How To Maintain A Digital Piano
Digital piano maintenance is an important part of protecting your musical investment. If you’re reading this, chances are you are a digital piano owner, or you’re considering buying one soon. Although they may seem quite similar to acoustic pianos, digital pianos actually have some different maintenance requirements. Here are some digital piano maintenance tips to help you care for your instrument!
Digital Piano Maintenance
PREVENTION
The best way to avoid problems with your digital piano is by preventing them from happening by protecting it against the things that may cause the most harm. There can be many hazards, so here are a few examples of some things to do or to avoid. Use these tips to enjoy a long and healthy experience with your digital piano.
DOORS - Try not to place the piano near any doors. The reason is when that door is going to open, it could very well hit into the corner of the piano and damage it. Even more, it could knock the piano over. Doorways are usually heavily-travelled areas, meaning there will be more dust in the air. This eventually adds up to more dust on the piano, which can lead to problems with the electronics later on.
WINDOWS - Try not to place the piano near an open window. An open window is a nice thing but it also brings in dust from outside, which could create issues with electronic parts inside. Also, if your piano is too close to a window and you forget to close the window could be on a day that a heavy rainstorm comes through.
Another reason to avoid windows? Sunlight. Sporadic exposure to sunlight is fine in general. On the other hand, long periods of exposure to direct sunlight can weaken the plastic parts in the piano and also cause the finish to fade. So many parts of your piano are plastic, including the keys. Be careful with too much sun exposure!
Exposure to direct sunlight may also spawn problems with the inside electronics as well. There are fragile circuits inside, and the heat form the sunlight may damage those solder joints which may be weak to begin with.
DUST COVER - Try to use a dust cover to protect your piano. By protecting the keys and buttons on the top of your piano, you add length to the instrument’s life and maintain the value. A dust cover is made from vinyl and is usually compact and easy to store while you’re using your digital piano. Should your piano be anywhere near a door or window, covering it becomes even more important!
Many of us have pets as well, and a dust cover is a good way to ensure that your pet won’t deposit a new set of problems onto (and into) your digital piano.
FALLING OBJECTS - Try not to place your digital piano near a shelf where something could easily fall on it. That lamp on the shelf next to your piano could come tumbling down, or that prized bowling trophy could take fall, damaging your investment. Remove any items that may cause serious problems should they fall on your instrument.
FOOD & DRINK - Try not to have food or drink near your piano at all! In this day and age, the dangers of having food and drinks near our electronics is widely known. However, it’s surprising how often we forget our digital piano is an electronic device! It needs to be treated no differently than your smart phone or computer when protecting it from the sticky drinks, or the crumbs from the chips you may be eating.
CLEAN YOUR HANDS - Try to wash your hands before starting your music session! Remember those greasy chips from the previous section? ;-) This is another small thing that is often overlooked. It’s similar to washing your hands to protect against diseases. Protect your piano from “dis-ease” by cleaning away dirt, oils, crumbs and germs. It’s a small gesture that makes a big impact over time. Imagine, one little crumb that gets stuck in the key mechanism could make for bothersome (and sometimes costly) repairs later on. Taking a moment to scrub your hands ahead of time will also lessen the buildup of these natural oils from your hands.
ORGANISE YOUR CORDS & CABLES - Try to take some time to ensure that your power cords and MIDI/USB cables are well-arranged so that you won’t accidentally trip over them. A foot caught in the power cable could lead to anything from a good bumping of your instrument to actually knocking it over! When it comes to your MIDI/USB connections, it’s not unheard of to actually break a USB port when accidental force is applied to it. Avoid this unnecessary and expensive repair!
USE A PROPER POWER SOUCE - Try to use a good power source for your piano. Think of it as a computer; you’ll want to protect it against power surges. Unplugging your piano from power when you will be away from it for a long period of time is always a good idea. Try to turn off your piano after each use to prolong the life of the instrument.
A GOOD STAND - Try to invest in a solid stand for your digital piano.
CLEANING
When cleaning your piano, all you can use a hand-held vacuum cleaner or a hose attachment from a larger one. We also suggest TWO cloths and a few Q-tips. You can start by passing over the piano with the vacuum. Then, with the first cloth (it should be just damp, barely wet at all) wash very gently a small area of the surface, and follow by drying the area immediately afterwards with the second cloth. The Q-tip can be used to clean the hard-to-reach areas! It’s good practice to unplug your digital piano before wiping it with a wet cloth, because water and electronics don’t mix so well.
Digital Piano Maintenance and You
Digital piano maintenance consists mainly of prevention and some thoughtful planning. You will avoid causing damage to your instrument, and you’ll keep it cleaner longer. And when your piano does need a cleaning, it won't be such an intense ordeal. A digital piano can bring you years of enjoyment and use. Protect your investment!