It's a good idea to clean your chinrest occasionally even if you are using a traditional wood chinrest. A quick wipe with alcohol on a soft cloth works great, or just about any mild cleaner, and will really help prevent skin irritations.

This also works well on the GelRest. Because the gel is non-absorbent, any dirt or bacteria stays on the surface where it is easy to wipe off. Use a very soft, lint-free cloth to prevent scratching the gel. The pad can also be polished with instrument polish or ArmorAll.

Gel was originally invented for use in the medical industry, where it is used extensively as padding for surgical patients, prosthetics, breathing apparatus and more. Gradually, its amazing ergonomic properties have been discovered by product developers in many new and different areas.

Gel is a natural aid to violinists because the human face and jaw is a highly sensitive and vulnerable area where nature hasn't endowed us with much built-in padding. It doesn't take a lot of rubbing of your face to leave a red welt. And if your face area is not comfortable, you might compensate in ways that affect your back, or shoulder. That's why even with the advancements in shoulder rests, many players still experience discomfort, especially when playing for extended periods.