Alcohol and bleach water will evaporate “clean” so are safer (assuming you’re not specifically allergic to them) than oil or chemical based disinfectants, especially if any disinfectant is accidentally rubbed onto or ingested by a child or pet, or you rub your eyes. Alcohol and bleach, appropriately diluted, are extremely effective, safe, low-odor, easy to use and widely available.
All soaps are anti-bacterial, even without special additives, although a weak dilution may not be 100% effective on stubborn viruses.
Antique ivory keytops should never get very wet, or they’ll curl or fall off. And never mix chemicals! Toxic solutions or fumes may result!
Rubbing alcohol (60% or higher according to CDC) is extremely effective, but you must be careful never to drip any upon a traditional lacquer finish, as found on most older pianos, because it will eat right through. The most commonly-used new piano finishes of polyester or polyurethane are okay with either alcohol or water-based solutions, but if in doubt, assume the finish is fragile and act accordingly. You might want to spot test before proceeding.
The best thing you can do at home is standard practice in the food-services industry: A plastic trigger-pump spray bottle of water with about 3% household bleach. That is 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) per quart or 30 ml per liter. Enough only to smell a bit stronger than a swimming pool, and weak enough not to harm most surfaces if wiped dry right away. We’ve been using a similar mixture in-store as we sanitize thoroughly. Wear a rubber glove if you want zero odor on your skin though.
Simply spray this on a paper towel (make damp, not drippy! You don’t want liquids dripping between your piano keys) and wipe your piano keys. If any water or other liquid gets onto the wood piano cabinet, or if you have wooden black keys, wipe right away to avoid damaging the finish.
We’re also using this bleach water on our other displayed instruments such as guitars and ukuleles. Just make sure to never leave liquid to dry on the wood surfaces! Wipe it away!
This is also the best and easiest solution to spray directly on the more durable surfaces in your home, such as your kitchen counters, door knobs, bathroom sinks, etc. to sanitize them thoroughly and cheaply to strict health department food preparation standards. You probably have bleach in your home already, so you can start right away.
No spray bottle? Just make up a small pan or pail and use a rag. Solution will maintain “legal strength” for at least 8 hours in an open pail, or for a very long time inside your spray bottle.
We hope this helps you to confidently enjoy your piano and your home. Wipe out the bad germies!
Now help all healthy ideas “go viral” that we might use this time to better ourselves, our families and our communities!
May we all look back someday and boast how we invested our time in 2020 for the GOOD! Stay healthy and become wiser!
In addition to this guide, the the Piano Technicians Guild had compiled an advisory notice explaining how to safely disinfect a piano. It can be read on the World Piano News website.
0 Comments