Go gently when cleaning a piano keyboard. Shine modern, plastic piano keys with a well-wrung damp cloth, followed by a sweep with a dry cloth. Use mild detergent to remove stubborn soil.
On ivory keys, use a cloth barely moistened with denatured alcohol -- never soap; it will stain ivory keys.
It's best to use separate cloths for black and white keys.
For more tips on piano care, see
-- Homes & Gardens staff
If you want to automatically receive a daily homes and gardens tip, sign up at OregonLive.com's newsletters subscription site.