Piano Care Question

[PeskyTheGoat]

I bought a Yamaha C1 about a year ago, and I have some (pretty silly) questions on how to care for it:

1.  What should I use to dust it?  I read somewhere that I should use a cheese cloth - what does you all use?

2.  Should I close the lid when I'm not playing it?  I hear that it is better to close the lid to keep the dust out.  Make sense to me, but is there any truth to it?  It looks (and sounds) better open!

3.  Should I close the key cover when I'm not playing it?  It also came with a red piece of felt that lays accross the keys, should I use that and cover the keys when I'm not playing?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[Plaz]

1.  What should I use to dust it?  I read somewhere that I should use a cheese cloth - what does you all use?

Assuming it's an ebony black polish finish, I'd use a feather duster or the softest lint-free cotton/flannel cloth you can find.  I use a very soft flannel which has been very slightly dampened (not damp enough to leave any water droplets on the finish).

2.  Should I close the lid when I'm not playing it?  I hear that it is better to close the lid to keep the dust out.  Make sense to me, but is there any truth to it?  It looks (and sounds) better open!

Close the lid when you're not playing it or not showing it off.  It only takes a few seconds and you don't want dust accumulating under the strings where it's hard to remove.

3.  Should I close the key cover when I'm not playing it?  It also came with a red piece of felt that lays accross the keys, should I use that and cover the keys when I'm not playing?

With plastic key tops, close the fallboard to keep dust out.  I don't find the felt to be much use.

[allchopin]

I have heard (source unknown to my memory) that closing the key lid is not suggested, because it traps in humidity in the keys.  I don't know if this is truthful, but it sure doesn't make sense to me.  I am willing to risk it for dust-free keys.