Caring for Your Steinway - General Instructions

Your Steinway piano is a magnificent instrument. It is also an exquisite example of the cabinet maker's art, and deserves the care and respect you would accord any fine piece of furniture.

In normal circumstances, the exterior of the piano is easy to keep clean. A piece of clean cheesecloth, lightly dampened with plain water, is the safest thing to use for wiping away dust and finger marks. Waxing the surface is not recommended as this eventually results in a buildup which must be professionally removed. Always wipe with the grain as this is the direction in which the piano was originally polished before leaving our factory.

Always wipe the surface in a straight line, never with a circular motion as this will eventually cause the surface to lose its lustre. A piano should always be wiped in the direction in which it was originally polished. This direction will be obvious when you look at the surface carefully. Keep in mind that we strongly recommend that your piano should be polished, when the need arises, by a professional furniture polisher. We recommend contacting Steinway Hall - Dallas / Fort Worth for assistance if any question about polishing or polishers should arise.

Don't use solvents of any kind to clean either black or white keys. Solvents can ruin the finish of the keys. Use only a clean piece of cheesecloth, lightly dampened, to wipe the keys. Be very careful that dampness does not seep between the keys or down into the keybed. Dampness in the keybed can cause swelling and hamper the free play of the keys.

Don't put pots, vases, pictures, drinks or objects of any kind on top of the piano. The finish can be damaged by any foreign objects placed upon it and, in addition, they can have a ruinous effect on the sound of the piano. Liberal application of common sense in the care of your Steinway piano's finish is the wise course, remembering that it is both a delicate instrument and a fine piece of furniture.