The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-04-03
PIANO REQUIRES CARE
INST UMENT EXCEEDINGLY
QUICK TO RESENT NEGLECT.
Subject in a Degree to the Extremc'
Of Atmosphere-Lime in the Inter
lor Will Prevent Rusting Of
the Wires.

The piano is often neglected by the
otherwise careful housewife, for the
simple reason that her attention IS
seldom. il ever, called to its care. &c
seems 10 some if the tuner arrives
periodically and the instrument is
carefully busted that is al there is to
the care Of the piano.
However, the piano is a very dell
cate 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 radla-
tor. as it is subject to the influences
of the atmosphere.
Extreme heat and extreme cold are
very harmful 10 the piano. If n
wishes to have q musical instrument
in the best Of condition and to keep
II SO, al ever temperature should be
maintained III the room where It
stands. If there is too much moisture
In the atmosphere the wires become
rusty, if there is too much heat he
musical adjustment will be injured as
well as the wood in the case.
The rusting Of The wires can be pre-
vented h. sprinkling them with lime
or by placing a bag Of unslacked lime
In the interior to absorb the moisture,
When the atmosphere becomes too
dry it is well TO have q plant in the
Don that requires plenty Of water.
a jar Of water kept in the room helps
by evaporation. Heavy articles should
never be placed on the 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 4 cloth
dampened With alcohol. If this plan
is followed there is less likelihood OF
their turning yellow. II the keys are
soileG Q cloth dipped il whiting and
rubbed with alcohol viii be found ex
cellent for cleaning them. When the
keys have become very yellow and
need to be bieached try the following:
Make a paste of unslacked lime and
bran water. 1t should be applied ant
allowed to dry slightly. 1t should thef
be rubbed off with a cloth, and mag
nesia powder applied TO the keys unit
dry. In a few minutes the keys car
be polished to a high luster.
Then care should be taken to pre-
vent moths getting into the piano
Prevention is always worth while. II
this case the carpet under the piano
should be s~prinkled with campior am
ground moth balls placed on the foe.
underneath 4 bag Of camphor ball.
should be suspended from a nail driver
in the outside OF the piano.
# moths do get into the piano maxi
a mixture OF benzoline and t%urpentine
/ using seven parts of benzoline to ont
t Of ~turrentine and add a drop or tWt
. OF lavender water. Use a small seen
spray or an old syringe to squirt thi
into the piano.
Dealers in pianos say that the bes
way. as we'll as the most satisfactor,
way 10 clean q piano is TO simply wasl
!. It I'm luke warm water. drying eac|
part briskly and rubbing il ~thoroughl
Just after it Is washed. 4 chamoi
skin can be used to advantage here
This method leaves the polish absc
iutely urinjured.