces, causing them to not only become sticky, but to also degrade when the instrument sits. As the moisture leaves these oils and saliva, it becomes more concentrated, making any acidity affect pads quicker. This leads to pulling the instrument out of the case after a time away and noticing torn and cracked pads. Easiest way to fix this is to take a clean dollar bill and using the "dollar bill trick" to wipe the pad surfaces down. Wetting the dollar will help even more, as it can break up the compounds on the surface and pull them off. Just don't press too hard, or you risk tearing the surface of the pads through friction.
Where you store the instrument can also have a big effect. Regardless of how great your case is, a damp and dirty space will creep into the case and start to work on your instrument. Pick your place carefully to minimize any chance of things effecting the stashed horn, including the chance of not finding it for years. Many times I've been asked to work on an instrument that was left in a closet for many years because the person forgot they even had it, and time had not been kind.
These few things will help the condition ofyour instrument, be it brass or woodwind, from degrading faster than it has to. Nothing will stop it from degrading, as it will always be affected by time. With a few simple considerations, these effects can at least be minimized, and maybe even result in an instrument that comes out of mothballs after years, and still be playable.
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