How to Clean a Harp
Like anything else, harps get dusty--and over time their finish can look dull from perspiration and oils in your hands. With such an investment, you want to be careful when it is time to clean it.
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Things You'll Need
- 100 percent cotton cloths
- Soft-bristled dusting brush
- Salvi Harp Polish, Lyon and Healy Harp Polish or guitar polish
- Microcrystalline wax
- Touch-up pens
- Lamb's wool duster with long handle (optional)
Instructions
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Dust the harp using a 100 percent cotton cloth only. Start at the top of the harp and work down. Use it regularly to wipe off perspiration, oils from your hands and airborne dust and dirt. Use a fresh cotton cloth to clean the brass action and pedals of the harp.
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Use a soft-bristled dusting brush to get into the areas around the tuning pegs, levers and string nuts and discs on the harp. In addition to regular cleaning, use this brush when you are changing strings. Several harp companies sell brushes for this purpose; Sylvia Woods Harp Center has one that is retractable, making it easier to carry in a gig bag.
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Polish the finish on the harp about once every several months. There are products made specifically by harp companies, such as Salvi Harp Polish or Lyon and Healy Harp Polish. These products are available at many harp stores, including Lyon and Healy West and the Harp Connection. You can also use a polish made for guitars; these can be found at most music stores. Apply the polish to a cotton cloth. Never apply it directly to the harp. Replace the cloth if it becomes soiled.
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Use a microcrystalline wax, like Renaissance Wax, for a deep polish on your harp. It is used by many museums to restore and protect wood and can be found at companies dealing with fine wood items, such as Conservation Resources. Use a cotton cloth and follow the instructions on the container. Many harp experts recommend using this only once or twice a year.
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Use touch-up pens made especially for harps. These pens look like felt-tip markers and cover the dings and scratches your harp may receive over time. They come in a variety of wood colors and may be purchased from The Harp Connection.
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Tips & Warnings
If dust has accumlated inside your harp and you are unable to reach inside, use a lamb's wool duster that has a long handle. Be careful to avoid scratching the wood.
To keep your harp clean, use a dust cover when not playing it.
Never use metal polish or brass cleaner on your harp. These can hurt the instrument’s finish.
Keep all chemicals out of the reach of children.
Resources
- Photo Credit Paula K. Parker
