Cleaning - Warnings!!
Before and After Photos: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3
You can clean some parts of the piano yourself. However, be aware of the following. These warnings apply to cleaning both vertical and grand pianos.
Around tuning pins:
DO NOT spray or wipe (or spill) any liquids or polishes in the area of the tuning pins. Tuning pins are very finely threaded wood screws which need to maintain a good deal of friction with the wood they are screwed into. Any liquid, silicone or wax that seeps into the area around the pins will cause them to become loose, and the piano untunable.
Damper heads:
You can dust or vacuum the damper heads, but NEVER move in a sideways directions (left or right) while doing this. Move towards and away from the keyboard while cleaning them. Even in that direction, don't press down hard. The damper heads are supported on wires, and if you change the bend in the wire, the damper will not seat correctly on the string, causing the strings to ring through even when the damper is down.
Keytops:
Most keytops will come clean simply by wiping with a damp rag. Something with nap, like terrycloth, is good. Always wring out the rag first so it is ONLY DAMP. NEVER allow liquid to drip down the sides of the keys. The keys are wood (with ivory or plastic tops), and any liquid that drips down the side can swell the wood and/or warp the key. If just wiping with a rag dampened with water does not get them clean, try a dab of something like Softscrub. If ivory keys are yellowed from being in direct sunlight or stained from something that got on the keys, a piano technician may be able to whiten them by using a bleaching process, but this is not something you should try yourself.
Rusted strings:
Do not use liquid or spray on the strings. The top of strings that have become rusty from being in an extremely humid environment can be cleaned using Polita, an abrasive block that looks like an eraser, or 3M ScothBrite pads. You will not be able to clean the underside of the strings or in some areas of the top. In my experience, rusty strings do not noticeably affect the sound of the piano. If the strings have become pitted from the rust, I would assume that could affect the sound. Remember that if the piano is still in a humid environment, the rust will return unless measures are taken to reduce the humidity. A Dampp-Chaser piano humidity control system is the only solution I know of. For more information, contact me.