The use of polish may help to remove or lessen the discoloration, but the oils from our skin contact can slowly erode the finish. Note that over many years, fabric dyes can leave a mark where your knee contacts the back of the harp. Dust these areas with a soft cloth after playing. Dirt and grime can build up on the sounding board, along the edge where hands touch or rest and where bare knees contact the harp. Brushes are available from Lyon & Healy Harps or other harp suppliers.Ĥ - Removing Dirt & Oily Grime. The brush is also great for cleaning areas that are hard to get into-such as between the carvings and where the base & board meet at the bottom of the column. It will keep the dust from collecting on the disks. Buttons and sequins can also do damage.so be mindful about what you wear.Ģ - Dust the harp regularly with a soft flannel cloth (Handi-Wipes work well too), wherever dust can collect, such as the sounding board, base, crown, and neck.ģ - Dust disks and outside action areas with a semi-stiff stencil brush or a soft bristle brush. Remove jewelry or watches that can scratch the finish, especially on your right arm. The moisture in the cream is not good for the strings. Do not use hand cream or lotion immediately before playing. There are three things that harpists can do to clean and preserve the finish on their harps: Prevention – Attention – Lubrication (the cleaning of high contact areas).īelow are some detailed suggestions of how and what to do, as well as what not to do.ġ- Wash your hands before you play. 2015Ĭleaning and Preserving the Beauty of your Harp’s FinishĪ special thank you to Linda Rollo for editing this article and to the following Harp Technicians who helped with the information presented below: Peter Wiley, Karen Rokos, Stephen Hartman, Steve Moss and Mike Lewis. This article first appeared in the ‘San Francisco-Bay Area’ AHS Chapter newsletter - Nov. By Karen Gottlieb, Harpist and Member of the Lyon & Healy/Salvi Technicians Guild
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