How to maintain a MIDI keyboard
For the most part, a MIDI keyboard requires little maintenance. You’ll rarely have any complaints, as long as you don’t do anything major, like drop it from a 10-story building or get hit by an 18-wheeler.
Okay, maybe those are extreme examples, but barring any major intentional or unintentional incidents, expect to enjoy a lifetime of use (that is, the life of your keyboard). That said, it doesn’t mean your team doesn’t have to take care of itself. It is exactly because life is unpredictable that you need to take care of your MIDI keyboard.
A simple way to do this is to make sure you keep everything clean. Now wait before you grab all the household cleaners, you need to know that cleaning your electronic keyboard is different than cleaning other things. For one thing, the fact that it’s an electronic keyboard should give you a sign: It uses electricity, so liquids like water shouldn’t be used unless you want to fry everything, including yourself.
Don’t spray or use chemical cleaners either. Your keyboard may not like it and discoloration may be the least of your problems.
Use a soft, lint-free cloth to spread everything out. To reach between the keys use those little brushes they sell at computer stores that pick up dirt and have soft bristles so they don’t scratch your MIDI keyboard.
Compressed or canned air is great as it can remove pesky dirt, dust, and debris without doing anything else to your equipment. Or you can use those little vacs or the little wand attachment from your regular vac.
To really clean those nooks and crannies, the knobs and sliders, for example, use a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol. Be gentle and don’t rub hard. Once you’re done, be sure to dry everything, again with a soft, lint-free cloth.
You can also be proactive in caring for your MIDI keyboard. For example, before you start using it, wash your hands to remove body oils and dead skin that may be left on the keys. You can also use a cover when you’re not using your computer to prevent dust from accumulating.
It also helps if you don’t eat or drink anything when you are using or playing the keyboard. Even if you’re careful, you won’t notice all those little crumbs that can fall into the cracks or between the keys that can attract ants that can wreak havoc on the circuitry.
The best way to do this is to clean everything regularly, even if you don’t see any dirt on it. In this way, you establish the routine to clean and not forget it; it also helps keep things from piling up and making cleaning difficult in the future.
Keeping your MIDI keyboard clean makes it aesthetically pleasing to the eye, which can make it feel better using or playing it, and can make it last longer to produce higher quality music for you.
