How to Clean a Piano or Keyboard

One of the questions we get asked frequently is:

"How do I polish or clean my piano/keyboard?"

And it's a good question too, as there are a few things to be aware of especially with upright/grand acoustic pianos due to the types of finishes that they can have.

You will notice that we haven't recommended any specific products below, this is because we don't want someone to skim read this article, or have an internet search engine partially reply to a query. Using the wrong chemicals may result in a damaged finish, and there is no 'one cleaner does all' fix for all products.

Read on and if you have any questions, send an email to our Instrument Specialist on our Contact us page.

Cleaning Your Piano

A piano is a major investment so taking care of this investment is important. When it comes to pianos, cleaning and polishing are two different actions. Polishing should be kept to a bare minimum. Dusting is ideally removed by a feather duster.

Dusting with a dry cloth should be avoided at all costs; a dry cloth will allow the dust to scratch the finish! Not a good idea.

If dusting with a cloth, always use a soft fabric such as flannel or chamois. Never use rags or paper towels.

How often you would clean your piano keyboard is entirely dependant on how often you use your piano. For instance, piano teachers may need to clean off collected fingerprints regularly, while a seldom used piano keyboard needs to be cleaned only once or twice a year.

Here are some instructions that may help with cleaning your piano keyboard:

Things you will Need:

*2 soft, clean colour free dry cloths
*Gentle dish-washing soap and warm water

1/ Make a cleaning solution in a small bowl. Mix warm water with a drop or two of gentle dishwashing soap.

2/ Dampen a soft, clean, colour-free cloth slightly in the cleaning solution. Rub the dampened cloth gently over each white key individually to remove dust and fingerprints. Then use a soft, dry cloth to wipe off any moisture left on the keyboard.

3/ Dampen a second soft cloth with the cleaning solution and wipe each black key in a similar manner.

Before polishing your piano you need to find out whether it has a polymer or lacquer finish; these two finishes must be polished differently to avoid possibly irreversible damage.

If you want to use a commercial spray on your piano, contact your local piano tuner to see what they would recommend to use. They are typically the experts on pianos and can advise what they would use. Some households sprays are not suitable and can damage the coating and finish of the piano so ring before using them to avoid damage.

Cleaning your Electronic Keyboard

Electronic keyboards can equally be important to keep in good condition. Avoid chemical spray cleaners as they can damage keys and internal components - especially if too much is applied and allowed to drip into the internal workings of the keyboards.

Avoid abrasive scrubbing and brushing as this scratch the key surface and this may not be able to repaired.

Before beginning, make sure the unit is turned off and disconnected from the wall power socket.

Here are some instructions to help you.

Things You Will Need:

*Water
*Mild dishwashing liquid
*2 clean, white cloths
*Cotton swabs

1/ Mix warm water and a small amount of gentle dishwashing soap in a bowl

2/ Moisten slightly a clean, white cloth. Wipe carefully over the surface of each key and other exposed surface areas of the keyboard with the moistened cloth. Keep water out of speakers or other internal components.

3/ Wipe over the cleaned areas with the other dry, clean cloth to soak up excess moisture.

Additional Tips for both Pianos and Keyboards

Another note to add is to avoid placing objects on your piano or keyboard. If you use a piano lamp, make sure it has a cloth or felt base, or place it on top of a piece of fabric.

Never spray products directly onto your piano or keyboard. If you are using a product suggested by your piano tuner, spray the polish onto a cloth, and stand at least 90cm (about three feet) away from the piano to prevent the particles from landing on your keys, strings or other delicate areas.

If you've never cleaned your piano or keyboard, contact us, and we can give you advice on piano tuners in your area, or products specific to your keyboard.