[CAUT] Cleaning solution

Alan McCoy amccoy at mail.ewu.edu
Mon Apr 27 16:24:41 PDT 2009


A very scientific one - some water to some vinegar. More water than vinegar
but that's as close as I can get. I have no idea what the "proper" dilution
should be. Vinegar is mostly water anyway.

Alan


> From: Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu>
> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:43:35 -0600
> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Cleaning solution
> 
> Alan,
> 
> I know a teacher here that has used this for 50+ years with no bad results.
> What ratio do you use?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Jim
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Alan
> McCoy
> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 12:52 PM
> To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Cleaning solution
> 
> Hi Jim,
> 
> Vinegar and water is a very able yet mild solvent. Thin cotton - like an old
> T-shirt - for application. Active ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid. Will
> cut finger oils. Hasn't attacked finishes I 've used it on. Great for keytop
> gunk.
> 
> Alan 
> 
> 
>> From: Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu>
>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
>> Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:06:21 -0600
>> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
>> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Cleaning solution
>> 
>> Gerry,
>> 
>> Good post.
>> 
>> So here is what I'm finding out, so far;
>> 
>> 
>> 1.       Simple Green and Murphy's Soap seem to be safe for anything.
>> 
>> 2.       Alcohol, ammonia, windex, may hurt some finishes.
>> 
>> 3.       Cory products may be good (A refinisher here told me NO on these due
>> to buildup.
>> 
>> 4.       Microfiber High Performance Polishing cloth? (Sounds good. Got to
>> get
>> me one)
>> 
>> Anything else?
>> 
>> Jim
>> 
>> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of G
>> Cousins
>> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 10:18 AM
>> To: CAUT
>> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Cleaning solution
>> 
>> Mike,
>> I did a bunch of work and piano surface cleaning & maintenance formulations
>> many years ago so here's my 2c.
>> 
>> Do Not use ANY ammonia formulas on any high gloss finishes. Many of the
>> Windex
>> formulas and almost of the off label brands contain ammonia in the formula.
>> It
>> does dull the high gloss finish.
>> 
>> For basic cleanings just use water. IF there are fingerprints, oils or
>> derrivatives, use any neutral cleaning agent.  Eg: Simple Green at
>> appropriate
>> dilution. You can also use the Cory Care products. He does have ok formulas
>> although the pricing may impinge on the school budget.
>> With any water based elixers always use the minimum, think moist rather than
>> wet amount on a cheese cloth material. Cotton cloths ( towles, t-shirts etc.
>> are made to absorb. They waste alot of fluids by wicking up the fluid into
>> the
>> cloth rather than holding/carrying the fluid to allow spreading onto the
>> surface to be treated.  Paper products are wood based and always cause
>> scratching of some sort.
>> 
>> Hopefully this is not newsworthy but figured I'd mention it anyway.
>> Nitro/Satin finishes on SS are harmed by certain chemicals, thinners,
>> alcohols
>> etc. so a BIG word of caution and stay away.
>> 
>> Back to the trenches.  =)
>> Gerry
>> 
>> ________________________________
>> To: caut at ptg.org
>> From: pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu
>> Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:08:46 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Cleaning solution
>> 
>> 
>> Seems to work for Oberlin.  Although I think all their Steinways are satin.
>> I
>> haven't tried it.
>> 
>> They do have one or two Hamburgs.  I can ask Robert how they treat them.
>> Maybe just a damp cloth followed by a dry one.  That's what I would do on a
>> high gloss.
>> 
>> Paul
>> 
>> 
>> "Mike Kurta" <mkurta1 at comcast.net>
>> Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org 04/27/2009 10:02 AM
>> Please respond to
>> caut at ptg.org
>> 
>> 
>> To
>> 
>> <caut at ptg.org>
>> 
>> cc
>> 
>> Subject
>> 
>> Re: [CAUT] Cleaning solution
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Oh Oh, I've heard that ammonia will cloud hi-gloss finishes, the same with
>> Windex.  Don't know if this is reliable info or not......
>>     Mike Kurta, RPT
> 
> 
> 
> 





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