Pianos need ventilation. Try to position the piano away from a wall by at least three inches so that air can circulate around the instrument as condensation can form and have a detrimental effect on the piano.
Avoid placing the piano in direct sunlight. The heat of the sun can cause the cabinet and any structural parts to warp. Sunlight can also bleach any exposed parts of the cabinet, causing the colour to look uneven.
Keep the piano away from sources of heat such as radiators and fires. This can cause the piano to dry out and wooden parts to split.
Try to avoid damp conditions as this will cause wooden parts to swell and seize.
Over the lifetime of your piano, a huge amount of dust will accumulate inside the instrument, which can act as an abrasive on moving parts. It can dull hammer action and cause noise. This must be cleaned by a professional piano technician, but can be avoided slightly by regularly dusting the cabinet with a soft dry cloth or feather duster.
The keyboard should also be wiped periodically with a soft dry cloth. If the keys are dirty, wipe them with a solution of vinegar or lemon juice and water on a cloth and wrung out well. A good habit to adopt is never play a piano with dirty hands!
Do not place objects on top of the piano. Ornaments can cause noisy vibrations and tonal imperfections. A vase of flowers may look attractive on top of the piano but if it spills and water enters the piano some serious damage can occur. We’d advise avoiding costly accidents by never placing anything except sheet music or a metronome on top of the piano.
The best advice we can give you is to get your piano tuned at least once a year. This gives us the opportunity to check the instrument for woodworm, moths and extremes in humidity. Do please call us on 01305 783443 for expert advice on looking after your instrument.