

Has happened to yours, we wish we could offer an easy solution, but the truth It’s only natural for piano keys to discolour over time.
#Music keys piano free
Give the entire piano a final clean with the dry cloth to wipe the keys free of any leftover dirt.It’s important to clean the black keys afterwards to avoid staining the white keys Once you’ve wiped down every key, return to the lowest white note and wipe down all the fronts as well (if your piano has full-sized keys).As you notice your cloth drying or getting dirty, pick another spot on it, dab it in the solution, and continue.Do this one octave at a time, and use a separate cloth to dry the keys after Make sure you’re rubbing the keys from back to front to draw the dust off the keys. Start cleaning the keys from the lowest white note on your piano, and work your way up.The cloth should only be damp and cover an area the size of your fingertip Take a separate cotton cloth and lightly dab it into the liquid.Mix a solution of one part dish soap and four parts water.IMPORTANT: If your piano is electric, make sure it is switched off, unplugged, or the batteries have been removed first. Your cleaning technique will differ depending on what type of As well as dish soap, you canĪlso use substances like white vinegar, lemon juice or polish.Īnother useful tip to prevent moisture or dust from slipping in between the keys is to carefully wedge a thin piece of cardboard between them as you wipe down. Variety of cleaning materials and techniques. Plastic is more resilient than ivory, so it can withstand a wider You should also use a white cloth for this step, as the dye from coloured cloths may transfer to ivory keys and discolour them. If they get too wet, so ensure the cloth you’re cleaning with is only slightlyĭamp, and any excess water is wiped away quickly. Ivory keys can warp, and the glue sealing them in place can loosen Material, so it’s vulnerable to certain cleaning substances and techniques. Rub the keys with a damp cloth dipped lightly in soapy water Ivoryīefore using a damp cloth, remember that ivory is a porous Wiping horizontally may misalign or damage the keys if you do it too hard.Ģ. Wipe towards yourself, from the top of the keys to their nearer edge as you sit at the piano. This will remove any dust that’s settled on the keys recently. Whether you’re cleaning an antique grand piano with ivory keys orĪ modern synthesiser with plastic keys, a dry wipe with a microfibre cloth Dry wipe the keys with a microfibre cloth
#Music keys piano how to
Related: How to tell if your piano keys are made of ivoryġ. Today are old, ornate, extremely rare-and therefore very expensive-classicĪgain, you’ll already be well aware if you own one of these Ivory is a very expensive material, so keys were originally Probably know already if that was the case!Īlthough plastic is a convincing substitute, a common tell-tale sign of ivory piano keys is a thin seam running horizontally just where each white key narrows-as shown below. Predates the 1930s, there’s every chance it’ll still have ivory keys-but you’d Ivory keys were superseded by plastic and cellulose around theġ930s and were later made illegal in many countries.

Like dust on your bookshelf, you can’t avoid it. You sit down to play and feel dust or grease on the keys.Įven if you’re the only person that ever uses your piano, you might be surprised at how quickly and easily dirt can build up. As a pianist, it can be pretty disheartening and off-putting when
