How To Clean Antique Furniture
As the owner of antique furniture, you appreciate that you need to carry out regular cleaning and maintenance to keep your precious items looking great. When properly taken care of, antique furniture keeps your home looking great and adds years to your furniture. And if you intend to sell the furniture in the future, you know that pieces that are adequately cared for will fetch a better price than items that look dirty and rundown.
At Old Crow Antiques, we love antique furniture as you do, and, in this article, we will give tips on antique furniture care and the steps you need to take to give your collection the stature it deserves.
Identify the Antique Furniture Material before Choosing a Cleaning Product
Regular cleaning is one of the easiest ways to take care of your antique furniture. Before cleaning, however, you need to identify the material that your furniture is made from. You might have furniture made of varying materials in a home, including wood, stone, metal, or even cloth. As you can imagine, the cleaning products you use on the different materials and the cleaning methods to apply may differ.
Cleaning Care Tips for Antique Wood Furniture
To restore your wood antiques to their original glory, you need to remove all traces of dust. However, it is essential to remember that apart from the dust you might observe, some pests such as termites could ruin your furniture by creating a home there. Pests could create tiny holes in furniture and also leave foul-smelling deposits.
If you are wondering how to take care of antique wood furniture, please follow the following steps.
Look out for pest homes and destroy them.
If the furniture is covered in dust, wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth.
For stain removal, consider sanding.
Apply a new finish after sanding wood furniture such as chairs, cupboards, and dressers, apply a new finish.
Cleaning Care Tips for Antique Metal Furniture
If your antique pieces are made from metal, a common problem that you might have to deal with is rust. Rust stains do not only make your metal furniture unsightly but could also shorten its lifespan. Surface rust on furniture can typically be removed by sanding, but if the rust has penetrated further, you may need to consider other options like refinishing.
Handling Vintage Furniture
Perhaps one of the biggest tips you ever need to know about how to care for antique wooden furniture in Littleton, CO, is how to handle it. Wooden furniture is delicate, and moving it improperly will cause damage.
Avoid dragging furniture as this could weaken joints or cause breakages. If you are moving a cupboard or sideboard, always remove the drawers first, remove jewelry from your hands, or wear protective gloves to guard against scratches.
Avoiding Sun Exposure
Direct exposure to the sun will degrade your furniture. Wooden furniture and antique rugs are especially prone to damage, and you should make sure that they do not get exposed to direct sunlight. If you must store your furniture next to a window, a great way to care for antique wooden furniture tips would be to cover the window in UV film or invest in a shade.
Heat and Humidity
When considering how to care for antique wooden furniture, you should make ways to control heat and humidity. When furniture is exposed to excessive heat, it expands. If it is later exposed to low temperatures, it will contract.
Whether the temperature fluctuations are caused by natural weather conditions such as we experience in Littleton, CO, or by gadgets you use at home, contractions and expansions will ultimately cause substantial damage.
Exposure to moisture creates ideal conditions for the growth of fungi and mold, and the effects of these organisms will be visible on your furniture. An important consideration in how to take care of antique wood furniture is to keep it away from humid places and ensure that the locations are well ventilated.
Shop Antique Furniture at Old Crows Antiques
Antique furniture care might not be too exciting, but the results are fantastic. The appearance of sparkling vintage furniture is breathtaking and will significantly enhance your home's value. Old Crows Antiques has multiple dealers offering refinishing products, including stains, oils, and paints perfect for restoring your furniture's original luster or for changing it up to give it new life (we love refurbished and upcycled at Old Crows!)
When you are in the Littleton, CO, area and are looking for the most diverse collection of vintage furniture, come into Old Crows Antiques for a terrific variety of antique furnishings. And be sure to stop by our root beer bar too! For more information, call (303) 973-8648 or contact us online today!
Image Source: MarkoV87 / Shutterstock