Tips for Cleaning Antique Furniture
Antique furniture is an investment that you want to keep in optimal condition. Often antique and vintage furniture pieces that have been accumulated by collectors will be sold at a later date or lovingly handed down from generation to generation. This is why it is so important that you take good care of your furniture. Many pieces cannot stand up to harsh or abrasive modern cleaners and need a more gentle approach. Cleaning antique furniture is something that should be undertaken with great consideration and care.
Most antique and vintage furniture pieces are made from wood. For example, you will find that most Victorian antique furniture, French antique furniture and Old English furniture is crafted from various types of wood. Depending on the time period, you may find pieces made from rosewood, oak, beech, ash, mahogany or pine. For wood furniture, a high end beeswax polish is the best way to go. You will only need to polish your furniture once, maybe twice each year. This is very different from modern pieces which are often sprayed with furniture polish and dusted frequently.
Speaking of furniture polish, you don’t want to use spray polishes like Pledge or Endust, for example, because the oil and silicone in these types of products can leave residue on the wood or even cause discoloration. You might think that a dry feather duster couldn’t possibly harm your furniture, but you’re wrong. Even a simple feather duster can scratch a piece of antique furniture. When polishing your pieces with beeswax polish, apply the wax with a soft, lint-free cloth then polish the piece with the same type of cloth. Rather than coating the wood with too much wax, focus on working a small amount of wax into the wood with gentle yet firm circular rubbing motions.
If you cannot manage to get into small crevices or intricate areas with the cloth, you can try a soft, small brush used in a very delicate manner. Furniture that is scratched, damaged or broken should be restored or repaired by a professional with plenty of experience. When displaying your antique pieces in your home, keep them away from direct light and heat as these elements could cause damage. Cleaning antique furniture is something that many collectors feel nervous about, but luckily the process doesn’t need to be done very often.
