Hello All,
I've been grappling with this issue at UBC all summer, trying to come up with a simple and effective solution for keeping the pianos safe and sanitized without damage to keys or case and finish. What I've come up with is only partly satisfactory because as far as I've been able to determine there is no good science that's been done on the subject. Just a lot of anecdotal evidence. No surprise there, but frustrating none the less. In my research I found that every major source I went to had a different solution to the problem and no real hard evidence to back it up. For the keys, Steinway says use hydrogen peroxide; Yamaha says use sodium hypochlorite (which is basically household bleach), and the PTG was recommending isopropyl alcohol.
Yamaha was adamant about not using ethanol, another form of alcohol. So, does that preclude the use of isopropyl alcohol as well? I couldn't get a firm answer on this. From what I was told, their information was largely based on the damage done to piano keyboards in 2003 during the Sars epidemic, when Purell wipes were used to sanitize the keys. The Purell wipes used alcohol as a disinfecting agent but had a dozen or so other unpronounceable chemicals in them - stabilizers, fillers, who-knows-whaters - and I question whether or not it may have been some of these other chemicals which caused the damage. Certainly the alcohol would evaporate while some of the other chemicals may not, allowing them to build up and work their evil on the keys over time. This is, admittedly, guesswork on my part, which speaks again to the lack of science done on the subject. Also, the sodium hypochlorite Yamaha recommends was at a very low percentage of the total compound, which was again filled with all sorts of other stuff.
The hydrogen peroxide which Steinway recommends - straight off the shelf of your local drug store - may be fine (the stuff I have in my bathroom is mostly water with a small percentage of hydrogen peroxide) but I don't like the idea of sloshing the stuff out onto a cotton cloth to use on the keys. Sounds way too messy. Remember, I'm trying to find something that I can recommend for dozens, if not hundreds, of students and faculty to use safely. And commercial hydrogen peroxide wipes have all the unknown chemicals in them that the sodium hypochlorite wipes have.
Like I said, what I've decided upon is not guaranteed to work safely on the keys but, all things considered, we've decided to try it out. I wanted something free of unknown mystery chemicals but in a wipes form which is manageable and less messy than other options. Isopropyl alcohol is something I've used for years as a fairly gentle solvent for cleaning various things. It's much less aggressive than some of the other forms of alcohol (such as methyl hydrate) and as far as I can tell, is just as effective as a disinfecting agent. At a mixture of 70% alcohol to 30% water, it is at its most effective. When wiped onto the keys it goes on smoothly and easily, and it evaporates quickly leaving no residue or sign of damage, at least in the short term. We are letting the keys air-dry rather than wiping afterwards with a dry cloth because the alcohol needs a little time to work in order to be effective. I am monitoring the program closely and if any damage is noted we will stop and try something else.
As far as the case and finish is concerned I've convinced the School of Music that there is simply nothing which is both safe to use on the finish of pianos and also effective as a disinfectant. I believe that the isopropyl alcohol might be safe to use on high gloss polyester but in a building with all sorts of pianos with various finishes it's simply not realistic to devise a program where each piano has its own cleaning protocol. What I have agreed to do is go through the entire school every two weeks and clean the cases myself. For this I will use very mild, slightly dish-soapy water, followed by clean water, followed by drying, using mice-fibre cloths well wrung out.
As for how the program works, each piano in the practice rooms and studios has a container of wipes, a small waste basket lined with a plastic bag, and a notice explaining the cleaning protocols. We are asking every pianist to clean the keys before each use, which means the keyboards will be cleaned several times a day. We also have Work Learn students hired to go in every morning and clean the keys at the beginning of the day and empty the waste baskets. That is a lot of isopropyl alcohol going onto the keys so I'm definitely watching them closely. So far so good, though the program is only a couple of weeks old. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as the semester progresses.
One other thing I will mention. We are putting a strong emphasis on hand washing and simply not touching the case and finish of the piano unnecessarily.
I'd be very interested in any comments or suggestions on what we are doing here at UBC. Like I said, this plan is far from ideal, but is what I've come up with given my research and the present circumstances.
For those interested I will include an attachment showing the cleaning protocols we've posted with each piano. With thanks to Yamaha Canada, who I robbed for the very fine photos. I hope they don't mind!
------------------------------
Scott Harker
Vancouver BC
604-786-3370
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2020 09:32
From: Mario Igrec
Subject: Effects of disinfectants on piano finish and keytops?
What we've seen is staining from additives in hand sanitizing wipes, gels, and liquids that students may use on pianos: Vitamin E, aloe, and ethylene glycol. All of those can be removed, though it may take extra effort to do so. I've been able to remove those stains from case parts using a mix of Fantastik, alcohol, and water (40%F, 40%A, 20%W--reduce alcohol and increase water for laquer finishes).
I haven't tested any of those hyperaggressive cleaning products with lots of ammonia compounds that custodial uses on door knobs and railings, and I would imagine that those could cause permanent damage. I would imagine that those wouldn't be too healthy for the skin either.
So far as policy for self-cleaning piano keys, I feel it has to include self-cleaning the high-touch surfaces. At Juilliard we mandate keeping the pianos closed when not in use (to improve the effectiveness of DC dehumidifiers), and that means touching at least the fallboard, music desk, and front lid. We still have limited in-building use, but plan to provide tubs of peroxide wipes in every room for block 2 of the Fall semester when in-building instruction and rehearsals will ramp up.
------------------------------
Mario Igrec, RPT, MM
Chief Piano Technician, The Juilliard School
http://www.pianosinsideout.com
Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2020 13:59
From: Paul Williams
Subject: Effects of disinfectants on piano finish and keytops?
Hi Mike,
We're having luck for the most part, but somehow the ensemble rooms have introduced some cleaning crap that is damaging the keytops with a strange staining residue. I now have even more signs to put on the pianos. Ugh. I knew this would happen!! I hope the keys will buff out.
We have cleaning stations up and down the halls with hydrogen peroxide and paper towels. I guess the students/faculty are not heeding our instructions and using some sort of crap and/or disinfectant spray. I'm not a happy camper!
P
Original Message:
Sent: 9/24/2020 1:19:00 PM
From: Michael Reiter
Subject: RE: Effects of disinfectants on piano finish and keytops?
Norman
Thanks so much for sharing this. I really appreciate the video as well.
Has there been any consideration, from any on the forum, as to proper and safe methods to clean other contact points. i am thinking the fall board and the music desk as well. Although they are minimal in nature and most of any droplets will not contact those surfaces like the tops of the keys they are still a concern.
Thoughts?
Mike
------------------------------
Michael Reiter
Eugene OR
541-515-6499
Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2020 12:58
From: Norman Vesprini
Subject: Effects of disinfectants on piano finish and keytops?
(UPDATE 09/24/20)
Colleagues:
1. I quickly created and posted a new sign to prevent further damage to piano keyboard and case parts. The text is as follows:
TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO PIANOS
PLEASE:
- Wring excess moisture from wipe (into trash receptacle) prior to use
- Wipe the KEYBOARD ONLY
- DO NOT wipe any part of the case, music desk, fallboard (key cover), etc.
- Dry off excess moisture from keytops with a paper towel after a short time
Thank you for your cooperation
I also created a short (two-minute) video demonstrating how to disinfect a piano keyboard using provided supplies. Here's the link and text:
How to Disinfect a Piano Keyboard (two-minute video):
------------------------------
Norman Vesprini
Piano Technology Program Manager
Notre Dame IN
574-631-3021
Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2020 11:13
From: Michael Reiter
Subject: Effects of disinfectants on piano finish and keytops?
Norman
Might you be willing to share the verbiage regarding the cleaning procedures you described above? I am sure many of us would like to know how you are wording you instructions.
We are about to open to student practice as well.
Mike
------------------------------
Michael Reiter
Eugene OR
541-515-6499
Original Message:
Sent: 09-18-2020 11:34
From: Norman Vesprini
Subject: Effects of disinfectants on piano finish and keytops?
Colleagues:
Thanks for your replies! I thought I'd update you on my discussion with admin/faculty:
- The Good News: Admin/faculty were alarmed and were open to policy amendments (though they weren't ready to dispense with disinfecting altogether...)
- We will continue to use Oxivir .5% hydrogen peroxide wipes (for now) with the following changes:
- Paper Towels (boxes/single sheet dispensers) will be added to each place where there are Oxivir wipes
- New instructions will be written/posted in all practice/classrooms that:
- Explain that after using the Oxivir wipe they must then dry the keyboard thoroughly with a paper towel
- Explain they must not wipe anything other than the keytops (naturals/sharps)
- I will create a brief instructional video demonstrating proper procedures
- a QR code link to the video will be included on the posted instructions in each room
Hopefully we can stop, or mostly stop, further damage to keyboard/piano finishes.
Yours,
Norman Vesprini
Notre Dame, IN
------------------------------
Norman Vesprini
Piano Technology Program Manager
Notre Dame IN
574-631-3021
Original Message:
Sent: 09-15-2020 10:01
From: Norman Vesprini
Subject: Effects of disinfectants on piano finish and keytops?
Dear CAUT community:
Today I noticed some damage (photos attached) on the keyblock and keyboard of a fairly new Yamaha U3 in our practice facility. I tried unsuccessfully to remove the staining. I've become concerned about the effects of institutional disinfectants and wanted to see if any of you have thoughts or feedback now that terms have been underway for a short while (we started our term on August 10th).
Currently, piano users at our university are instructed to use only the 'Oxivir' hydrogen peroxide wipes on the piano (after wringing out excess moisture). Nearby, the bathroom has a bottle of Husky 824 quaternary ammonium disinfectant. I suspect a student may have grabbed that bottle and used it to spray the pictured piano, causing the staining on the keyblock and keys. Our faculty/admin chose the Oxivir wipes based on the report of a technician at a highly respected East coast music school who suggested that they'd been using it for years (since H1N1 outbreak) with no adverse effects. The damage could possibly be from the wipes too...
Any thoughts, feedback, data on your experience with disinfectant choices and piano finishes/keyboards will be very much appreciated. Hopefully we can share the info and avoid costly/unsightly damage to pianos, while still helping to prevent the spread of infection.
Thank you!
Yours,
Norman Vesprini
Piano Technology Program Manager
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
------------------------------
Norman Vesprini
Piano Technology Program Manager
Notre Dame IN
574-631-3021
------------------------------