How To Clean and Disinfect Piano Keys

Owning a piano can be a very rewarding experience. If you properly maintain the piano, it will give you many, many years of service.

Piano maintenance goes beyond having it tuned and repaired by a professional. It is also important to clean and disinfect the piano keys on a regular basis. Think about it – the keys of your piano get the most action. The keys are where your fingers press when playing a beautiful piece of music. Dirt and oils from your fingers can easily transfer to the keys, leaving them dingy and discolored.

Washing your hands before each playing session is the best method of prevention, but you will still need to clean and disinfect the keys from time to time.

• Dilute mild soap with filtered water to create a cleaning solution. Avoid any chemical cleaners because they can actually cause more damage to the keys.
• Use a clean, white cloth. Only dampen it with the solution – never soak it. You do not want to get moisture in-between the keys.
• Wipe the keys in a downward motion towards you, never side-to-side or up and down. This will help you avoid getting any moisture in-between the keys or in-between the keys and the piano itself.
• Wipe one key at a time, then dry it before moving on to the next key.
• Use a separate cloth for cleaning the black keys and clean them last.
• For disinfecting your piano keys, never use disinfectants such as Lysol. These sprays are fine for around the house, but like other chemicals, they can cause more damage than good.
• Create a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts filtered water to disinfect your piano keys. Follow the cleaning method to disinfect each key of your piano.