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How To Clean Ivory Piano Keys (The Best Method)

by  Echo

Not sure how to clean ivory piano keys? Ivory surfaces tend to get dirty and dusty over time, and can be difficult to clean once yellow. If your keys are already yellowing, don’t worry! This post also includes helpful tips on how to whiten ivory piano keys at home.

It is important to regularly clean your piano keys to keep them looking new and shiny for years to come. Note that cleaning ivory piano keys with a harsh cleaner or improper cleaning method can cause irreversible damage to your piano. Replacing ivory keys is expensive and difficult, so it’s important to clean your piano keys right the first time.

Before diving in, make sure to learn the proper cleaning technique below. Without further ado, here’s how to properly clean and whiten ivory piano keys!

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How To Clean Ivory Piano Keys

  1. To remove dust, wipe down the piano keys with a dry microfiber cloth.
  2. Clean dirty ivory piano keys with soapy water (a solution of mild dish soap and water).
  3. For tough stains, use a piano key cleaner.
  4. Whiten ivory piano keys with a white vinyl eraser.

1. Dust With A Microfiber Cloth

Looking for tips on how to clean ivory piano keys? Start by gently removing loose dirt and dust with a clean microfiber cloth. Select a soft, white microfiber like these White Microfiber Cleaning Cloths from Buff Pro. Avoid using other colors to prevent dye transfer.

Microfiber cloths are designed for cleaning delicate surfaces and won’t leave scratches or streaks like paper towels do. These versatile cleaning cloths from Buff Pro come in a pack of ten, and are super absorbent and soft. The non-abrasive material won’t scratch surfaces, making it perfect for dusting and cleaning ivory piano keys.

When dusting, wipe down the keys in a up-and-down motion to prevent the dust from falling in between the keys. Dust your piano keys at least once a week to reduce dust buildup.

How To Dust Ivory Piano Keys With A Microfiber Cloth

  1. Using a clean, white microfiber cloth, gently wipe down each individual key in a up-and-down motion. Start with the white keys and dust off each key one at a time. If the cloth gets too dirty, replace it with a new one.
  2. After dusting the white ivory piano keys, use a new microfiber cloth to dust the black keys using the same method above.
Buff Pro Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

2. Clean Keys With Soapy Water

Not sure how to clean ivory piano keys? Ivory piano keys are porous, so it’s best to avoid using harsh chemical cleaners. To gently clean your keys, use a solution of mild dish soap (like Mrs. Meyer’s Liquid Dish Soap) and water.

Do NOT pour the water directly onto the piano (the water will seep between the keys and cause internal damage). Instead, dip a white microfiber cleaning cloth in the cleaning solution and squeeze out the excess water. You don’t want the cloth to be dripping wet.

Gently wipe down the keys with the soapy water, making sure to clean in a up-and-down motion one key at a time. Don’t let water sit on the keys. Moisture can cause ivory and wood to warp, so it’s important to immediately dry with a clean microfiber cloth.

Start with the white keys and repeat with the black keys. This will help prevent you from accidentally transferring black paint onto the white keys. Cleaning ivory piano keys regularly (at least once every two weeks) is important to prevent yellowing and stains. Remember to always wash your hands before playing the piano to reduce oil and dirt build up.

How To Clean Ivory Piano Keys With A Soapy Water

  1. Before cleaning, dust off the piano keys with a dry microfiber cloth. Create soapy water by filling a cup with water and adding a small squirt of mild dish soap. Mix the water.
  2. Dip a white microfiber cloth into the soapy water and wring out the excess water. Starting with the white keys, wipe down each individual key in a up-and-down motion. Don’t let moisture sit on the keys and immediately dry with a clean microfiber cloth. If the cloth becomes dirty, replace it with a clean one.
  3. After cleaning the white ivory keys, use a new microfiber cloth to wipe down the black keys using the same method from Step 2.
Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Dish Soap In Lavender Scent

3. Remove Tough Stains With A Piano Key Cleaner

how to clean ivory piano keys

MusicNomad All Purpose Key ONE Cleaner | Amazon

Not sure how to whiten ivory piano keys? Stains can be extremely difficult to remove on ivory surfaces, but not impossible. For tough yellow stains, I recommend using this All Purpose Key ONE Cleaner from MusicNomad.

This gentle cleaner is specifically designed to deep clean piano keys. It’s a safe and effective product to remove dust, dirt, and grime from piano keys without damaging ivory. The formula is streak and residue free, and leaves a protective layer to keep dust and fingerprints from binding to surfaces.

To use this product on ivory keys, spray the cleaner on a white microfiber cloth and gently wipe down each key. Don’t spray the cleaner directly onto the piano keys. Make sure to wipe off the excess product with a clean microfiber cloth.

How To Clean Ivory Piano Keys With A Piano Key Cleaner

  1. Before cleaning, dust off the piano keys with a dry soft cloth. Spray the piano key cleaner on a white microfiber cleaning cloth.
  2. Start with the white keys and wipe down each key one at a time in a up-and-down motion. Don’t allow moisture to sit on the keys and immediately wipe off the excess product with a clean microfiber cloth. If the cloth becomes dirty, replace it with a new one.
  3. After cleaning the white piano keys, use a clean microfiber cloth and wipe down the black keys using the same method above.
MusicNomad All Purpose Key ONE Cleaner

4. Whiten Keys With A White Vinyl Eraser

As ivory keys are exposed to dirt and oils, they will naturally yellow and discolor overtime. It is important to regularly clean your ivory piano keys to retain their shine and color. One easy hack on how to whiten ivory piano keys is to use a white vinyl eraser. Don’t use other colors besides white to prevent dye transfer.

Note that ivory keys aren’t pure white, but instead have a natural off-white color. A white vinyl eraser won’t make the off-white color whiter, but will help remove existing yellow stains. I recommend whiting and cleaning ivory piano keys with these Hi-Polymer Block Erasers from Pentel. These erasers come in a pack of 10, are high quality, and do not smudge.

To use the vinyl eraser, gently rub the yellowed piano keys in an up-and-down motion, focusing on one key at a time. Carefully brush the eraser bits off with microfiber cloth to avoid them getting in between the keys.

Besides oils, direct sunlight can also cause ivory keys to yellow overtime. If possible, consider relocating your piano to a less sunny location or keep the keys covered when not in use.

How To Whiten Ivory Piano Keys With A White Vinyl Eraser

  1. Before whitening the keys with a vinyl eraser, dust and clean the piano keys with a microfiber cloth and a mild soapy water solution.
  2. Make sure to whiten each key one at a time. For best results, gently rub the white vinyl eraser in a up-and-down motion. After finishing each key, carefully brush the eraser bits off with microfiber cloth. To the best of your ability, avoid wiping the eraser bits in between the keys.
  3. Repeat Step 2 until all the ivory piano keys are whitened.
Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser

Tips When Cleaning Ivory Piano Keys

Everything you should know to prevent damage when cleaning:

  • Always use white microfiber cloths. Avoid using other colors besides white.
  • NEVER use harsh chemical cleaners. Instead, use a solution of mild dish soap and water, or a piano key cleaner.
  • Do NOT pour cleaner or soapy water directly onto the piano keys. Instead, apply the solution on a microfiber cloth and wring out the excess liquid.
  • When cleaning, always start with the white keys and repeat with the black keys. Clean in a top-to-down motion one key at a time.
  • Don’t let water sit on the keys. Dry any moisture immediately with a clean microfiber cloth.

How To Keep Your Ivory Piano Keys Clean + White

Besides dusting, whitening, and cleaning ivory piano keys, here are some additional hacks to prevent yellowing:

  • To reduce oil and dirt build up, wash your hands before playing the piano.
  • When you aren’t using the piano, cover the keys to protect them from UV rays and dust.
  • Avoid placing the piano under direct sunlight. If possible, relocate your piano or cover the exposed keys.

Summarized: How To Clean Ivory Piano Keys

In this post, I’ve gathered the best tips on how to clean ivory piano keys. Here are all the recommended products from this post in one convenient list:

Conclusion

Ivory piano keys need to be properly maintained to keep their shine and color. Make sure to clean your piano keys regularly to prevent yellowing and discoloration. Once ivory becomes yellow, it can be extremely difficult to restore.

If you play piano often, try cleaning ivory piano keys at least once every two weeks. For infrequently used pianos, once a month should be enough to keep the keys clean and shiny. Dust your keys often (once a week), especially if you don’t cover your piano keys.

I hope this post gave you some helpful tips on how to clean ivory piano keys, as well as, how to whiten ivory piano keys. Good luck!