High-gloss black finishes — like what you see on a black lacquer baby grand piano — show fingerprints, smudges and dust much greater than finishes not so full of colour or glow. Even water stains are obvious from across the area, contrasting against a dark, shiny finish, particularly rings left behind by a moist beverage glass. The perfect way of dealing with the stains depends on how long they have been there, however, the sooner you treat the stains, the greater the chances of eliminating them without harm to the end.
Straightforward Places
If water stains are clean and wet, dab the liquid as swiftly as possible with an absorbent lint-free cloth. Don’t use paper towels, as they may scratch the end. If the water stains resemble dried droplets that haven’t affected the end, buff them gently with a soft, lint-free cloth like microfiber. The pressure in the fabric will get rid of the stains. You can rub water stains that leave a small mineral residue behind off the end with the edge of your fingernail, followed by buffing with a soft fabric.
Air Care
If the water stains resemble rings, arcs or a few white stains left behind from a drink or a vase, then blot them gently with an absorbent, soft fabric to lift any remaining moisture. After blotting as water off as possible, or when the affected area is already dry, treat the stains with a hair dryer set to low heat, maintaining it a foot or so from the end and transferring it slowly to avoid overheating the surface.
Mineral-Oil Maintenance
When air alone doesn’t do the trick, oil comes to the rescue. Mineral oil applied to a soft lint-free fabric, then rubbed over the spot, removes white water rings. In a pinch, use a cooking oil like olive oil. Wipe away excess oil, and permit the end to air dry thoroughly.
Paste-Based Procedures
Try using mildly abrasive pastes made from household materials when all else fails; examine any of them first on an inconspicuous area to make sure the end isn’t scratched in the process. Older high-gloss finishes may be more worn and much more vulnerable to harm. For the glue cleaner, then rub on a white or non-gel toothpaste over the water stains with a soft cloth, wiping off with a damp cloth followed by a dry cloth. A moist, soft cloth dipped into baking soda or salt makes a somewhat abrasive adhesive strong enough to buff away water rings. Wipe with a new moist cloth and then a dry cloth after the glue therapy.
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