The accordion is in general a solidly built instrument, and will stand a great deal of rough usage.  However, the proper care of the instrument is very important to the accordionist, whether he is professional or amateur.  A good accordion will stand more rough usage considering the intricacy of its mechanism than any other instrument.  However, because an instrument can stand a great deal of abuse is no reason why it should receive it.  In general, the less expensive an accordion is, the more care it must receive.  Particular care must be taken not to subject the accordion to severe atmospheric conditions, excessive heat, dampness, etc..  Excessive heat will shrink the tiny pieces of leather which cover the reeds, thus permitting the air to escape and making playing so much more difficult.  Excessive heat tends also to soften the wax by which the reeds are fastened to the reed-bed.  In a steam-heated room, it is well to form the habit of placing the accordion as far from the radiator as possible.

Temperature which is moderately cold cannot permanently injure an accordion, although you probably have noticed that cold will sometimes make the reeds give a muffled tone, and sometimes the effect of two different reeds playing together.  As soon as the instrument becomes warm, these peculiar sounds disappear, and the accordion sounds as usual.  Cold will affect the instrument like this because the reeds are made of steel and are mounted upon aluminum.  The action of cold upon aluminum causes a greater degree of contraction than upon steel which is the harder of the two metals.  This slight difference of contraction of the two metals prevents a perfect functioning of the reeds for a short period of time.  The muffled tone should disappear entirely after the instrument has been played for about five minutes.  Professional players should always bear this in mind during cold weather, and should arrive about twenty minutes in advance of their program to enable the instrument to become accustomed to the temperature of the room where they will play.  Generally, the best atmosphere for an accordion is a moderately cool,  dry atmosphere.  A damp, heavy atmosphere will make the piano keys stick, and while it will not do any permanent injury, dampness is almost as bad on the instrument as excessive heat.

Avoid the habit of lifting the accordion by the straps. it is always possible that they might break. and a hard fall can do serious damage to an instrument.  It is just as easy to lift the instrument by the box.  The delicate mechanism of the instrument should always be considered, and even the little bumps given it by setting it down roughly can work serious damage.  Care should also be taken that there is nothing on the clothing that would cause any unnecessary friction against the bellows.  I refer to belt buckles, watch chains, etc., which may protrude.  A man should guard against the buttons of his coat rubbing against the bellows, a lady should guard against fancy brooches, etc. which may damage the instrument.  If your hands perspire freely, they should be washed frequently while playing, and a little talc dusted on them.  The keys should also be washed frequently, as the acid from the perspiring hands will ruin the celluloid of the keys.  Never apply any kind of oils to the mechanism as it merely congeals, and creates a gummy substance which may cause a great deal of damage.  The instrument should be occasionally wiped off with a soft cloth very slightly dampened, and if the instrument has a metal top, do not try to polish it with metal-polish, as the polish will seep through and ruin the silk under the metal top.

It must always be remembered that although the accordion is a well-built and sturdy instrument, it contains a great deal of complicated mechanisms.  Even the finest mechanism will sometimes go out of order through atmospheric conditions; pins and screws will get loose, the reeds will get slightly out of tune, or loose from their beds.  All these various items will affect the synchronization of the mechanical parts, hampering their necessary free action.  There are also various items which will cause air leakage which will affect the tone of the instrument.  For any repair job, it is of course necessary to analyze the instrument and the mechanical parts to find the cause.