How can I brighten ivory piano keys?
UV and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) is used by ‘restorers’ of ivory. With light sanding to remove the build up of oils and debris from human fingers, they ‘paint on’ a 10% solution of H2O2. They DO NOT use the Hydrogen Peroxide one gets for wounds (which is a water downed unstable solution) They use the 30% solution that one finds at specialty stores for chem labs (educational labs) and industrial uses. They do not water it down with plain water either, they use twice distilled water (as pure as water can get). As an example, local hairdresser will be able to get 60 vol 17.5% H2O2. UV is via UV lamps ((4 foot long) Sylvania 350, 40 Watt Blacklights). They paint on the solution of H2O2, apply a layer of cheese cloth very wide threads allows light to shine through), shine the UV directly on the cheese cloth and keys, and keep the cheese cloth moist, move it around a little and check over and over again. It is a slow, tedious process one that requires knowing and understanding how thin veneer
