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Cleaning Piano Keys

April 3, 2011

Piano KeysOne day I was showing my cousin how to play the piano and I used a dry erase marker to write the notes on the keys. Now it won't come off! I tried rubbing alcohol, water, and Windex. Please help!

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By Sami from Twin Bridges, MT

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April 4, 20110 found this helpful

Wow, don't have any advice but wondered why you would do such a thing!

 
April 4, 20110 found this helpful

I hope you named the keys correctly! Good for you for passing on your music training.
Go to an office supply store. They have a solution you can buy just for that. Unfortunately, I don't know what it is called.
Or you could try a little hairspray (but that's mostly alcohol).

 
April 4, 20110 found this helpful

When this happens on a dry erase board, I just run the marker over the spot again. It seems to wet it enough, where it comes off. Good luck.

 
April 4, 20111 found this helpful

As a teacher this is something common that happens in a class room. Get a rubber eraser and rub hard and it will erase it. Sometimes following this up with hairspray or alcohol also helps.

 
April 5, 20110 found this helpful

OFF bug spray. Crazy but it works. Took permanent marker off of the wood part of the piano and did not bother the finish whatsoever. Amazing! Let us know what works.

 
April 5, 20110 found this helpful

Hello Sami. Yikes! I'm sure you are regretting writing on the keys, but please don't rely on "home remedies" to solve this problem. Please contact the manufacturer of your piano for the ultimate results.

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While some of the suggestions listed here might work for some piano keys, your particular solution will depend on the materials used to make your particular piano: Very old piano keys were actually made of wood and ivory. Newer pianos are made of different materials and composites and finishes that I believe have changed over the decades, and since you didn't mention the age or manufacturer of your piano, the generalized suggestions listed here might not be the best for your particular piano and keys.

If you can't contact the manufacturer, please find a reputable piano sales store to ask for more advice. What works to clean a whiteboard was probably not designed to work on your piano keys so don't count on an office supply store or a well intended share site like this to give you "things to try". Please go to a more primary source, for the ultimate solution.

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A piano is a huge investment. To protect your investment, again, please go to the most primary source you can find before "experimenting" with unproven solutions for your particular piano.

And Sami, good for you to share your knowledge of music (what a gift) . . . just don't write on piano keys again, okay? :) Good luck and best wishes!

 
April 5, 20110 found this helpful

I think that's a great idea. I would just leave them there.

 
April 5, 20111 found this helpful

Ok, thanks everyone! The rubber eracer actually worked. And it isnt a piano piano, it is just a keyboard. I would never write on a real piano!!

 
April 6, 20110 found this helpful

I'm grinning, grinning, grinning, Sami! So glad you found a solution to erase your "keyboard" labeling vs. a full sized, very expensive, real piano "key" labeling with a dry eraser pen!

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But seriously (LOL) consider using post-it notes above the keys next time! :) (You can buy the skinny ones very inexpensively that are designed to merely mark pages)

So very happy all worked out well for your dilemma and keep passing on your music abilities as you can! Best wishes!

 
July 23, 20160 found this helpful

I live in the UK and we have a disinfectant called Zoflora that I used to do this

 
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September 13, 2009

My daughter put a Sharpie stain on one of the keys of our piano. Any suggestions on how to remove it? Thanks.

By Hema Kapadia from San Jose, CA

Answers

September 13, 20090 found this helpful

Hey Hemakapadia, try alcohol, it should come right off :)

 
September 17, 20090 found this helpful

Try using a little bit of fingernail polish remover on a cotton ball. I have gotten Sharpie off plastic, as well as hard things. Hope this helps.

 
September 17, 20090 found this helpful

Alcohol works really well. If that doesn't do it, try a bit of baking soda on a damp cloth scrubbing carefully. The abrasive soda should take it off with a bit of elbow grease.

 
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May 10, 2018

How do I get Sharpie off of my piano keys? I regret it and the more I try to clean it the worse it gets. I've tried alcohol, putting dry erase marker over it and taking that off, nail polish remover, and none of it seems to work at all other than taking a little off or smearing it more.

How can I take it off?

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November 15, 2010

I just got an old piano and there is some gunk, like old stickers on some of the keys. How do I clean this off? I can't use Goo Gone because of the ivory keys, correct?

By Kathi from Montgomery, AL

Answers


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November 15, 20100 found this helpful

I think the ivory can take it. I would try the Goo Gone or if you are really paranoid about that stuff try some Simple Green. Spray it on and let it soak, then clean it off.

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I used to buy Simple Green at my local automotive store like Pep Buys, High Gear, Advanced Auto or Auto Zone. Any of them should have it.

 
November 16, 20100 found this helpful

In days gone by we used mayonaise to clean ivory keys.

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 102 Feedbacks
November 16, 20100 found this helpful

Whatever you use, don't spray it on as the excess leaks down between the keys into the piano. Wipe anything on with a soft cloth and use sparingly. Doing this 2 or 3 times is better than having the excess ruin the inner workings and the wood!

 
Anonymous
April 5, 20160 found this helpful

No

 
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December 6, 2014

Hubby hired a new cleaning service, and I don't know what they did to dust the piano, but half of the keys have some kind of rough residue on them now. It is so distracting when you play! I tried a little alcohol. I tried spraying general cleaner on a soft cloth. Nothing seems to touch it. Help?

By Jen H.

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June 26, 2011

I need to know how to clean black spray paint off of white ivory keys. Is it even possible?

By Julie


Answers

June 27, 20110 found this helpful

Believe it or not, Off! Bug spray. It works! I took permanent magic marker off of my piano and it did not leave any residue or hurt the finish!

 
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November 15, 2010

How do I clean nicotine off of ivory piano keys?

 
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October 11, 2010

How do I get the yellow out of my ivory piano keys without harming it? It has to be a child and animal safe substance. We have tried fingernail polish remover. Does this damage the keys?

 
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September 4, 2006
Click to read more ideas from older posts on ThriftyFun.
 
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