Should Piano Keys Be Covered?

keyboard cover

Scratches, dust, and aging ruin a piano‘s look and damage its working, especially piano keys. Therefore, one of the most asked questions is whether the piano keys should be covered or not? If you pay attention, most pianos come with a fallboard or a fallback which signifies that the piano keys are supposed to be covered when not in use.

It means, yes, piano keys should be covered to ensure cleanliness and longevity when not in use. However, you can uncover them for some time daily as they also need to breathe and to avoid humidity.

You must be thinking about what huge a difference it can make whether you put that lid on the keys down or not. Let’s explain the reasons.

Should Piano Keys Be Covered, dust cover

Reasons Why Covering Piano Keys Is A Good Idea

Protects from Accumulation of Dust

Dirt and dust are enemies of a piano, as dirty piano components can cause the sound to get muffled. Keeping the piano keys open all the time will only allow dust particles to start accumulating on and between the keys. And we all know how challenging and tiring it is to clean dirt from those tight and delicate areas without damaging the keys.

Therefore, it is easier to clean a fallboard than cleaning a dirty and dusty piano keyboard. Also, a covered piano keyboard will require less frequent and intensive cleaning sessions.

Protection from Any Spill And Liquids

Covered keys will give extra protection against any sort of spills, and it will be easier to clean liquid off the fallboard. In the case of uncovered keys, the spilled liquid can stain the keys badly and, in worst cases, can get inside and ruin the internal parts.

On the other hand, if you are unable to clean the liquid from the keys properly, epically the tiny areas between them, it can cause mold to grow. So it’s better to be safe than sorry by covering keys on a piano after use.

Safety from Unwanted Touches

It is common human nature that when they see something interesting, they want to touch it. It is especially true for children, who seem interested in everything around them. So, leaving your piano keys uncovered is definitely a no-no in any case.

The cover on the keys will keep them safe even if your piano is at a busy place like your living room, school, or in a restaurant.

Understand Your Keys

It is essential to understand your piano keys.

For example, suppose the keys are ivory. In that case, it is better to keep them uncovered for some time during the day because zero exposure to natural sunlight can cause discoloration of the keys, making them look dirty and dull.

However, if your keys are made of plastic, there is no need to keep them uncovered when not in use. Plastic will degrade with time if left open in direct sunlight. So, it is safe to cover them when the piano is not being used.

Should Piano Keys Be Covered, dust cover

What To Do If Your Piano Does Not Have A Fallboard?

What to do if your piano comes without a fallboard? This is no big issue because you can select from a large variety of matching covers available in the market to provide the much-needed protection from dust, liquids, sunlight, and other unpleasant factors that can damage the performance and shine of piano keys.

Before buying a piano key cover, do consider the following factors:

  • Choose the piano keyboard cover made from good material. Many velvet options are available that are soft and also look elegant.
  • Check if your cover provides protection from UV light as the sunlight, and continuous exposure to heat can make the keys yellow and age quickly.
  • Opting for a waterproof material is a wise choice as this will keep the keys safe from liquids and unwanted spills.

Final Thoughts

Having a piano is many people’s dream but, owning a piano comes with a little bit of responsibility. If you pay due attention to your piano and especially the keys on a piano, your musical instrument will continue to produce pleasant music for years to come.