A Quick Guide To Cleaning Antique Furniture
Antique furniture is most definitely an asset. Anyone owning a piece of antique furniture may be able to command thousand for that one individual item of furniture, which is why more and more individuals are choosing to invest in it at the moment. Of course value and worth all depend on a number of factors that are associated with the furniture itself.
Buying and selling antique furniture is a fun and interesting adventure, whether it’s just a part-time hobby or a full-time pursuit. Learning about the different periods of time and the styles that were popular then, the different cultures and what they appreciated by way of furniture, and how to spot a true piece of antique furniture versus a reproduction or fake can be a very absorbing adventure.
However there is one mistake that many newcomers to the world of antique furniture seem to make again and again and it’s something that not only devalues their pieces, it can actually make it worthless. What is that? It’s trying to fix imperfections and damage on their own. Why does it affect the value of the furniture this way?
The type of word, design, style and the era in which it was made are just a few of those factors. However, you can do something to preserve your investment by cleaning antique furniture correctly and at the right intervals. This is therefore your quick three-step guide to cleaning antique furniture.
So how do you actually repair antique furniture? Definitely take it to someone that is an expert in making these types of repairs, whether it’s wood or cloth or porcelain or any other material. Never try to do it yourself. And, ask yourself if it’s something that really needs repairing in the first place. While rips in fabric may be unsightly, most little dents and dings in wooden furniture and smudges on porcelain are part of what gives antique furniture its charm. Some buyers truly appreciate those small so-called defects. So rather than actually try to repair every little thing you see as being wrong with your pieces, remember that antiques aren’t supposed to “look like new!”
Step One: Avoiding Dust Degradation.
When cleaning antique furniture, ensure that it becomes part of your regular routine quickly so that you do not neglect it in any way. You should always dust it every few days, once a week at the very least. You should never use any kind of dusting device though, lest it scratch it. A soft cloth is perfect for this purpose. Do not use any sprays of any kind on it and that includes regular furniture polish because the chemicals that are used in those formulas to repel dust and grime can actually damage your investment by staining the wood or causing weak spots. Cleaning antique furniture should be about preserving it rather than adding to the wear and tear!
There are certain polishes that you can use when cleaning antique furniture. Orange oil is good for cleaning antique furniture once a week. You should then polish it with furniture wax once every couple of months. Applying a thin coat will encourage it to shine without causing a wax build up.
Step Two: Protecting The Wood
Cleaning antique furniture can damage the wood if it is not done correctly so make sure that you protect it at all times. For example, mop up any spillages immediately and never rest anything on it directly that could possibly scratch it. If you spill water, simply wiping it off immediately would protect the wood but solvents should be treated with care. Cleaning antique furniture in this instance would require dabbing the stain with a soft cloth until all of the solvent has been removed. Wiping it away would cause more damage.
Also, protect your wood by ensuring that it never stands in the glare of direct sunlight. This can discolour it and cause it to fade, and no amount of cleaning antique furniture will be able to solve that problem.
Step Three: Optimum Environmental Factors
Always make sure that your home provides the optimum environment for your pieces. Cleaning antique furniture is all well and good but will not be able to protect it against the elements. Ensure that your house is a constant temperature
all year round. If that means investing in a humidifier then so be it. It is worth that little bit extra to protect your own larger investment. This will stabilise the air and make sure that cleaning antique furniture will have the desired effect of preservation throughout the years.
Tags: Antique Furniture, dents and dings, design style, different cultures, fabric, full time, intervals, newcomers, periods, porcelain, rips, time hobby, wooden furnitureRelated posts
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