How To Clean Piano Keys Made Of Ivory

Equally a pianist, information technology'southward pretty disheartening when you sit down to play and feel dust or grease on the keys. That's why we've written this guide on how to make clean your piano keys properly, whether you ain a modern Moog or an antiquarian Steinway.

Institute what material your keys are made out of

There are typically four materials your piano keys could be made out of:

• Ivory – a hard, white material from the tusks and teeth of animals like elephants.
• Ebony – a type of hard, dark tropical wood used for the black keys.
• Cellulose – a type of organic plastic used as fake ivory on pianos.
• Acrylic plastic – the modern standard.

Ivory keys were superseded by plastic and cellulose around the 1930s, and later became illegal to use in many countries. If your pianoforte predates the 1930s you may take ivory keys.

Although plastic is a convincing substitute, a mutual tell-tale sign of ivory keys is a thin seam running horizontally just where each white key narrows – as shown hither:

Ivory keys were originally manufactured this style to salvage on waste, given ivory's expense. The only seamless versions are sometime, rare, and ornate – and therefore expensive – classic pianos. You lot'll probable know nigh information technology if you own one of those.

Dry wipe the keys with a microfiber cloth

This should always be the outset pace whether yous're cleaning an antique grand piano with ivory keys, or a synthesiser with plastic keys.

Lightly wiping the keys with a make clean and dry microfiber fabric will remove whatever dust that'due south settled on the keys recently.

Wipe towards yourself, from the acme of the keys to their nearer border as y'all sit at the piano. Wiping horizontally may misalign or otherwise damage the keys if you practise information technology too hard.

Rub the keys with a damp material dipped in soapy water

Before you employ a damp textile, bear in heed that ivory is a porous cloth, pregnant it's vulnerable to certain cleaning substances and techniques. For instance, ivory keys can warp and the glue sealing them in identify can loosen if they get too wet, so ensure the cloth you're cleaning with is only slightly damp and you wipe abroad the moisture quickly later on. You should also apply a white textile, as whatsoever dye from coloured cloths may transfer to the keys.

Plastic is more resilient, and alternative substances similar white vinegar, lemon juice, or smooth are oft recommended, but dish soap does only equally good a chore.

Here'southward a useful tip as well: prevent moisture or dust slipping between the keys by cutting out a piece of cardboard and slipping information technology between them equally you wipe.

The technique:

1. Make sure the pianoforte is switched off and unplugged and/or batteries are removed if you're cleaning an electric piano.
2. Mix a solution of one-part dish soap and four parts water.
3. Take a separate cotton wool cloth and lightly dab it into the liquid. The cloth should but exist damp and cover an area the size of your fingertip.
4. Get-go cleaning the keys from the everyman white note on your piano, and work your way up. Make sure you're rubbing the keys from back to front to draw the dust off the keys. Do this ane octave at a time, and utilize a split fabric to dry the keys after.
5. As you notice your cloth drying or getting dirty, pick another spot on it, dab information technology in the solution, and keep.
6. Once you've wiped down every key, return to the lowest white note and wipe downwardly all the fronts as well (if your pianoforte has full-sized keys).
7. Repeat for the black keys. Information technology'south of import to clean the blackness keys after to avoid staining the white keys.
8. Give the entire piano a final clean with the dry out cloth to wipe the keys gratuitous of any leftover clay.

Removing discoloration

If you lot're trying to restore the white tone to your piano keys due to discoloration, this is slightly trickier. For ivory keys, you may observe using the above method in conjunction with toothpaste lightens their tone slightly.

Withal, if you tin't achieve the results y'all'd like, the best thing to practise is consult a professional piano cleaning service, who tin can dismantle the pianoforte and bleach the keys.

Plastic has a bad habit of yellowing as well, except this arises subsequently prolonged exposure to sunlight. Information technology can be quite complicated to restore the keys dorsum to their prior celebrity, only not impossible. Check out this video for a demonstration:

What not to do

• Don't spray or cascade cleaning solution directly onto the keys – h2o could seep between them and damage your pianoforte.
• Don't wipe side to side as yous may loosen a primal'southward alignment or move dust betwixt the keys, causing them to stick.
• Don't wipe front to back either, as y'all'll only push dust backside the keys. You lot want to pull the grit abroad and off the keys.
• Don't exist tempted to apply a scouring pad or scrubbing brush for tougher stains every bit yous may dull or scratch the keys' surface.

Tips to prevent your keys from becoming dirty

• Stay on top of the grit build-up by regularly dry out wiping the keys. Leaving the keys exposed for even i day can yield a noticeable layer of grit.
• Launder your hands and make sure they're completely dry before sitting downwards at the piano to play. This will stop clay and grease transferring to the keys.
• If your keys are plastic, keep your piano out of directly sunlight every bit this yellows the keys.
• If your keys are ivory, keeping your piano in indirect sunlight will really whiten the keys slightly.
• When you aren't playing, close the keyboard lid if your piano has one, or use a grit encompass if it doesn't. This volition protect the keys from spillages and forbid the build-up of dust and dirt. If your piano is quite former the weather condition nether the chapeau may go boiling, which could cause deterioration over time, so think to let those keys breathe every so often.

Now your piano looks as good as new, keep it that way past insuring it with Insure4Music! Even if you take good care of your piano, there'southward always the risk of damaging it. We offer specialist cover for pianos at competitive prices. Get an instant online quote with us today and make certain the music never stops.

Source: https://www.insure4music.co.uk/blog/2019/09/30/how-to-clean-piano-keys/

Posted by: woffordmined1938.blogspot.com

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