Taking care of your piano

Follow the hints given here and your piano should stay in the best possible condition and be a joy to play for many years.

If something is wrong with the piano, have it corrected immediately.Have any faulty keys, poor-sounding notes or faulty pedals adjusted immediately by a qualified tuner-technician. Parts which go out of adjustment will only get worse if left uncorrected and may cause extra wear to themselves or other parts. Having parts adjusted when a problem first occurs is far cheaper than replacing worn parts later on.

Have the piano tuned at least twice a year to 'concert pitch'.
As explained earlier, the piano should be tuned to the correct pitch at least twice a year to avoid damage. Regular tuning will also help the strings to last longer and allow the piano to sound at its best.

It is not a good idea to try and save money by having the piano tuned less frequently - any money spent on tuning or repairs and adjustments will be more than repaid by the longer life you can expect for your piano if it is given regular attention.

Do not try to tune, repair or clean the inside of your piano yourself.
There are thousands of different parts in a piano, many of which need expert adjustment to work properly. Expensive damage to the delicate mechanism can easily be caused by accident, so it is best to leave all work on the inside mechanism to your tuner-technician. However, do not expect everything to be adjusted or cleaned during a regular tuning visit because it would take too long. If extra work needs to be done, call your tuner in advance and make a special appointment.

Clean the piano case and keyboard yourself.
You can clean all the black and white keys by wiping them with a soft cloth, slightly dampened with methylated spirit. When they are dry, polish the keys with a soft dry cloth.

Clean the outside case (furniture) of the piano with a wax furniture polish - unless the piano manufacturer recommends otherwise. However, do not use a polish which contains silicones as they leave a permanent coating which cannot be removed if the piano needs refinishing. Keep polish away from the keys and wash your hands before playing.

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