When it comes to antique furniture, it needs to be well-maintained in order for it to be preserved. Where a lot of people go wrong with antique furniture is treating it like normal new furniture, and that is how they end up ruining it. The first step in prolonging the life of your antique furniture is knowing how to take care of it properly, and here is how.

 

Cleaning Products to Avoid

Something that you have to know about cleaning your antique furniture is which substances you should never use on them. Under any circumstances, you shouldn’t use water, alcohol, or acetone to clean your antique furniture.

Mind Where You Place It

The best thing that you can do is make sure that it is placed in a safe spot in your home. Since antique wood is extremely fragile, you need to ensure that you are not planning it into direct sunlight. That is mainly because the heat will alter the finishes of the wood, and it will lead to discolouration, fading, and eventually rotting. On top of that, the sun will dry out the wood, which will weaken the glue and cause fissures. On the other hand, when you are leaving it in a moist place it will cause the wood to rot and eventually fall apart. That is why you need to ensure that you are keeping your furniture out of direct sunlight and water.

Consider Investing in a Dehumidifier

For those who are living in a more humid place, the best thing that you can do to prolong the lifespan of your antique furniture is to ensure that it is not humid in your home. As we have mentioned above, water will cause your antique piece to rot and fall apart even if it’s not soaking; the wood humidity will moisten it and deteriorate it. On top of that, the humidity will make your furniture more inviting to pests such as termites, rates as well as cockroaches. They will feed on the wood and cause permanent damage to your pieces. The best way to keep the moisture out of the house is by getting a quality humidifier to get rid of excess humidity.

Don’t Throw Out Any Pieces

Where a lot of people tend to go wrong when handling antique furniture is tossing out pieces that they don’t think are important. Unlike today’s furniture, finding parts that will match your antiques are almost impossible. That is why you need to ensure that even if your knob breaks, you don’t toss it out. Keep the knob or the part that fell off or got damaged, and take it to a specialist to help you out. You will not be able to find a suitable replacement on Amazon.

Never Use Oil, Always Use Wax

One of the most misleading pieces of information people have is that you should oil the furniture to keep it from drying out and checking. Even though it is a temporary fix, it often leads to unwanted build-ups that will eventually wear down the finish. It is recommended by professionals that you are repealing the special wax on a regular basis to protect the future and make it last longer and look amazing.

Clean Gently But Thoroughly

People often get too carried away when it comes to cleaning the furniture. A lot of people will tend to use cleaning materials that are just too abrasive. That is why you should find a soft cloth such as cheesecloth, as it is least likely to scratch the surfaces. On top of that, always avoid using commercial cleaners such as Pledge or Zep. Products like that will actually make your surface dirtiest as it contains oil and not wax. Take your wax-based product and carefully work it into the furniture with a soft rag.

Work With Restoration Specialists

The best possible thing that you can do to prolong the life of your antique furniture is to work with an antique furniture restoration specialist. Once in a while, ensure that you are consulting with the professional on what treatments the furniture needs and how you can improve its current condition.

Always Use a Mild Cleaner

When you are cleaning your antique furniture, it is crucial that you use a very gentle cleanser. Choosing harsh chemicals will damage your furniture and even ruin it beyond repair. For most antique furniture choosing, a mild soap is the best choice, but always check with your restoration specialist to ensure that a damp cloth won’t damage the piece. But if you are dealing with something that you can’t wash with mild soap, try something slightly stronger in very small amounts.

Remove Stuck-on Stains

Antique furniture is very sensitive, and since it has been used for a while, it will have some spots that are more prone to stains. If there are some very stubborn stains, it is important that you remove them and the best way to do so is with steel wool. All you need to do is rub it along the direction of the gain until you successfully remove all the debris. Creating a clean surface before you resurface the furniture is key, especially if you are planning on gifting the antique.

Use A Brush In Hard-To-Reach Places

If your furniture piece is filled with places that are hard to reach when you are cleaning, make sure that you are using a brush to ensure that you are cleaning every place. This way you will ensure that you can clean all the places of your piece properly. Not cleaning your antique furniture will cause it to deteriorate faster.

Wipe Down The Furniture And Allow It To Dry

When you are cleaning the furniture with a damp rag, always ensure that you are wiping it down afterward. Make sure that you are soaking up the leftover water with gentle strokes until the furniture is completely dry to the touch. Before doing anything else to it make sure that you are allowing it to air dry for a few minutes.

If You Suspect A Pest Infestation, Remove Antique Furniture Immediately

Exposing any part of your home to pests is not the best idea. Rats, mice as well as bugs will feed on your antique furniture as the wood is nice and lived in. That is why you need to ensure that you are taking away any antique furniture from your home if you suspect that there is a pest infestation. Make sure that the house is completely pest-free before bringing in your antique furniture. This will allow you to prolong the life of your special pieces.

Make Sure To Regularly Dust Your Furniture

One of the simplest ways you can prolong the life of your antique furniture is by dusting it regularly. As we have mentioned above, always use a soft rag and remove any debris that has accumulated on the furniture. It is best that you dust once per day or every couple of days, depending on how much dust you have in your home.

 

When you have antique furniture, it is important that you take care of it as you would yourself. Your job as a proud owner is to give it the life that it deserves. Your antique piece is timeless so ensure that you are doing everything that you can to prolong the life of your furniture.