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#1842091 - 02/10/12 05:46 PM disinfectant question
wcctuner Full Member Registered: 12/22/06 Posts: 79 Loc: Princeton, NJ	Rider University had an outbreak of norovirus this week-over 100 cases so far. Everything is being disinfected, including the pianos. A faculty member asked if the disinfectant could damage the piano in any way. I don't know exactly what product is being used. The cleaning crew has been spraying the disinfectant on a cloth and wiping down the piano, not spraying it directly on the piano. I don't think there would be a problem, and considering the way this virus has spread through three campuses so far-Rider main campus, the Westminster campus in Princeton, and Princeton University, disinfecting is needed. If anyone is aware of problems with this, please let me know. Also, for anyone working in a school, be careful. _________________________ Dave Forman Piano Technician, Westminster Choir College of Rider University
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#1842125 - 02/10/12 06:24 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
daniokeeper 500 Post Club Member Registered: 02/01/09 Posts: 669 Loc: PA	I guess that they're just disinfecting the case and the keys? There is the possibility of disinfecting with UV light. I know that UV is not good for plastics, other synthetics, and finishes. But, it seems that the exposure required is about 2 to 10 seconds, which should be trivial. http://sisterearthorganics.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/disinfecting-with-uv-light-does-it-work/ But I don't know, I've never tried it (yet). _________________________ Joe Gumbosky Piano Tuning & Repair
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#1842141 - 02/10/12 06:54 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
Silverwood Pianos 3000 Post Club Member Registered: 03/10/08 Posts: 3018 Loc: Vancouver B. C. Canada	Originally Posted By: wcctuner A faculty member asked if the disinfectant could damage the piano in any way. I don't know exactly what product is being used. If the disinfectant has a corrosive quality to it this could remove the sheen from the plastic key tops. At the present time we are experiencing an outbreak of whooping cough here in the Vancouver area. _________________________ Dan Silverwood www.silverwoodpianos.com http://silverwoodpianos.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/SilverwoodPianosDotCom "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur."
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#1842178 - 02/10/12 07:52 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
Bob 3000 Post Club Member Registered: 06/01/01 Posts: 3394 Loc: Orlando FL	Piano students should wipe the keys with a disinfectant wipe before practicing - Some teachers have wipes for this purpose. Hand washing before and after practice is also a good idea. You never know where some students fingers have been....... _________________________ www.APerfectpiano.com Piano Technician serving Orlando and Central Florida 1927 Steinway M, rebuilt in 2005 1929 Steinway A, in process of repair
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#1842184 - 02/10/12 07:54 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
piano joy 500 Post Club Member Registered: 03/28/11 Posts: 596 Loc: Florida	Originally Posted By: wcctuner Rider University had an outbreak of norovirus this week-over 100 cases so far. Everything is being disinfected, including the pianos. A faculty member asked if the disinfectant could damage the piano in any way. I don't know exactly what product is being used. The cleaning crew has been spraying the disinfectant on a cloth and wiping down the piano, not spraying it directly on the piano. I don't think there would be a problem, and considering the way this virus has spread through three campuses so far-Rider main campus, the Westminster campus in Princeton, and Princeton University, disinfecting is needed. If anyone is aware of problems with this, please let me know. Also, for anyone working in a school, be careful. Hi, all! I work in a hospital; usually, places use a commercially-approved disinfectant and the only way to know exactly what's in it, is to look at the label! So, if one of the faculty could look at a bottle of the disinfectant, that would help! Bleach can be used, but I seriously doubt anyone is taking the time to mix it with water at the appropriate concentration for use. The best thing you "tuners" can do to prevent being exposed is wash your hands and don't touch your face. And, when it comes to the common cold and influenza- well, don't breathe. _________________________ I don't care too much for money. For money can't buy me love. -the Beatles
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#1842239 - 02/10/12 09:15 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
Bob 3000 Post Club Member Registered: 06/01/01 Posts: 3394 Loc: Orlando FL	When it comes to cold and Flu, the government has the solution.......ASHRAE ------ Replace the air in the building every 20 minutes.....but don't think to put a humidifier in the HVAC system........ That way, any dry air outside the building is quickly inside, de-tuning the pianos. A big thank you to ASHRAE from me! NOT. _________________________ www.APerfectpiano.com Piano Technician serving Orlando and Central Florida 1927 Steinway M, rebuilt in 2005 1929 Steinway A, in process of repair
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#1842502 - 02/11/12 10:44 AM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
Emmery 1000 Post Club Member Registered: 04/02/08 Posts: 1444 Loc: Niagara Region, On. Canada	I have a piano teacher I tune for that has a very good method for disinfecting the keytops without the use of any chemicals. She uses a a UV hand held sanitizer wand. I got one myself a while back and they are great for this kind of stuff. They are also good for sanitizing linens against bed bugs also. I got the one that extends down with the light rod to sanitize drinking water also. I figured it could be handy in a survival situation if SHTF. http://www.allergyasthmatech.com/C/Handheld_UV_Sanitizers/341_332_2 Edited by Emmery (02/11/12 10:47 AM) _________________________ Piano Technician George Brown College /85 Niagara Region
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#1842861 - 02/11/12 09:27 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: Emmery]
Sparky McBiff 1000 Post Club Member Registered: 03/09/10 Posts: 1022 Loc: Toronto, Ontario	Originally Posted By: Emmery I have a piano teacher I tune for that has a very good method for disinfecting the keytops without the use of any chemicals. She uses a a UV hand held sanitizer wand. I got one myself a while back and they are great for this kind of stuff. They are also good for sanitizing linens against bed bugs also. I got the one that extends down with the light rod to sanitize drinking water also. I figured it could be handy in a survival situation if SHTF. http://www.allergyasthmatech.com/C/Handheld_UV_Sanitizers/341_332_2 oooh. I like those. Not necessarily for the piano keys but for general use and it would go well with my supplies that I've set aside for the zombie apocalypse (which always accompanies a SHTF scenario). _________________________ Hailun 198
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#1843388 - 02/12/12 04:53 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: Sparky McBiff]
Emmery 1000 Post Club Member Registered: 04/02/08 Posts: 1444 Loc: Niagara Region, On. Canada	Yes, I'm well equipped for the zombie apocolypse....I figure all I need is my trusty 870 shotgun and to surround my house with outward facing treadmills. LOL On a more serious note, the UV wands are used in Europe in many hotels instead of cleaning agents to sanitize surfaces. In Japan, one government building has portable ones mounted above and below door knobs that come on for 15 seconds every hour or so. They cut down on employees missing work due to colds and such. _________________________ Piano Technician George Brown College /85 Niagara Region
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#1843403 - 02/12/12 05:11 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
Zeno Wood Full Member Registered: 11/20/07 Posts: 243 Loc: Brooklyn, NY	Thanks for the heads-up. Do you happen to know if the high school across the street is affected? My brother works there. _________________________ Zeno Wood, Piano Technician Brooklyn College
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#1843419 - 02/12/12 05:38 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
wcctuner Full Member Registered: 12/22/06 Posts: 79 Loc: Princeton, NJ	Thanks for the info about the UV wands. I'll look into that. Zeno, I don't know about PHS. I had heard that there were numerous cases at Princeton University, along with some cases on our campus. If I hear anything about PHS I'll let you know. _________________________ Dave Forman Piano Technician, Westminster Choir College of Rider University
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#1843508 - 02/12/12 10:11 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
Gene Nelson 1000 Post Club Member Registered: 09/10/04 Posts: 1217 Loc: Old Hangtown California	Is there a biology or science department there to advise? My memory from biology of the 70's is that any detergent, even the simplest hand soap is a wonderful disinfectant. Whatever you normally use to clean keys and case should be just fine - like maybe a little dish soap in a bucket of water. My opinion is that uv or bleach and other unknowns are probably unnecessary, why let them experiment on the pianos? Maybe it is the super bug of the 21st century that 70's science just does not cover it any longer. _________________________ RPT PTG Member
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#1843547 - 02/12/12 11:36 PM Re: disinfectant question [Re: wcctuner]
BDB Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member Registered: 06/07/03 Posts: 16559 Loc: Oakland	My father would have recommended hydrogen peroxide wiped on the surfaces. It turns into water pretty quickly, with no residue. _________________________ Semipro Tech
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