Piano Care
Your instrument is very special ...
Piano Care
Penguin Pianos will give your instrument the care and attention it deserves so that you can concentrate on doing what you really like - playing the piano!
Your instrument is more than a piece of furniture that deserves a special place. Because it is built from various materials (wood, metal, felt and leather), there are some points that you should always bear in mind:
Correct Positioning
- Your piano should never be exposed to direct sunlight, nor should it be positioned next to a window.
- If it is at all possible, avoid placing your piano against an exterior wall.
- Protect your floor by placing coasters under the wheels of the piano.
- If you feel that the sound of the piano does not expand satisfactorily in the room, call Penguin Pianos. We can work with you to check and perhaps alter the position of the instrument.
- You can make the most of the acoustics of a room by giving due thought to the position of the piano in the room. The voicing abilities of a skilful, talented piano technician may also prove useful!
Suitable Interior Climate
A stable and suitable interior climate is essential for your piano. The temperature in the room should be kept at around 20˚ Celsius and have a humidity of around 40% to 65%. This will ensure your piano's best sound potential.
Care of Your Instrument
Use only cleaning products and polishes recommended by a good piano shop. By doing this, you save yourself the cost of expensive repairs caused by using the wrong products. Polyester, oil-based finish or shellac-based surfaces are all very different and require specific care and handling.
Cleaning the Keys
Make a habit of washing your hands with lukewarm water before playing the piano so that the keys don't get dirty in the first place. We especially recommend this hand-washing habit in situations where the same piano is shared by several people. It helps avoid the spread of diseases and the growth and spread of bacteria amongst schoolchildren, piano teachers and other staff. This practice should be especially promoted in locations where a finger-food culture exists.
Use a soft, genuine chamois leather cloth to clean the keys. For persistent dirt, try a special, damp key-cleaning cloth from our piano shop. Keep in mind that using a cloth that is too damp means you risk having slightly loose ivory key tops like those in older "auction-pianos" come off completely.... you have been warned!
Surface Care
To remove loose dust from the exterior of your piano, there is nothing more effective and more eco-friendly than an ordinary ostrich-feather duster. A closed-grain, high-mirror polished surface may be cleaned with a specially formulated polishing liquid and a piece of terry towelling. To maintain the silky sheen of a modern satin matt surface, you should clean it with products specifically designed for satin wood finishes. These cleaning products are available at all good piano shops.
Periodic Cleaning
Over the years, dust may fall into the instrument itself. The removal of this dust is not done easily. It should be left to a specialist so that sensitive parts of your piano are not damaged.
We've compiled more useful information on the care of your piano that will come soon here on this page. Our printed leaflets can be obtained at the workshop or from your local piano teacher. Feel free to contact us with your questions or to schedule an service appointment for your piano.