Piano upkeep

raagamuffin · 2025-05-05T12:25:40+00:00

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...

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. 🤪

David-G

I always wash my hands before playing the piano!

Gombessa

My hot take:

For polyester finishes, by far the best product I've found to retain shine and glossiness is non-flaking/non-residue car wax. Cory's piano polish (it's not a polish) works pretty well as well.

The piano shop for my last piano suggested Windex for high-gloss polyester. Which I know is usually verboten in forum wisdom, but I used it because it was recommended, and....it's horrible. Do not use Windex. It takes away the glossy surface and really starts to dulls/grays the finish. The good news is I found you can actually rehabilitate it with car wax.

Flame suit on!

ShiroKuro

Gombessa The piano shop for my last piano suggested Windex for high-gloss polyester. Which I know is usually verboten in forum wisdom, but I used it because it was recommended, and....it's horrible. Do not use Windex. It takes away the glossy surface and really starts to dulls/grays the finish.

OMG!!!!!! I hadn't heard the advice to use Windex. But if a piano dealer recommended it to me, I probably would have used it without question.

Yikes! Glad to know that the car wax rehabilitates it.

Would car wax make existing scratches less obvious? I bought my piano used, and the previous owner I think keep the lid closed and covered with papers and stuff. It's not noticeable most of the time, but when you look at it closely...

Gombessa

ShiroKuro Would car wax make existing scratches less obvious? I bought my piano used, and the previous owner I think keep the lid closed and covered with papers and stuff. It's not noticeable most of the time, but when you look at it closely...

As long as you don't expect miracles, it actually does reduce the appearance of swirl marks and micro scratches. It makes the finish a much deeper black, and increases the gloss/shine/reflections. It also makes the finish much more smooth/slippery, and you can actually blow off any dust that falls on it.

ShiroKuro

Gombessa Interesting! I might have to try it. What product do you use? Wait, are you in the UK? (Apologies, my memory is terrible!) If so, the same products might not be available in the US, but please recommend something if you can.

TIA!

danno858

I'm still waiting for my piano to come back from the rebuilders, the case is getting touched up as well, as it had some light scratches on it and a couple of lighter areas where it looks like someone must have had potted plants. I'm buying a cover for it and having a custom wool string cover made for it. The rebuilder will install the heater element of the Dampp Chaser system. My house rarely gets below 35% relative humidity in the winter. It can get close to 60% between now and November at times but it generally stays around 50%. The string cover is supposed to help stave off corrosion and rust. I've never used any covers before, but now that my piano will be like new again, I don't want to take any chances. The finish is satin ebony, so not super shiny. I'm hoping to have it back in my living room by June

Gombessa

ShiroKuro Interesting! I might have to try it. What product do you use?

I've had this bottle of Meguiar's Tech Wax I got for my car 15 years ago. I've used it for the last 7-8 years on my PE pianos. It's so old I don't know if they still make it, but it seems to be the same as the "Ultimate Liquid Wax" that they have now.

I'd recommend starting with a small discreet area first to make sure it works with your finish (like the backside of one of the legs).

ShiroKuro

Gombessa thanks!!

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