This is probably not a tip that most people would use but there’s gotta be flute lovers out there somewhere that read Mary Hunt’s Everyday Cheapskate!
All good flute players know that taking care of their flute is important! So cleaning it after every use is a must. But what do you clean it with? Well for the inside, put a piece of satin on your cleaning rod. Satin will absorb the water left inside after playing and what’s great about satin is that it glides through so nicely! It doesn’t get caught inside anywhere.
If you can get a piece of satin that has finished edges that works great! If not, then just use pinking shears around all the edges. of a raw piece of satin. Voila!, a great cleaning rag.
Clean the outside of your flute with a silver polishing rag. This will keep your flute from getting tarnished.
Never put your cleaning rags inside your case. The moisture on the rag is not good for it. Either tie the cleaning rag to the handle of the case, if it has one or get a larger carry case that will hold your flute and gear, too.
I remember being told by my music teacher keeping my flute by itself, never put anything in the case with it.