Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-05-26
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How to Take Care Of the Piano.
A penny saved 10
a penny earned
Benjamin Franklin.

TIME piano is often neglected by
the otherwise careful house
wife for the simple reason that
her attention Is seldom, II ever.
called to its care. 1t seems to some If
the tuner arrives periodically and the
instrument Is carefully busted that is
| all there is TO the care Of the piano.
However, the piano is very delicate
| instrument. as all musicians know, and
requires very watchful care. The first
consideration is the position Of the
piano. Often the only object in placing
a piano is to have the best light fall on
the music rack. But the piano should
not be placed too near the outer wall.
| the fireplace or radiator, as 1t is subject
to the influences Of the atmosphere.
Extreme heat and extreme cold are
! very harmful to the piano. II one
wishes to have a musical instrument in
, the best Of condition and to keep 1t SO
| an even temperature should be main
tanned in the room where it stands. If
there is too much moisture in the at
mosphere the wires become rusty; II
there is too much heat the musical ad-
justment will be injured as well as the
wood in the case.
The rusting of the wires can be pre-
vented by sprinkling them with lime or
by placing n bag Of unslaked lime in
the interior to absorb the moisture in
the air.
When the atmosphere becomes too
dry it Is well to have q plant in the
room that requires plenty Of water. II
there is hot air radiator in the room
bowl or little kettle Of water should
be suspended by hook in the radiator
pipe. Heavy articles should never be
placed on top Of the piano, nor should
music or books be piled there either.
The keys should be wiped daily.
when the piano is busted. with a cloth
dampened with alcohol. II this plan
Is followed there is less likelihood of
their turning yellow. II the keys are
soiled cloth dipped in whiting and
rubbed with alcohol will he found ex-
celent for cleaning them When the
! keys have become very yellow and
need to be bleached try the following:
Make paste Of unslaked lime and
bran water. 1t should be applied and
allowed to dry slightly. 1t should
then be rubbed off with a cloth and
magnesia powder applied to the keys
until dry. In few minutes the keys
can be polished to high luster.
Then care should be taken to pre-
vent moths getting into the piano.
Prevention Is always worth while. In
this case the carpet under the piano
should be sprinkled with camphor and
ground moth balls placed on the floor
underneath. A bag of camphor balls
should be suspended inside the piano.
II moths do get into the piano make
mixture Of benzine and turpentine.
| using seven parts Of benzine to one of
turpentine, and add drop or two Of
lavender water. Use small scent
| spray or an old syringe to squirt this
| into the piano.
Dealers in pianos say that the best
way. as we'll as the most satisfactory
way. to clean a piano is simply to
| wash it in lukewarm water, drying
each part briskly and rubbing it thor
| oughly just after it is washed. A
chamois skin can be used to advantage
here. This method leaves the polish
| absolutely uninjured. The piano tuner
usually polishes the wood with alcohol,
to prevent the wood from burning.