My daughter, Alison, has just replaced her Bechstein grand (she
was never completely happy with it) with a second-hand Steinway
Model O.  The case is somewhat shot and some fool has amateurishly
covered the harp with ugly gold paint, however, the piano action
has been completely restored and plays perfectly.

She is going to have the cosmetics done professionally but, in
the meantime, she would like to clean the strings, which are badly
discoloured (corrosion, perhaps?), detracting from the visual
appearance of the instrument.  Would somebody please advise on the
most effective way of doing this?

John Farrell
http://homepages.tesco.net/~stridepiano/