Piano Maintenance & Cleaning

Keep your piano looking and performing beautifully for years to come with our piano maintenance and piano cleaning tips!

1. Give thought to where you place your piano initially. Pianos are susceptible to air, moisture and sun damage, so it’s wise to place your piano near an inner wall within your house. Excess sunlight can fade the exterior, and too much air or moisture can lead to damaged parts or, at minimum, the need to have your piano tuned more frequently.
2. Consider having a humidity control system installed. To protect your piano from seasonal changes that can dry out or over-saturate elements of your piano, we can install a humidity control system for a reasonable rate. Call 877-635-1699 for a quote.
3. Have your piano tuned at least annually. Piano manufacturers often recommend having a piano tuned 3-4 times in the first year after it’s delivered to make it pitch perfect (i.e. tuned to A=440hz), then 2 times per year thereafter. However, an annual tuning will typically suffice for the average player.
4. Clean the exterior of your piano with care. Don’t use harsh cleaners on your piano, particularly if it has a lacquered finish that could be marred by chemical cleaners. Instead, use a soft, damp, lintless cloth to wipe down the exterior and the keys. Do NOT over-saturate the cloth! If you feel the need to disinfect the keys themselves, you can use rubbing alcohol on a paper towel to gently wipe down the keys.
5. Ask your piano tuner to help you vacuum the interior of your piano. Your annual tuning is the perfect time to clean dust from the interior of your piano. Ask your tuner for help or guidance if you wish to vacuum yourself.
6. Protect your piano from moths. There is wool and felt inside your piano, under the keys and on the hammers and dampeners. These materials are mothproofed at the time of manufacture, but the treatment doesn’t last forever. Typically, the cleaning a piano tuner does at the time they tune a piano is sufficient to protect against moths; however, if your technician notices damage from moths, do their recommended mothproofing.
7. Play your piano! The best way to maintain your piano’s inner workings in between tunings is to play it regularly. Do NOT touch or try to clean the inner workings by yourself!
8. Have professional piano movers move your piano when needed. If you’re moving or just want to relocate your piano within your house, it’s wise to use professional piano movers, because even the best furniture movers can damage a piano beyond repair. Call us at 877-635-1699 before you move and we’ll ensure your piano is transferred to its new home with care.

If you have any questions about caring for your piano that we haven’t addressed here, feel free to contact us for additional guidance.