Care and maintenance of grand and upright pianos
Acoustic pianos, whether grand or upright, are instruments easy to maintain. At least as far as the owner is concerned. Some of these maintenance, such as tuning, have to be done by professionals, otherwise the piano can be damaged by inexperienced manipulation.
How to clean a piano
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Use a slightly damp but soft cloth and gently wipe it over the piano, as dust can scratch the surface even if it doesn’t look like it.
If the instrument is varnished or waxed, make sure the cloth is dry.
To clean the keys use a damp cloth if they are made of plastic but if they are made of ivory (old pianos) that is not damp, because ivory is sensitive to dampness.
A feather duster may be a good choice for surface dust. A small vacuum cleaner that is very soft can be used on the piano dampers.
To avoid woodworm it is best to play the piano regularly as it does not like wood with vibrations.
Here is a very interesting video on the topic.
Avoiding piano wear with use
The passing of time is a bad companion to your piano. So don’t forget to keep the piano cover closed when you use it. And wash your hands before touching it so as not to soil the instrument excessively.
Don’t put anything on the piano, it’s easy to scratch. But most important of all; for God’s sake don’t try to move a piano without the help of a professional. This can wipe out your piano, your back, and any pets under the piano when you fall. We don’t want you to bury your pet :), so always ask a professional for a quote for the piano transfer. Well, the acoustics are very heavy. On the other hand, digital pianos can be moved by themselves because they are much lighter and portable.
If you value your feet, don’t try to move the piano yourself with a friend. You may be able to lift it with help but the sure thing ends badly…
Murphy`s Law
Look after its temperature and humidity
Sudden temperature changes can damage or crack your instrument. Both excess moisture and dryness are not good. So beware of air conditioners that dry out the environment.
Try to maintain a constant temperature in the room and a humidity level between 40 or 60 % if possible. Do not leave the piano permanently exposed to sunlight. You can buy humidifiers that are not particularly expensive and help regulate these parameters.
Professional maintenance: Tuning, transport and intonation.
As we told you before for the transport of pianos do not hesitate to contact experts. If you’re moving, make sure they know how to move pianos. Because if they’re inexperienced, transporters could damage your instrument. So pay for the service separately if necessary. It will cost you a few hundred euros and it’s worth it because we assume you won’t move it every day.
About tuning the piano. It is a cheap service and once a year can be worth, usually costing between € 50 and 90, although if you study more than 5 hours a day may need two tunings per year.
Regarding intonation and regulation. This already has to do with the sticks and other parts, the maintenance is usually a little more expensive but it is good to do a check every 3 years at most. You have to keep in mind that this is a bit like the dentist. If you are 10 years without going any further, the dentist will have to fix you later. We need to be a little cautious.
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