Caring For Your Piano
Tips and Information about Effective Piano Maintenance
Your piano is both a beautiful piece of furniture and a complex musical instrument. Consequently, the exterior wooden cabinet and the internal action mechanisms need deliberate, sensible and sometimes professional care and maintenance. There are several things that you can do either by yourself or using the services of a qualified professional that will be essential to the health, well-being, appearance, and longevity of your piano. Doing these things will preserve your investment and lead to many years of enjoying your valued investment.
Tuning Your Piano
Your piano should be tuned regularly to the standard pitch of A440. Even if your piano is not played frequently, various factors cause it to go out of tune. Neglecting to get your piano tuned regularly will lead to it going further and further out of tune, requiring additional time and expense to eventually remedy the situation. An out-of-tune piano will also be a deterrent to you using the piano as you intended it to be used when you purchased it.
Cleaning your piano
Exterior piano finishes are often equal to or better than those of high quality furniture. It is what caught your eye on the showroom floor and what initially impresses people who see your piano. Properly caring for the finish of your piano will preserve the luster and keep it looking like new. Specialized products are available which are particularly effective in maintaining the beautiful look of your piano. Benjamin Piano carries Cory Piano Care products which are recommended for your piano cleaning needs, including the keys, finished wood, etc. When dusting a piano, it is best to use a feather duster or a soft, damp cloth. Commercial sprays and polishes should be avoided because of the chemicals that they contain and their long-term effects. Cleaning the inside of your piano should be handled by your piano technician at the time of your regular service due to the delicate nature of the interior components.
Humidity Control
As mentioned elsewhere on this site, your piano is particularly sensitive to changes in humidity. While whole-house or room humidifiers/dehumidifiers can sometimes help, they seldom are capable of maintaining a consistent level the way a special piano climate control system can. Benjamin Piano strongly recommends the installation of a Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver system for managing the relative humidity levels in and around the piano. For further details, please see our humidity control page.
Moving Your piano
Moving your piano should only be done by a qualified, professional piano mover. This is for the sake of the piano as well as for the protection of any individual(s) who might otherwise consider attempting a move. While Benjamin Piano does not offer piano moving services, we can make recommendations if you are in need of having a piano moved.
Other tips
- Avoid placing your piano in direct sunlight
-
Avoid placing plants, drinks, or candles on the piano
- Avoid positioning your piano in the vicinity of heating ducts or drafty areas
