hammer softener?

[Ron Nossaman]

>Wim,
>
>I understand there is another problem: that over the years, Downey Fabric 
>Softener can go into the bass strings and turn the strings dead.  I have 
>not seen this myself.  I think it was Roger Jolly who pointed this out at 
>our last regional conference.
>
>Bill Maxim
>
>In a message dated 7/15/02 11:49:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
>Wimblees@AOL.COM writes:
>
>
>>2. Use Downey Fabric Softener. Dilute it about 5 or 6 to one, and it 
>>works great. The only problem is, it colors the hammers blue.


Why not just use the ethanol/water mix you already use to shrink flanges? 
It doesn't seem to hurt bass strings years after application, though it 
might immediately kill off some (weaker) brain cells if you drink the 
leftovers.

Ron N