[pianotech] Killing the viruses on the keys

[Jim Busby]

Hi Diane.

About Lysol. For what it's worth, here at BYU we did a very small test on new keytops to see if Lysol and/or Alcohol hurt them. For 30 days we hosed down some keys with both. I've heard how the stuff ruins keytops, but we saw nothing. I repeat that this is NOT scientific, and only over a month. We made sure not to get it on the piano finish. I'm pretty sure it will ruin older keytops frrom past posts, but at least for these 10 year old plastics, in one month, no apparent damage.

Frankly, I think you can get flu germs from about anywhere, and while I take the prescribed precautions, I don't live my life worrying too much about it. I heard on the news that if a person coughs (not sneezes mind you) within 10 feet of the lids that go on soft drinks at the 7-11 then all the lids are suspect. Boy did that make me feel safe! ("Millions of germs in one cough spread for 10 feet")

Personally, the "policies" (Wash you hands, Don't spray stuff on the pianos...) we have come up with here at BYU are not so much for protection of the person, but for the pianos. I figure if I even walk down the hall of the practice rooms I've been exposed.

Best,
Jim

________________________________________
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Diane Hofstetter [dianepianotuner at msn.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 1:55 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Killing the viruses on the keys

Bruce Dornfeld, RPT said:

I think it would be better for us to kills
the viruses on the keys.


Hi Bruce and all,

Yesterday in a grocery/everything store, I saw a small handheld UV light which you are supposed to hold 1/2" above the item you are trying to disinfect for a couple of seconds and it will kill all bacteria, viruses, germs, and remove scotch-taped note names from the keys!

It cost $15.  I was sorely tempted for a couple of seconds (probably someone shone the light on me).

Bruce, speaking as a friend, I would rather you mist the keys with Lysol and wipe it off than take your chances on swine flu!

Maybe each of us should find one piano somewhere that wouldn't suffer much if the Lysol did do violence to it's keys, and try it out. Or even try it out on some keytops--I have some in a supplies box right next to me--I'll go do it now. With something like 900 members of pianotech, we could do extensive research in a very short time!

Diane Hofstetter