How to Care for your Vintage Steinway Piano

There’s a lot that goes into a musical instrument. The slightest change can completely throw off tuning. Everything from how you strum your guitar to the temperature of the room affects how the instrument sounds. It’s why your favorite band or singer-songwriter often tunes after every song when performing live.

Even after you’ve bought that piano, you need to maintain it throughout its life to ensure its pitch-perfect sound. Here are some tips for caring for vintage Steinway pianos.

· Location is everything. Make sure to keep your piano away from sources of heat or cold, such as windows or thermostats. Extreme changes in temperature and humidity will damage your piano.

· Ideally, you want to keep your piano around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) and maintain a humidity level between 45 and 70 percent. During the summer, use an air conditioner. Depending on the dryness of your location, you may want to invest in a good humidifier/dehumidifier.

· Steinway pianos for sale have a very sensitive surface. Remove any dust with a soft, lint-free cloth. The average washcloth will scratch the finish. Avoid using cleaning products or treated cloths. At most, use a slightly moistened leather cloth.

· For the keys, use a slightly moistened soft cloth. Be gentle. You should avoid using any soaps or chemicals. Keys are highly sensitive and can loosen or stick if the slightest bit of moisture trickles down the sides.

· Make sure the top of your Steinway is closed when not in use. This will prevent dust from collecting inside.

· Even a Steinway Model M can take up a lot of space in your room, but don’t treat it like another piece of furniture. It’s not a table that you can place drinks and other items on top of. Many people decorate their pianos with potted plants or art pieces, both of which should be avoided. The moisture from plants will damage finishes, and art pieces will scratch surfaces.

· Avoid touching the strings with your fingers. The natural oils on your skin will lead to corroded strings.

· You should have a qualified piano technician service your piano two to four times a year. This should include tuning, regulation (to maintain the action), and voicing (to maintain the tone). A technician will also help fish out anything that might have fallen inside.

· Play your piano often. The more you play it, the more your piano will develop its own characteristic voice, shaping each distinct note and key to create a wholly unique sound.