How Should I Clean My Piano?

People often worry about damaging their piano with unsuitable products, or messing up the settings by opening it. And yet, dust accumulates, keys get grimy… So what can you safely do yourself to care for your piano — and what should you leave to a technician?

The Piano’s Cabinet

If your piano has a varnished wooden finish, you can treat it like any classic piece of furniture: regular dusting and, above all, preventing buildup. Never place drinks or flowerpots on it — the risk of staining or seepage is high.

As for wax, it may suit some pianos, but not others. I don’t recommend it for regular care.

Modern pianos are usually lacquered (black or white). They're covered in polyester, a very durable material. Again, frequent dusting is enough, and a soft cloth slightly moistened with glass cleaner does the job perfectly.

The Keyboard

It’s the part we touch most… and clean the least!

The keys gradually get dirty, whatever their material — whether modern plastic or old ivory. A cloth lightly moistened with glass cleaner is all you need for regular maintenance.

If a key is heavily soiled, you can use a bit of non-abrasive cream cleanser (like Soft Scrub) or even toothpaste, rubbing gently with a soft cloth. Then wipe clean with a damp cloth to remove any residue.

The sides of the keys — especially in the middle range — are often made of natural wood and tend to darken over time. This is caused by finger sweat gradually seeping in. I recommend leaving this part to your technician, who will remove the keys and clean them individually and safely with a special cleaning solvent.

Gently brush the dust with one hand while vacuuming with the other.

The Inside: Dust and Traps

Brush in one hand, vacuum in the other...

On an upright piano, you can safely open the lower panel (usually held by a small latch or metal tab). You’ll often find a thick layer of dust at the bottom. A basic vacuum cleaner works perfectly here.

For hard-to-reach corners, use a small paintbrush: gently brush the dust with one hand while vacuuming with the other.

The pedals, usually made of brass, can be polished with a bit of brass polish (like Brasso) to restore their shine.

There’s also a lot of dust under the keys. But be careful: this area is delicate, as it requires removing all the keys and putting them back in the right order. Best to let a specialist handle this.

What About the Action?

Even if some parts of the action are visible — hammers, straps, felts, springs — don’t touch them: they’re fragile, and a clumsy gesture could throw your piano out of regulation.

On a grand piano, you’ll probably notice dust settled on the soundboard under the strings. It’s very frustrating — easy to see, but hard to reach.

In accessible areas (between the tuning pins, on the plate), you can safely use the vacuum + brush combo. For the dust under the strings, I recommend sliding in a dust cloth (like a Swiffer) using a straightened wire hanger.

It works well… but I suggest watching me do it first. If the cloth slips out of control, you might scratch the soundboard or wedge it under a string.

In short

There are plenty of other hidden corners I always clean during more thorough work (regulation, repairs, voicing…), but that are best left alone otherwise. Already, by taking care of the accessible areas, your piano will stay clean, inviting, pleasant to play — and you’ll enjoy the quiet satisfaction of looking after a beautiful instrument.

Contact

Got a stubborn stain, a question, or just the feeling your piano could use a “deep clean”?I can step in for a full cleaning — or simply give you some advice.

👉 Get in touch and let’s talk about it!