It doesn’t matter what you do; your piano keys are inevitably going to get dirty at some point in time. Whether you play piano regularly or just occasionally, cleaning piano keys is necessary for making sure that the machine will last. Skin oils, dust, and dirt can get accumulated over the surface, and they may even get in between all the keys. This means you are looking at an unpleasant and sticky practice session. Before you get down to cleaning piano keys, keep in mind that the instrument cannot be treated like a table or a window during spring cleaning. Here are some tips you need to adhere to.
Steps for cleaning piano keys
1. Removing the dust: To start with, you will need to get a dry dust cloth and wipe the keys gently to remove the excess dirt and dust that gets settled on the piano keys. It is significant while wiping them down that you are wiping them towards you. This will prevent all the dust from getting collected between all the gaps in the keys.
2. Wipe down all the white keys by using soapy water: Now, you will have to get another cloth to wipe down by using soapy water. It is recommended that you use a solution that is one part dish soap and 4 parts water. Just dab the cloth in the solution lightly and clean the keys one by one. Start at the bottom and work your way up from left to right. Never forget to wipe your keys back to front to ensure that the cloth remains clean. After you are done, take another cloth to dry them.
3. Cleaning the key fronts: Now, repeat the procedure for your key fronts by dabbing the cloth inside the soapy solutions and cleaning them.
4. Repeat the process for black keys: In the next step, you have to repeat the procedure for all the black keys. These black keys have to be cleaned second because you may stain the white ones otherwise.
Cleaning plastic keys
This simple technique can be used for both plastic and ivory keys. However, you may also use diluted white vinegar for cleaning plastic keys. This solution is good for removing fingerprints and stains. But while cleaning plastic keys on digital pianos, you should be careful about not using too much water as it might damage the instrument. Ensure that you have read the maker’s manual for proper maintenance of digital pianos. Never expose the plastic keys to direct sunlight for a longer period. It will make them lose their color and go yellow. You should cover the windows with blinds, curtains, or other forms of protection against the sun.
Cleaning and polishing ivory keys
When you are cleaning ivory and plastic keys, the procedure is pretty much the same. It would be best if you polished the ivory keys, however. After some time, the ivory keys begin to lose their color and whiteness. You can replace the ivory keys if required, but you can polish them to bring them back to their natural color. Fortunately, there is no need to buy an expensive and obscure product for doing this. A common item used by people for polishing ivory keys is toothpaste, and it works out reasonably well. There is a brightening substance in the toothpaste used for whitening the teeth, and it works out for ivory keys as well.
It is significant to keep in mind that cleaning piano keys is one of your essential maintenance tasks that must be done to make sure that the machine remains functional for a longer duration. If you reside in Tampa, FL area and have a piano that needs tuning, look no further than Tampa Piano Tuning for expert help.
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