Ukuleles are pretty easy musical instruments to take care of, and with a little love and care you can keep yours in excellent condition for many years, and still be confident it will stay sound fabulous too.
Be aware though that humidity is the greatest threat to your treasured instrument, making it pretty much essential to use a special ukulele humidifier when it is in its case, regardless of your location.
Why is humidity such a problem?
Humidity is basically airborne water vapour, and the arch enemy of all things wooden. High levels of humidity cause wood to expand, while low levels make it shrink, and while large wooden objects like dining tables or sideboards can generally tolerate these deviations musical instruments cannot.
A ukulele exposed to overly high or low humidity levels in the air will quickly start to sound off, an if it becomes too dry will be unable to produce the entire range of sounds you would expect.
Add to this the potential for the wood of the ukulele to crack, and the parts to become loose, or even come off altogether as the glue holding things together dries out, and you have an unusable instrument.
The importance of buying a decent ukulele humidifier
By now you are aware of the damage either too much, or too little, humidity in the air can do to a ukulele over time, but the fix is surprisingly simple. To avoid all the drama and disappointment you only need buy a special humidifier which will maintain the desired level of 45-55% humidity while your ukulele is stored in its case.
Depending on where you are based this may mean a device which needs water adding to rise the humidity score to its optimum level, or one which does the opposite.
When to use a humidifier
It’s possible to use one 24/7, but some experts believe that isn’t necessary, suggesting instead that a hygrometer (humidity measuring device) is kept in your ukulele case, and monitored regularly. Should it fall below 45% then you can add a humidifier.
Do make sure the case is kept flat ad away from sunlight and direct heat from things like radiators.
Where to find the best ukulele humidifiers
There are several options open to you, ranging from generalist online shops like Amazon, auction sites such as eBay (where many items are brand new and can be bought immediately at a fixed price), an online specialist guitar or ukulele shopping site. Or if you prefer to deal with people directly, (or need further advice and guidance) look for a physical shop in your area specialising either in guitars or music in general.
Oasis is the dominant brand name in this market, but there are plenty of good alternatives. Look for a humidifier which is simple to use and easy to monitor, (so you know when to change it, which is on average around once a year.
Finding the best ukulele humidifier can be quite tough, with a lot of options and things to consider it can be pretty stressing. But if you follow what I’ve spoken about in this article, then you’ll find it much easier.