How Do You Clean Ivory Piano Keys

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Ivory piano keys have a natural white luster to them and tin be constitute on high end pianos. Over fourth dimension, ivory piano keys can get dirty or plow yellow with use. To remove fingerprints, marks, and dirt, use a damp material and mild soap. If in that location is yellowing on the ivory piano keys, try applying rubbing alcohol, milk, or toothpaste. Some other option is to use professional cleaning products to keep the ivory piano keys looking prissy and make clean.

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Dampen a clean cloth. To remove surface layer clay and marks, utilize a make clean soft fabric. Slightly dampen the cloth with warm h2o. Clasp out whatever excess h2o before you use the cloth so it is not too wet.
- Ivory piano keys should not exist drenched in water every bit this tin damage the ivory and cause the keys to swell, making them harder to play properly.
- Do not apply a brush or scouring pad on the keys. A soft clean textile will work just fine.
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Apply a small amount of mild soap. In one case the textile is clammy, apply a few dots of mild soap. Use soap that has no fragrance or harsh chemicals, as these tin can damage the keys.
- Only use a very small corporeality of lather. You practice not want the cloth to be drenched in soap or be lathered with lather.
- If you do not want to use soap, you can skip this step. Ofttimes marks and fingerprints volition come off the ivory hands with just a clammy cloth.
EXPERT TIP

Bridgett Cost is a Cleaning Guru and Co-Owner of Maideasy, a maid service company that services the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional

Regular cleaning will go along the keys white. To keep your ivory keys white, dampen a microfiber cloth. Apply a niggling baking soda, toothpaste, or dish lather to the cloth, and so lightly wipe downwardly the keys.

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Wipe the keys lightly. Wipe each cardinal individually. This may take twenty-30 minutes. Make sure yous give each key a good wipe from top to bottom. Do non wipe them side to side, as this can end up damaging the keys. If you notice any stubborn marks, gentle wipe the area several times until the marker comes out.
- If at that place are stains on the keys, you may need to utilize a stronger cleaning solution like rubbing alcohol, milk, or toothpaste to remove them.
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Dry the keys. One time you take finished wiping each key, apply a new clean material to dry out the keys. Dry each primal one at a time from elevation to lesser. Make sure there is no excess water sitting on the keys, as this can damage the ivory.

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i
Utilize rubbing alcohol on the keys. Rubbing alcohol is a good option if you desire to clean and disinfect the keys at the same time. Utilise a small corporeality of rubbing alcohol on a clean soft cloth. And then, wipe down each key from height to lesser.^[i]
- In one case you take wiped all the keys, use some other clean cloth to dry the keys. Make sure there is no backlog rubbing alcohol or h2o on the keys, as this can damage them.
2
Try non-colored toothpaste. Toothpaste can assistance to brighten ivory piano keys with stains or yellowing.^[two] Take a damp material and apply non-colored toothpaste to it. Then, rub each key from top to lesser.^[iii]
- Bank check that the toothpaste does not contain whatsoever coloring or dyes before you utilise information technology. You do non desire to cease up dying the white keys or making them more than stained with the toothpaste.
3
Use milk to remove stains. If you lot notice the keys are turning yellow or have stains on them, you can try using milk to clean them. Ivory is a type of dental bone so the fatty acids and calcium in the milk will clean and protect the ivory. Apply a small amount of milk on a damp cloth. So, wipe down each cardinal from pinnacle to bottom.^[four]
- Never scrub the keys hard with whatever cleaning products, including milk. This can end up damaging the keys.
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1
Attempt a bleach based cleaner. To remove stubborn stains or yellowing, use a bleach based cleaner on the ivory keys. Always dilute the cleaner with water and so it is not too stiff. Using besides much bleach on the ivory piano keys tin crevice or damage them. Check that the cleaner is safe to apply on ivory before you use information technology.^[5]
- Use the diluted cleaner on the keys with a clean cloth. Do each key at a fourth dimension from top to bottom. Then, dry each central well with a new make clean material, making sure at that place is no backlog cleaner on the keys.
Expert TIP

For an easy way to dust your piano keys, spray between them with a tin of pressurized air.

Bridgett Price

House Cleaning Professional

Bridgett Toll is a Cleaning Guru and Co-Owner of Maideasy, a maid service visitor that services the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional
2
Use an ivory scraper. An ivory scraper is a production designed to remove yellowing and stains on ivory piano keys. Yous tin find this tool online or at piano supply stores. Speak to a professional piano technician earlier you utilise this tool to avoid damaging the keys.^[6]
- There is a risk that you volition damage the ivory piano keys with the ivory scraper if you employ it incorrectly. If yous are not sure how to use the tool properly, reach out to a professional.
3
Hire a piano technician to clean the keys. If the keys are really yellow or badly stained, you may want to consider hiring a piano technician for the cleaning. The technician will remove each key and clean them individually with an ivory scraper or a professional cleaner. They will know the best and safest way to remove stains and yellowing on the ivory.^[7]
- Getting a thorough cleaning washed on the keys in one case a year by a trained technician may be a adept pick, especially if you utilize the piano ofttimes.
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1
Wash your hands well before playing the piano. To continue the piano keys clean, always wash your hands well before playing the piano. If others are playing the pianoforte, get them to wash their hands before they bear upon the keys.
- You tin can also arrive the habit of wiping the keys with a dry out clean cloth later you washed playing the pianoforte. This tin can keep dust and clay off the keys.
ii
Keep the piano out of direct sunlight. Identify the pianoforte a shady spot in your home in room temperature and low humidity. Putting the pianoforte in a sunny spot can cease up causing the keys to swell up and lead to yellowing of the keys over time.
- If the piano is non used often and you want to protect the keys from harm, y'all can get a long key encompass to get over the keys or put downwardly the key cover on the piano. Keep the keys covered until the piano is to be played.
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Avoid using aerosols or sprays around the piano. Air fresheners, article of furniture polish, and other aerosol products can damage the ivory keys and cause them to yellow over time. Proceed these products away from the piano and exercise not spray the keys with these products.^[8]

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Add New Question

Question

Why are the ends of some of the keys yellowish?

They may turn yellowish with age, subsequently many hands have touched them, or if they just demand to be cleaned.
Question

How can I tell if keys are plastic or ivory?

Kai Schlegelmann

Community Answer

The weight of them and the age of the piano. Ivory volition tend to exist a lot more heavy than a plastic key, although there are skillful fakes. You can besides look for grain on the key, considering an ivory key will have grain patterns on it. The last thing is that Ivory in now illegal in nigh countries, then if you take a new pianoforte information technology's unlikely that information technology will be ivory.