Discussion:
Getting Windex streaks off of black lacquer finish
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M***@hotmail.com
2004-05-01 18:25:33 UTC
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We got a new cleaning person, and before I had the chance to tell her
not to touch the piano, she had wiped the whole thing down with
Windex.

It's a 6'3" Estonia, previously unmarked.

I tried a barely-damp cloth, but the streaks remain.
Cy Shuster
2004-05-01 20:18:44 UTC
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Post by M***@hotmail.com
We got a new cleaning person, and before I had the chance to tell her
not to touch the piano, she had wiped the whole thing down with
Windex.
It's a 6'3" Estonia, previously unmarked.
I tried a barely-damp cloth, but the streaks remain.
There are special polishes for piano finishes, sometimes different ones for
gloss vs. satin, or lacquer vs. polyester. Here's an example:

http://www.thepianoaccessorystore.com/piano/catalog/category_253_Piano_Care_Prod_page_2.html

Your local piano retailer or tuner may have them.

--Cy--
Gary Rimar
2004-05-01 20:45:02 UTC
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Post by M***@hotmail.com
We got a new cleaning person, and before I had the chance to tell her
not to touch the piano, she had wiped the whole thing down with
Windex.
It's a 6'3" Estonia, previously unmarked.
I tried a barely-damp cloth, but the streaks remain.
I didn't know the answer, so I decided to call a friend of mine that
refinishes pianos for a living. I never knew it was so involved. He takes
no responsibility for any of this advice, because he's not there and isn't
sure how the Estonia is finished.

The first question from him was "is the piano high-gloss"? I said I didn't
know. He then said "unless it is high gloss, I don't know what to do
because I'm not there. So, this advice only applies to a high-gloss piano.

Bear in mind too, that before you implement any of these fixes, you need a
wet cloth to put down the chemical, and a dry cloth to pick it up.

His first thought was if the piano had been waxed with something else, and
if the cleaning person didn't use enough Windex to cut that. the result
would be a streaky ugly mess. His suggestion in that case would be,
ironically, more Windex.

If the piano had not been waxed with something else, and if it were
high-gloss, his suggestions are to try each of these in order until the
appearance looks good:

Plain water (don't just use a barely damp cloth, but pick it up fast)

Rubbing Alcohol (cuts through more stuff)

Naptha (really cuts through stuff - open the windows)

If Naptha won't cut it, then you're into covering it up with more shine:

Maquires Mirror Glaze #10

Maquires Mirror Glaze #17, followed by #10.

I have a high-gloss ivory piano. I asked him what I should clean my piano
with. His answer? Windex.


Gary (go figure THAT one out) Rimar
M***@hotmail.com
2004-05-01 21:05:01 UTC
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Thanks for both of your responses. I'll give these things a try.
Cy Shuster
2004-05-02 03:53:55 UTC
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The one thing to always avoid putting on a piano finish is anything
containing silicone. It gets absorbed so deeply that any future refinishing
may not stick (that's my understanding, anyway).

--Cy--
Post by M***@hotmail.com
Thanks for both of your responses. I'll give these things a try.
Isaac
2004-05-02 16:04:19 UTC
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when I bought my Yamaha C3 high gloss ebony piano, I was told that
Windex would damage the finish. It seems that the ammonia in the
windex can eat away at the laquer. (?) Try a generic brand that
doesn't have ammonia. I don't know if there is truth in it or not.
Perhaps someone else on the group can enlighten us.

Isaac B.
Raleigh/Durham
Post by M***@hotmail.com
We got a new cleaning person, and before I had the chance to tell her
not to touch the piano, she had wiped the whole thing down with
Windex.
It's a 6'3" Estonia, previously unmarked.
I tried a barely-damp cloth, but the streaks remain.
Larry
2004-05-03 12:22:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by Isaac
when I bought my Yamaha C3 high gloss ebony piano, I was told that
Windex would damage the finish. It seems that the ammonia in the
windex can eat away at the laquer.
It won't "eat away" the finish, but it will cause it to "cloud", or develop a
milky haze that won't come off. The finish is polyester, not lacquer.

Do not use Windex, or any other glass cleaner containing ammonia. Use Glass
Plus, if you're going to use a glass cleaner. Better yet, use plain water. As
for the originator of this thread with the permanently streaked Estonia, it is
possible that one of your maids has used some sort of furniture polish before
the last one used the Windex. My advice - wash the piano with a mild solution
of water and liquid dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn. Rinse it off with
water, obviously being careful that you don't use so much water that it drips
or runs anywhere. Do this yourself, instead of having the maid do it. The next
step once you've done this - fire your maid, and learn to clean your house
yourself.



Larry
Doing the work of 3 men - Larry, Curly, & Moe
Caution: I do not brake for sales weasels
M***@hotmail.com
2004-05-03 17:59:59 UTC
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Post by Larry
fire your maid, and learn to clean your house
yourself.
Nah. I know how to...choose not to.

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