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Joined: Feb 2013
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Does anyone know what cleaning agent is used to clean the inside of a piano when it is full of dirt? Here's the link to a video in which a person uses it. Watch from minute 6:40 Repair - Pianino Steingraber & Sons, Part 7 Thanks
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My guess it's just a damp cloth they are using there.
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No chemicals. Period. Leave interior cleaning to your technician.
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Does anyone know what cleaning agent is used to clean the inside of a piano when it is full of dirt?
There is a perception problem inside this question. Have another look at the video. The parts being cleaned are not inside the instrument. The technician is cleaning the bottom board that has been removed. This is a good example of someone who discovers a video on the internet and then misconstrues what they are looking at. This is how mistakes are made with complex mechanics such as piano mechanics and all technicians who hang out in this place have voiced concerns about assisting other members in public here who are not technicians.
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Joined: Feb 2013
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Does anyone know what cleaning agent is used to clean the inside of a piano when it is full of dirt?
There is a perception problem inside this question. Have another look at the video. The parts being cleaned are not inside the instrument. The technician is cleaning the bottom board that has been removed. This is a good example of someone who discovers a video on the internet and then misconstrues what they are looking at. This is how mistakes are made with complex mechanics such as piano mechanics and all technicians who hang out in this place have voiced concerns about assisting other members in public here who are not technicians. Excuse me very much Sir, please do. But I very well knew that it was the bottom board (a.k.a. pedal mounting board). And I personally consider it being in the "inside of the piano." I don't consider myself an ignorant DIYer, (at all). So please, let us not be rude. Don't base your statements or attacks on prejudices. Thank you
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Does anyone know what cleaning agent is used to clean the inside of a piano when it is full of dirt?
Ian Russell
Schiedmayer & Soehne, 1925 Model 14, 140cm
Ibach, 1905 F-IV, 235cm
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Does anyone know what cleaning agent is used to clean the inside of a piano when it is full of dirt?
Fine, sorry. I just thought it would be kind of obvious. I thought you would watch the video and assume that I specifically meant the bottom board. Though you could also clean the keybed which is basically in the same state (at least in my piano) as the bottom board.
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I understand Dan's reaction. We are called to clean up DIY messes as a matter of course. Very often the fee for such work is contested, or resented, even if we keep it as low as possible. It can make even the best of us a little cranky at times.
Me? It makes me cranky all the time.
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I understand Dan's reaction. We are called to clean up DIY messes as a matter of course. Very often the fee for such work is contested, or resented, even if we keep it as low as possible. It can make even the best of us a little cranky at times.
Me? It makes me cranky all the time. I totally understand. I really am kind of on your side. My dad is an engineer, so we were raised in that thinking. So I guess my dad made me curious and I like to know how everything works. I do not mess things up and give up, instead I like to try until I solve the problem. Anyway, it would probably make me cranky too.
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The other thing you have to remember is that even if you post here, most of us answering are aware that you are not the only person who will read the replies. We have to be careful not to mislead someone with less familiarity with what we are talking about.
Semipro Tech
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When I was cleaning out the interior of our old piano (under keybed, keys, stickers, plate, action components etc. I used a very mild (maybe 2 tsp/gal water) vinegar solution and made sure that the cloth was only very slightly damp. I believe this was recommended somewhere in Reblitz. I assume its very important to make sure nothing gets wet enough to absorb much of any moisture. This seemed to help take much of the surface dirt/dust off that remained after vacuuming and then blowing out what I couldn't get to with the return side of the vacuum. It was amazing how filthy the water got, which seemed to confirm that it was accomplishing something. In the keybed you need to be very careful not to damage or suck up the felt and paper punchings on the front and balance rails.
FWIW if I understood correctly from previous threads Samuel is in an area where just "hiring a pro" is not a straight forward proposition, and he's working on an old upright that probably wouldn't warrant much investment anyway.
Rob
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Here's a before and after: ![[Linked Image]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8439821637_ff8830df64_z.jpg) Higher Resolution ![[Linked Image]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8439823867_332cf3d181_z.jpg) Higher Resolution BTW strings were cleaned with a scotchbrite pad for the plain wire, and a fine wire wheel in an electric drill for the wound strings. The latter suggestion came from a thread I read somewhere on here, I think it was one Bill Bremmer started. rob
Last edited by miscrms; 02/23/13 03:08 AM.
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a light soda (cristals sodium hydroxide) in warm water is Ok to clean old dirt on the back of the soundboard, with good washing (pure water) and drying asap (compressed air is good).
before repairing Frenchg polish or laquer, I use a few drops of Triton x (tension release agent) to wash old coats of cleaning sprays or other polishes that have been often used on pianos (old waxes too)
I seem to recall sodium hydroxide saturated in a glass of water can be used to verify an hygrometer accuracy (dont recall the HR level we are supposed to find, however)
common salt saturated in water provide 75 % at 20°c
Last edited by Olek; 02/23/13 05:21 AM.
Professional of the profession.
Foo Foo specialist
I wish to add some kind and sensitive phrase but nothing comes to mind.!
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Nice cleaning, above.
I've find that really rusty plain wire sound less good after cleaning, probably because only one side is cleaned.
Basses are better unwound from the coil to be cleaned , but this is quiete some job.
As soon as therer are "holes" in the wire surface it is not interesting to clean them , really.
Professional of the profession.
Foo Foo specialist
I wish to add some kind and sensitive phrase but nothing comes to mind.!
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The other thing you have to remember is that even if you post here, most of us answering are aware that you are not the only person who will read the replies. We have to be careful not to mislead someone with less familiarity with what we are talking about. I had never thought about that. I'll have that in mind next time 
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Joined: Feb 2013
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OP
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When I was cleaning out the interior of our old piano (under keybed, keys, stickers, plate, action components etc. I used a very mild (maybe 2 tsp/gal water) vinegar solution and made sure that the cloth was only very slightly damp. I believe this was recommended somewhere in Reblitz. I assume its very important to make sure nothing gets wet enough to absorb much of any moisture. This seemed to help take much of the surface dirt/dust off that remained after vacuuming and then blowing out what I couldn't get to with the return side of the vacuum. It was amazing how filthy the water got, which seemed to confirm that it was accomplishing something. In the keybed you need to be very careful not to damage or suck up the felt and paper punchings on the front and balance rails.
FWIW if I understood correctly from previous threads Samuel is in an area where just "hiring a pro" is not a straight forward proposition, and he's working on an old upright that probably wouldn't warrant much investment anyway.
Rob Thanks, and you did understand correctly!
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Joined: Feb 2013
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Here's a before and after: Higher Resolution Higher Resolution BTW strings were cleaned with a scotchbrite pad for the plain wire, and a fine wire wheel in an electric drill for the wound strings. The latter suggestion came from a thread I read somewhere on here, I think it was one Bill Bremmer started. rob WOW! That made quite a difference!
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WOW! That made quite a difference!
It really did, thanks! This was probably about a days worth of worth, as I removed the keys, stickers, and action and cleaned each individually. At some point I still need to clean the action parts more thoroughly, but disassembling the action is a much bigger job so I decided to wait until I am ready to do some more significant work (replacing felts and buckskins etc) and re-regulate. I was generally very happy with the difference it made. You can see more pictures of my tear down and cleaning here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80357289@N00/sets/72157632674246913/with/8439821637/ I also found the thread that inspired me to try cleaning the bass strings linked below. I still need to twist them and clean the back sides, but didn't have my tuning hammer yet when I did this job. Its also worth noting there are several threads warning against trying to clean the wound strings with any liquids, as it can carry dust/debris inside the string windings and make them worse. http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/626489/Lifeless%20Bass%20Strings.html Best of luck, Rob
Last edited by miscrms; 02/24/13 12:17 AM.
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