I have aggressively used a damp cloth and dish detergent to clean soundboards for many years with no problem. Other cleaning agents don't work as well and aren't as safe as dish detergents (Dawn?). The water used dries quickly enough that it hasen't caused issues.
Soaps (like Murphy's Oil Soap) don't cut grease and dirt as well as dish detergent and stronger cleaners like ammonia containing cleansers will strip finishes.
I usually follow up with a thinned furniture wax (Howards Feed n Wax, which is a solubilized bees wax) that I cut by about 2/3 with a solvent like orange oil. A carnuba wax will leave a brighter finish.
Avoid getting cleaning agents, oil or wax on bass strings or in soundboard cracks. Clean tenor and treble strings afterward with alcohol. Wax will help prevent future corrosion if you apply it to the tenor (steel) strings.
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Blaine Hebert
Duarte CA
626-795-5170
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-28-2022 18:11
From: Timothy Edwards
Subject: soundboard cleaning
It appears this topic has not been touched upon for a few years, and I'm wondering if anyone has discovered a (new?) chemical or solution that's safe to use in removing stubborn crud from neglected soundboards. I have the Spurlock tools, but they can only accomplish limited results with a badly encrusted board. Many (in the old posts) seem to have an aversion to water or any chemical contacting the strings, so I have avoided it thus far, with some older pianos yielding less than admirable results. Anything "new" that can help? Just saw a video of a tech using Meguiar's "Ultimate Quik Detailer" for cleaning the soundboard and plate. Anyone else tried this?
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Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
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