Piano upkeep

raagamuffin

Fellow piano aficionado(s),
I'm looking to see what are best practices for cleaning and polishing your pianos (inside and out). I'll probably have to start doing it soon.. I don't mind product/brand recommendations either , unless there is a forum etiquette/restriction on touting specific products.

Thanks !

Sgisela

raagamuffin I use the same kit @ShiroKuro mentioned. But if your piano has a satin finish, you will need a different polish (the one in this kit is just for high gloss finishes). My piano sent it with the piano at the time of delivery, so I take that as an endorsement!

I use the polish quite infrequently — mostly I just lightly dust the piano with the green microfiber towel. I use the key cleaning solution more often (maybe once a month) — the keys feel and look very clean after using it!

pseudonym58

My piano technician has always had the same advice: less is better.
Use a microfiber cloth, very slightly dampened if necessary, on the external surfaces. No "Lemon Pledge", etc. You don't want a build up of films as a result of using waxy cleaners.
Over time, or if you live in a particularly dusty area, your technician can vacuum and/or use carefully-directed forced air on portions of the interior.
You can wipe the keys with the same microfiber cloth or a very slightly dampened cellulose sponge. Be careful not to accidentally catch a cloth thread on the key top, as it can pop off (which is why I use a sponge). What else?
I guess you can shine the brass pieces such as the pedals with an appropriate cleaner, if concerned about that.

David-G

Good advice from pseudonym. I most certainly never use any polish of any kind on my Bluthner. I give it just a light dusting. A slightly dampened microfibre cloth is perfect.

HeartKeys

yep. i use a pair of lil' piano microfiber gloves, and wipe my pianos every few days or so. as well as vacuuming with the handle, whenever there's cat hair on it!

ShiroKuro

I use this:
www.amazon.com/Piano-Cleaning-Polishing-Kit-Ultimate/dp/B0093USBB8/ref=sr_1_3

I have never actually used the keyboard cleaning liquid though. I don't clean the keyboard often (it doesn't look dirty to me... 😅

But when I do clean it, I use a clean, dry cloth and whip from the fallboard out to the edge of the keys, as opposed to wiping sideways along the keyboard. That way you don't snag or damage the keytops.

I clean the piano itself, the lid, the fallboard and music stand, semi-regularly, and always before company or the tuner comes! 🙂

I bought my piano used, and the brass logo and pedals were tarnished, so I used Flitz to clean that, and the brass has not needed any additional cleaning since then (5+ years ago now, I believe).

I have the felt keyboard cover but I never use it, i.e. when I close the fallboard, I don't put the felt cover on the keys first. But I always used to do that with my first piano years ago... i don't know if it matters though.

What does matter, imo, is keeping the piano closed up when not in use. I think that helps a lot with dust etc.

Good luck!

ETA: why are amazon links always broken here? Just search for this:
"Piano Cleaning and Polishing Kit: Cory Ultimate High Polish Piano Care Kit - For High Gloss Pianos"

raagamuffin

Thanks and good advice ! I’ll start with a microfiber cloth, and then work my way up if needed.

ShiroKuro

Ok now I’m feeling self-conscious about my keyboard… 😅

I sort of remember when I bought my first ever piano, the tuner telling me what not to do with regard to cleaning the keyboard — which I now no longer remember… But I think it planted in my head the idea that you want to avoid making the keys either slippery or sticky, so I’ve always been sort of “less is more” with the keys.

I’m usually the only one whoever plays it… But maybe I need to take a closer look.

I’m not going to do anything to it for the next week though, because I am playing on it in front of about 20 guests next Monday and I don’t want to mess it up before then! 😃

iternabe

ShiroKuro Robert Estrin did a video on fall board in which he claimed he never close the fall board on his piano. When a commentor asked if dust will cause problem, he answered no because even not dusted, once the key is played, the dust will just fall to keybed and stay there.

He also said soft closing mechanism on the fall board is nice but not necessary. The fall board may slam down if not carefully closed, but he had never seen a piano damaged by that.

brdwyguy

ShiroKuro Shiro, I do the EXACT same thing you do - I only wipe the keys with a soft cloth, wiping outwards just like you said. That's because I usually try to make sure my hands are clean before I sit down to play.
Just wanted you to know, I do the same thing!
brdwyguy

cheeeeee

I also use slightly dampened microfiber clothes to clean the surfaces and keys, like the others mentioned. I have the Cory products, but don’t find them make a difference than just using the dumped cloth. For the soundboard, I bought this duster on Amazon. It can easily get under the strings from the tail side of the piano and works really well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07D4MKRMM?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

ShiroKuro

iternabe I guess I will have to respectfully disagree with Mr. Estrin.

I think keeping the piano all closed is much better for the piano, both in terms of dust and in terms of tuning stability.

ShiroKuro

iternabe The fall board may slam down if not carefully closed, but he had never seen a piano damaged by that.

I thought it was to avoid dancing the pianist, not the piano! In only sort of joking, but I thought the point was to prevent it from falling on the pianist’s hands.

cheeeeee

iternabe If the preference is to keep the fallboard open the whole time, one may consider using a key cover made of real wool. That can help keep dust away and maintain moisture level.

pianoloverus

iternabe He also said soft closing mechanism on the fall board is nice but not necessary. The fall board may slam down if not carefully closed, but he had never seen a piano damaged by that.

Fingers getting damaged is the problem if one had young children.

iternabe

ShiroKuro I thought it was to avoid dancing the pianist, not the piano! In only sort of joking, but I thought the point was to prevent it from falling on the pianist’s hands.

I think he said the real chance of severe injury is only when one is playing and another (child) slams the fall board down?

hebele

ShiroKuro say no to slow closing mechanisms. Let the pianist dance!

ShiroKuro

hebele Autocucumber is killing me these days!!!!

😃

cheeeeee

cheeeeee e If the preference is to keep the fallboard open the whole time, one may consider using a key cover made of real wool. That can help keep dust away and maintain moisture level.

It can be stylish too 😄

iternabe

ShiroKuro Autocucumber is killing me these days!!!!

I kinda like your autocorrect who thinks “Autocucumber” does not need correction. 🤪