Living in the Midwest, we experience significant fluctuations in humidity throughout the year, with very humid summers and exceptionally dry winters. These fluctuations can have a direct impact on the internal workings of your piano. Expansion and swelling due to humidity can cause keys to stick, hammers to become misaligned, and felts to compress. Conversely, extremely dry conditions can lead to wood shrinking, keys becoming loose, and potential cracking or splitting of the soundboard. 

Secondly, stable humidity levels contribute to better tuning stability. When the piano is kept in an environment with consistent moisture content, the strings and soundboard remain in optimal condition, resulting in more accurate and prolonged tuning.

Piano regulation plays a crucial role in maintaining the optimal performance and longevity of your piano. Pianos are comprised of numerous delicate components, including strings, hammers, and dampers, they require periodic regulation to ensure optimal functionality.

But what is regulation? When a piano is regulated, it involves ensuring that all the moving action parts, including the keys, hammers, (and everything in between), are correctly aligned and set at the appropriate distances from one another. This meticulous process aims to achieve the following outcome:

-Remove friction where you don’t want it.

-The correct amount of friction where it is supposed to be.

-Prevents the parts from causing undue damage from misalignment.

Giving you a piano that is more responsive to your touch and gives you better volume control.

Regular maintenance and repair of worn-out or damaged parts prevent further deterioration and ensure that the piano remains in peak condition. Whether it's a grand piano in a concert hall or an upright piano in a household, piano regulation is essential in preserving the instrument's tone quality, precision, and overall musical experience.

1. Start by getting a damp, but not wet, microfiber cloth. Make sure it has been wrung out to remove any excess water.

2. Gently wipe off the keys with the damp cloth. It is important to be gentle to avoid damaging the keys or leaving scratches.

3. After wiping each key, immediately follow up with a dry microfiber cloth to remove any excess dampness. This helps to prevent any moisture from seeping into the keys, which could lead to damage or warping.

If there is stubborn residue or stains on the keytops that cannot be removed with just water, you can use a gentle diluted dish detergent.

Moving your piano within your living room or between rooms typically won't result in a significant perceivable difference in the tuning. Prior to a tuning, it is unnecessary to move the piano away from the wall.