Pianotech

Count Dracula in his castle is having a particularly batty problem this year and causing rather a difficult time.

In all seriousness there are venues where bats are thriving and in places causing significant damage with pellets and more importantly pee being thrown around the space.

Where keyboards aren't covered, droplets of yellow bat pee on ivory keys are horrible. . . 

Is there a safe way of bleaching or otherwise removing the stains from the ivories?

Best wishes

David P

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David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
+44 1342 850594
"High Definition" Tuning
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Original Message:
Sent: 10/25/2024 9:10:00 AM
From: Wim Blees
Subject: RE: Halloween keyboard problems

David

Bat pee would be similar to cat pee, or pee from other animals. You can try to sand the stain out with extra fine wet and dry sandpaper, but I'm afraid the acid in the urine will "eat" into the ivory and go below the surface. 

I had a similar situation once in a church. The choir director thought sanding would get rid of it. But by the time the stain was gone, she had sanded almost through the ivory. 

Wim

You will need 40% peroxide available from beauty supply stores and ultraviolet light. Keep fallboards down!

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Parker Leigh RPT
Winchester VA
(540) 722-3865
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Original Message:
Sent: 10/25/2024 7:37:00 PM
From: Parker Leigh
Subject: RE: Halloween keyboard problems

You will need 40% peroxide available from beauty supply stores and ultraviolet light. Keep fallboards down!

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Parker Leigh RPT
Winchester VA
(540) 722-3865
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That is a new one. A few pictures to see what this looks like would be interesting. I would proceed with caution and wear protective equipment when dealing with contamination like this . I had to deal with a mold issue on ivories and followed some protocols I found on a museum/conservation site. There are articles about bleaching ivory keys in the sun etc. The problem with liquids are the risk of curling the ivory, breaking the glue bond etc. You probably should consult with a pest control service to get the bats out and keep them out by trapping and plugging up entry points. Pet stain remover will probably cause damage and any urine that gets into the wooden keysticks will likely reek forever . A local museum or instrument collection curator may have some ideas

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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
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Thanks to all for advice. The hydrogen peroxide worked, reducing the stain. On the 1885 Bechstein with possible milder stains the treatment was particularly successful.

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David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
+44 1342 850594
"High Definition" Tuning
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2024 23:49
From: James Kelly
Subject: Halloween keyboard problems

That is a new one. A few pictures to see what this looks like would be interesting. I would proceed with caution and wear protective equipment when dealing with contamination like this . I had to deal with a mold issue on ivories and followed some protocols I found on a museum/conservation site. There are articles about bleaching ivory keys in the sun etc. The problem with liquids are the risk of curling the ivory, breaking the glue bond etc. You probably should consult with a pest control service to get the bats out and keep them out by trapping and plugging up entry points. Pet stain remover will probably cause damage and any urine that gets into the wooden keysticks will likely reek forever . A local museum or instrument collection curator may have some ideas

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
------------------------------