Musical instruments are not just there to emit sounds. They can also be beautiful eyecatchers and talking points in home decor. But buy a piano and you will need to do more than occasionally wipe it with a damp sponge. Left on a stand for a long time, a trumpet may corrode and a guitar may warp.
It's easy to tell if a musical instrument is not being properly taken care of: cracks show up in the wood and valves jam. So what's the best way to care for your treasured instrument and could your home be harming it?
Arthur Knopp from the trade association of music instrument sellers, GDM, has a rule of thumb. Expensive musical instruments feel at home under the same conditions as humans do: at room temperature and mild humidity.
"Wide changes in temperature, moisture or long periods of dryness are bad for instruments. Wood doesn't like that," the German expert says.
"Strings go out of tune, keys stick, tuning pegs detach and the wood swells," explains Knopp. "A piano's soundboard can crack apart making it completely useless."
Too much warmth is also bad, leading to an instrument going out of tune faster. That's why a musical instrument should never be placed near a radiator, fireplace or sunny window.
"Heated homes are too warm and the air in them is too dry," says Knopp. That's a very bad combination for pianos. "But you can also install air moisturising systems inside the piano to keep humidity constant."
By placing a device called a hygrometer in your home you will be able to measure the moisture content of the air. If it's too dry, a home air purifier will add the required humidity and remove dirt particles from the air at the same time.
No matter how much you mind the piano, it will still need to be maintained regularly by an expert. Every piano will go out of tune at some stage no matter how often you play it. "You will need to get the services of a piano tuner at least every two years," says Knopp.
Guitars and violins need care and attention in the form of oil, especially at the spots that come most into contact with hands. Oil prevents sweat from the hands entering the wood.
Wind instruments should be dried each time after use, as condensed water from the breath builds up inside.
"That will eventually lead to unpleasant smells," says Knopp. Some water and washing up liquid will take care of that. Woodwind instruments are susceptible to drying out and need to be treated with a special music instrument oil.
Master brass instrument maker Berndt Meyer recommends oiling metal tuning slides twice a year. Valve mechanisms need oil at least once a month.
"Piston valves need special care," says Meyer. "They should be oiled each time before playing." Never store a brass instrument in a wet state, otherwise salt spots may form on it. "If the instrument is not used for a long time you should dismantle it completely and remove all moisture."