Top > Support > FAQ > How do I care for my Kawai acoustic piano?

Kawai FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Kawai instruments, product features, and other topics.

FAQ

How do I care for my Kawai acoustic piano?

Grand PianosUpright Pianos

A

Maintaining Your Kawai Piano

Cleaning:

Kawai pianos are finished with a variety of finishes, from fine hand-rubbed lacquer to beautiful high gloss polyester resin. Care of these diverse finishes is essentially the same. The beauty of the instrument can be maintained with the following guidelines:

  • Dust should be removed using a soft feather or wool-type duster. Care should be taken not to apply pressure to the finish or to drag the dust across the finish, which can create fine scratches in the surface. These fine scratches will eventually leave a high gloss instrument looking dull. Being very careful with regular dusting is the most important step in retaining the gloss in a polished polyester finish.
  • Fingerprints or similar marks can be cleaned with a dampened soft cloth, followed by a dry cloth. In cases of stubborn greasy dirt, using a small amount of mild detergent (such as mild dishwashing liquid) on the damp cloth may help, as can a high-quality spray window cleaner such as Windex™.

In general, furniture polishes are not recommended except for specialized polishes for high-gloss finishes. One such polish is “Cory” Polish, available from Kawai America, your authorized Kawai piano dealer, and many piano technicians.

If a high-gloss finish becomes dull or is deeply scratched, the finish can usually be restored to its original appearance by a polyester repair specialist. You should contact your local Kawai dealer to find out who can provide this service in your area.

The interior of the piano should be cleaned periodically by a qualified piano technician. Improper cleaning of the plate, strings, soundboard and action may result in damage to the piano. We recommend this be left to a trained technician.

Tuning and Service:

All pianos need to be tuned regularly. The amount of time between piano tunings for a fine instrument depends on many factors, especially the stability of the temperature and humidity and the amount of use the piano receives. In general, Kawai recommends 2 to 4 tunings per year. However, your piano technician can best recommend the appropriate interval for your specific environmental conditions and use.

Pianos also need to be serviced in ways other than simple tuning. The action mechanism and the hammers are subject to wear through use. Periodic voicing and regulation will keep the piano sounding its best throughout the life of the instrument. In general, if the touch or tone of your piano seems uneven, difficult to control, or the notes do not repeat well, you should speak with your technician about the need for regulation and voicing.

If you need a piano technician Kawai America recommends that you start by contacting a Registered Piano Technician (RPT) member of the Piano Technicians Guild. Although some qualified technicians are not members of this organization, those who are RPT members have shown a proficiency in piano tuning and servicing, and have at their disposal continuing education resources which keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date.

Back