Cleaning piano keys: how do you do that?

318 · 3 min read · 16 Jul 2018 · 3.6K · 4 · 3

Piano keys pollute over time and it's no secret why this happens. Sweaty hands and skin oils help tie dust and dirt to the keys, wear out their polished surfaces, allowing dirt to easily penetrate their pores. Washing hands before playing is a great help, but there is no way to completely avoid the shinless keys. Fortunately, there are some tricks to restore their genius.

Cleaning piano keys: tips

Avoid store-bought chemicals or furniture polish. These are too abrasive and can lead to granular structures and discoloration. Use mild soap diluted with filtered water.
Always use a soft cloth such as flannel or chamois; avoid paper towels at all costs.
Cloths should only be slightly moistened and the keys should be swept in your direction. By swiping side to side, moisture can seep through the keys and cause damage.
Clean one octave at a time and dry immediately before moving to the next octave.
Avoid colored clothing that can bleed if moistened. Colors can be easily transferred to the white keys, creating a discolouration that is very difficult to fix.
Always use separate cloths on black keys or clean them last. Paint from the black keys or unseen dirt can be transferred to the ivory.

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