Cleaning Piano Keys

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RE: Cleaning Adhesive Off Piano Keys

I've had great luck getting old sticker and tape adhesive off ivory piano keys by rubbing olive oil on the keys, then gently scraping the adhesive off. Works like a charm, and doesn't harm the ivory!

Post by purplepudley

painting piano topkeys

Can I spray the sharp keys of my old piano. If I do so what kind of color should I use. How about the ivory keys,
that are pretty much yellow?

Post By preast (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys ?paint?

Hey, any ideas on how to remove some paint from real ivory keys? It seems like it can be chipped off a little but are there better ways? Thanks!

Post By Daisy (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Black Piano Keys

Does anyone have any suggestions for the Black keys?

Post By Stacy (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

O normally don't do these things - but I just had to write. We inherited a piano from a friend who had a house fire. The piano works great - but the keys were black from the smoke damage. I tried mayo - but it just made the keys shiny and didn't take off the black. Then I tried tooth paste. IT WORKED WONDERFULLY! I was amazed at how quickly the blackness came off, leaving the keys very clean looking. The brand I used was Tom's Natural toothpaste with whitening gel. Arm and Hammer Toothpaste worked too - but not as well.

Post By Andrea (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

Some pianos use bone and mammoth tusk material for key tops also. All ivory key tops have a head and a tail piece distinguished by a fine line joining them near the end of the sharp keys. Some plastic tops look very similar with even a grain structure molded in but they are all one piece without the line.

There is a polish called Ivorene used for ivory by piano technicians that works well. Also sunlight works best for age yellow. Contaminated ivory suffering from piano lounge syndrome ie cigarette smoke, can be rubbed with the finest steel wool and then polished with fine rubbing compound.

Real ivory is an opaque material that lets sun shine through it. Manufacturers used zinx oxide on top of the keys to whiten them first so that the ivory will appear whiter on top. If you have to glue one back on, make sure the wood is covered in white first if it came off with the glue wafer they used.

(piano technician)

Post By Emmery (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

I have the residue from what I believe to be masking tape on the keys of a piano I inherited. Any recommendations for removing the sticky tape residue?

Post By Donna (Guest Post)

RE: piano

Hi
We have combined art forms to created a new art form by recycling ivory piano keys. If your piano is beyond repair and would like to sell your keys please contact us a www.binkyshawaii.com
We love repurposing the keys into green art. They invented a plastic piano key back in 1926 but you can do a heat test to see if your keys are ivory or a plastic.Aloha Binky

Post by binky's hawaii

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

My mother told me that her Mom told her 45 yrs ago that real mayonnaise would clean the keys. They didn't turn out pearly white but it made a huge difference. We thought we get even more creative and use peanut butter. It did an even better job, go figure. Our updates will continue as we experiment further. Peace OUT

Post By Patty Gold. (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

My mother said, "that her mother told her 45 years ago, to clean them with real mayonnaise." We tried it on a 100 year old piano that we just acquired, and guess what? It really worked. They are not snow white, but it did make a really big difference. And they are silky to the touch.
~*Patty*~

Post By Patty Gold. (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

That is if your piano keys are ivory, piano keys using early plastics discoloured easily from body oils and the old plastics also discolour purely from age anyway. In this case the only option is to have the keyslips replaced with new plastic, though if it is an antique piano yellowed keys are an expected feature by dealers and buyers.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

i have a very rewarding 1898 Bechstein upright with original ivory keys, the ivorys are in excellent condition and my piano tuner always remarks on their whiteness.

my secret is to treat them like you would treat your teeth, ivory is bone after all.

never use WATER or anything ACID or SOLVENT based, this will damage and erode the ivory.

I firstly wipe over the keys with a dry lint-free cloth, then I gently apply regular non coloured toothpaste and gently rub it in. then the toothpaste is rinsed away with milk using another lint-free cloth. finally I use an extra soft lint-free cloth to buff the keys to a brilliant shine.

Also it helps if you wash your hands or at least wipe them in a dry towell before playing an instrument with ivory keys.
Keeping the lid up to expose to sunlight does also help and wiping the keys after playing can be beneficial.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

"Spray Nine" is the name of a cleaning agent sold in paint stores, a reputable piano restorer suggested i use it to clean the keys by rubbing with 000 steel wool and "Spray Nine" and it worked quite well.

Post By jay (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

I have had an old Heintzman Upright Grand for about 40 years. It was built in Toronto Canada iin the 20s. It is in pristine condition. I have had many piano tuners over the years, however the very first fella that came had been in the piano tuning business for many years. He gave us the very best advice for whitening and cleaning my ivory keys.

A little lemon juice on a soft rag with a little elbow grease.
Do it often so that the oils from your fingers do not have a chance to build up residue on the keys. Air-borne dust, dirt and particles can also lead to graying of the keys so if you value your piano and play it often, wipe the keys often with lemon juice. You will notice results.

Post By My Ivory (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

I just read on another website that a solution of 30% hydrogen peroxide and an ultraviolet light is used by a professional antique piano restorer to whiten genuine ivory. This sounds like a treatment used by dentists to whiten teeth. I just used a solution of regular hydrogen peroxide and some swabs to clean my yellowing ivory piano keys. It certainly removed some built up dirt and oil from previous owners. As far as whitening it immediately I haven't noticed anything extremely significant. However, it seems to evaporate quickly off the keys which seems like a good idea.

Post By Jennifer (Guest Post)

RE: Cleaning Piano Keys

Though I have never tried this, I once heard that ivory is the same material as teeth, and to clean yellow keys the same way you would clean yellow teeth...toothpaste. Please be sure to check with a professional, but it made sense to me!!

Post By Margie Minard (Guest Post)

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