Pianos are a moving, carefully constructed instrument that require regular care to keep it in good working condition. While it doesn’t require daily maintenance, or hours of your time during your busy week, there are easy things you can put in place to ensure the best working performance whenever you have the desire to play.
#1 Control The Humidity Levels
One of the most crucial aspects of keeping your piano in good, working condition is its environment. Too much humidity can cause wood to swell and keys to stick. Too little humidity can cause drying and warping of the wood, which can also lead to piano keys sticking.
Its easy to assume that if humidity is high (or low) outside, the inside environment is okay as well. That’s not necessarily so. Low humidity is more likely present during the winter months, when you run your heat on a frequent basis. Yet it can also be present during times of drought, when no rain has been in sight for weeks at a time. Low humidity cracks soundboards and other vital parts of your piano, so its an important aspect to watch for and correct.
Proper humidity levels in your home should be in the 40 to 52 percent range. While this may not be possible in all areas at all times, the important thing to watch for is humidity dropping too low for extended periods of time. If you get static electricity in your home, your piano is in danger.
#2 Piano Tuning
Its easy to assume that piano care is related to how much you play your piano. It works for a car – oil changes are needed on a more frequent basis the more you drive your car. Not so with a piano. Even if your piano sits for weeks on end without being played, it still moves and changes based on the environment. As it moves and changes, the quality of your piano is impacted.
Regular tuning protects the pinblock and keeps your soundboard in top quality. Tuning by a qualified tuner also gives them the chance to look for other things that can turn into larger problems down the road if not fixed and repaired quickly.
#3 Cleaning
Just like any quality piece of furniture in your home, your piano should be cleaned on a regular basis. But when you clean, leave the chemicals behind. With most gloss finishes today, a simple microfiber cloth lightly dampened with water will do the trick. Using chemicals – furniture polish and other off-the-shelf cleaners – contain silicone and other oily bases that do not belong on wood and will eventually dull and cloud the finish.
Once you begin using these polishes on your finish, its very difficult to return the finish to its original shine.
If you own a grand piano, its always a good idea to keep the lid closed when not in use, to ensure dust, debris and pet fur stays away from the soundboard, plate and strings.
Just like tuning, a regular, quality cleaning from a piano technician is recommended to ensure all working parts of your piano are adequately cleaned and ready for use. Do not attempt to deep clean without instruction. You can vacuum the inside carefully with a brush attachment, but in no circumstances should you ever use chemicals or furniture polish on the inside of the piano.
