How do I care for my piano?

Clean the keys with a damp soft cloth that is lint free (cheesecloth works well). I suggest using separate cloths for the blacks and the whites. Don’t use cleaning agents! You can use mild white soap to clean the keys but don’t ever use chemical cleaning fluids or solvents on the keys.

To clean the case, begin with a feather-duster to avoid possible scratches followed by a damp soft cloth. Don’t use furniture polish as it can soften the finish if overused, and the silicone & oils present in many household brands can even contaminate the wood, despite what the labels may say. If more thorough cleaning and polishing is desired, special polishing products are that are made specifically for piano finishes

Keep your piano away from heating registers, radiators, fireplaces and air conditioning vents if possible. Subjecting it to extreme fluctuations of temperature and humidity levels can do major damage. Keeping a piano away from an outside wall was probably necessary in poorly insulated older Victorian homes, but should not be a problem these days. However, avoid direct sunlight on your piano as it can damage and fade the finish, and can create tuning problems.

Using a temperature/humidity gauge (hygrometer) can help you maintain consistent temperature and humidity levels in the room where you keep your piano. Swelling and shrinking of wooden parts affect tuning and keyboard touch, while extreme swings can eventually cause wood to crack and glue joints to fail. Pianos are happiest in a relative humidity level of 40 to 45 percent. If you don’t have a central humidifier/dehumidifier, consider getting a room humidifier for the winter, and a room dehumidifier or air conditioner during the summer months. You can also install a special piano humidifier/dehumidifier inside your piano.

Keep plants, vases, drinks, or anything to do with liquid off the piano. Condensation can ruin the finish, and spillage of liquids into the inner mechanism can result in irreversible damage.