The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26
THE CARE OF PIANOS.
These Costly Instruments Must Be
Treated With Consideration.

Treated With Consideration.
In the first place remember that q
piano is as sensitive to heat and colo
as a delicate person. 1t should not be
pushed against a wall for fear of dead
enlng the sound, or be placed too near
| fire. as heat draws the wood and
alters the sounding board. Dampness
! from cold room or open window. as
we'll as heat or steam, clouds the high
| polish and gives the case a cloudy
| dull appearance. When not in use the
| instrument should remain closed and
always so at night
To retain its original tone piauo
should be tuned every three months
and bear in mind that a. piano tuner
should be selected with care
A soft ar placed over the KEYS
preserves IN from too intense. cold
and consequent stiffness. This may be
of plush, silk or even light flannel.
made like a sachet, with wadding be-
| tween two layers of the goods, which
in turn are embroidered and edged with
a cord, making the strip the length
and width of the keyboard. Over the
top of the piano is the usual scarf of
similar material to protect the piece of
furniture from scratches, it being
customary to fill the top with palms,
vases, photograph frames and a host
Of such articles. greatly to the detri-
ment of the instrument.
To improve the sound turn a piano
so that the player faces the room,
drape the back of an upright with
plain, embroidered or printed silk,
matching the top and key scarfs, or
arrange the draperv so that it covers
the top and catch it into place with a
tiny piece of brac, picture
frame, etc.
Sometimes the inside wood of an up
right becomes too dry, which is OBJ
waited by placing a small bowl half
full of water on the lower shelf inside
of the instrument after removing the
board directly above the pedals If the
latter grow stiff from disuse, few
drops of oil from the eyer-convenient
oil can of the sewing machine will alter
that. Dust the case and keys with an
old silk handkerchief, and DO not wash
the former as water discolors the ivory.
If wiped off every day when the piano
is opened it will be years before the
keys are Soiled.
If from age and want of care the
keys grow yellow, whiten them while
it is within the province of the house
keeper, for they grow so discolored at
times as to need dismounting, scraping
and repolishing. When only slightly
yellow, rub the keys with lemon juice;
before dry put on q little whiting wet
with lemon juice, and when perfectly
dry brush off with a soft, clean paint
brush, taking care that mixture does
not get between the keys If too much
yellowed for this mild treatment, use
equal parts of sulDhurouS acid and
water; use brush to apply it, and do
not allow it to touch any part but the
ivory of the key; finally, remove with
clean cold water and a piece of white
flannel, thoroughly drying each key
after wetting it.
Another cleansing mixture is an
ounce of nitric acid and ten ounces of
rain water applied with a brush and
washed off as described above
To renew the polish of a clouded, dull
case have two channels skins and
plenty of hot water. This is heroic
treatment, and should be done by two
people. One wrings a chamois skin
out of the very warm water and lays it
on the piano case for moment only:
the second person follows with the dry
chamois, rubbing the wet spot vigor-
ously, while the wet skin is again
dipped in warm water, wrung out and
laid on a fresh place The rubbing with
the dry cloth must be very brisk and
kept up until the wood shines, as the
combination of hot water and "elbow
grease" is said to be infallible
If the pedals grow dull polish them