Should I use old car chamois to wipe guitar?

Question

I have a chamois I been using on my car for a year or so. It's in good shape. it's about 18 inches by 12 so I can cut off a one foot by 6inch section. Has anyone done this (or used a chamois bought for the purpose?)
Will it leave "hazing" or tiny scratches on the finish.
Will a chamois help to keep the fretboard clean (especially with a good wipedown during string changes)?

Answer 1

I turned this over to my lead guitar man, Steve "The Colonel" Cropper. Here's what he had to say:

"I have only ever used 2 things to clean my guitars for over 25 years. Plain ordinary carnauba paste car wax on the bodies helps the sweat to bead up & grime to clean off easily & lemon oil on the fretboard every time I change strings. I wipe the lemon oil on with a clean lint free cloth, let it soak in for about 10 minutes & then wipe the excess off. This conditions & remoisturizes the wood.

I don't wax the back of the necks...I just wipe them down with a soft lint free cloth every time I am done playing one.

I personally feel that those so called guitar cleaning products are just another way to soak people for some of their hard earned cash."

By the way, The Colonel didn't mind the chamois for the more durable material of the fretboard, but he said to only use the cotton cloth on the back of the neck and the body.

Answer 2

I wouldn't use it...too much chance of car wax and other things to get into the pickups. Use a cloth that's made for wiping guitars..

Answer 3

lemon oil