Q&A for How to Clean a Piano

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  • Question
    How do you clean dirty piano keys?
    Michael Noble, PhD
    Professional Pianist
    Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
    Professional Pianist
    Expert Answer
    You can clean your piano keys with a wet wipe, like some sort of a sanitary wipe. You only need tot make sure that you don't squeeze the liquid into the keys too much. Just wipe the surface gently to get the grime off. It's good to clean the keys, because they can be really dirty.
  • Question
    Where can I order satin polish for my mahogany piano?
    Community Answer
    You can look for it at a hardware store or use online shopping.
  • Question
    How do I find piano tuners and cleaners in my area?
    Community Answer
    Go to Google Maps and type "piano tuners" into the search function and you should receive a list of service providers nearby.
  • Question
    How can I clean the keys of the piano if they are covered with tape adhesive?
    Community Answer
    Try using a rubber eraser to remove the glue. If that doesn't work, any bleach-free, all-purpose surface cleaner should do the job—spot test in an obtrusive location to make sure it doesn't deface the keys, and be careful to avoid getting any on the wood of the piano itself.
  • Question
    I have a cat that urinated on my piano and the keys are stuck and won't play. What can I do without hiring a professional?
    Penguinpencil
    Community Answer
    Try to play the keys every day and see if that helps at all. I would recommend asking your teacher if you have one.
  • Question
    Does a piano tuner also clean the inside of the piano?
    Sarah Flores
    Community Answer
    No, a piano tuner doesn't clean the inside of the piano. It only adjusts the strings to produce the right sound.
  • Question
    Our family piano has been in an old house and near a window air-conditioning unit. It has sticky dust on the outer surface What will clean this best? It is a baby grand black satin finish.
    Kusuo Saiki
    Community Answer
    Use a feather duster to brush the dust away. If the feather duster doesn't work, use a soft, nonabrasive cloth or piece of cotton. Slightly dampen the cloth and wipe down the finish using minimal pressure followed by a dry cloth immediately afterward to prevent moisture damage.
  • Question
    How do I remove dirt and mold around the keys of my piano?
    Kusuo Saiki
    Community Answer
    You can use mild detergent and warm water, diluted bleach solution, diluted vinegar, diluted muriatic acid, alcohol, X14, Medica DC 10, etc. Try your best not to get bleach anywhere near the interior of a piano, to prevent rusting strings. Same with acid (vinegar or muriatic).
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