During your spring cleaning, don’t forget to think about your
antiques. In this month’s column, we’ll give you seven tips to help
you care for your antique furniture.
1. Use paste wax
Every couple of months, wax with a good quality
paste wax that can be found in any hardware
store. If you wax too much, it can dull the finish
and attract dust. To remove a waxy build up,
apply varesol with a clean cotton cloth. Proper
waxing will bring up the color and grain of the
wood and protect it. Rub a small amount on a
soft cloth and apply it in circular motions. Let it
dry then buff with a clean cloth.
2. Don’t use aerosol sprays
Avoid aerosol spray polishes because they can
contain silicone oil and other agents that can be
harmful to your furniture. For daily cleaning, use a
clean cloth or a clean duster. For those who like
to use something more, I recommend Orange Oil
because it works well to clean and polish wood
finishes. I like it because it doesn’t leave a wax
build up and doesn’t contain linseed or silicone oil.
3. Use coasters
A great deal of surface damage can be prevented
if you always remember to use coasters, mats and
trivets and avoid placing hot and/or wet items
directly on furniture.
4. Avoid scratching furniture
Never slide anything (vase, plate, serving dish etc.)
across a surface because it will scratch. A very
light scratch can be treated with Restore-AFinish,
a great multi-purpose product. Deep
scratches require the skill of professional restorers.
5. Clean liquid spills
Spilled water should be thoroughly wiped up
immediately. Alcohol and solvents (nail polish, nail
polish remover, perfumes) should be dabbed, not
wiped because they can act like a furniture stripper
and damage the finish. White rings left from
either a hot drink or a wet glass should be
attended to right away. A little Brasso applied
with a clean cloth may do the trick. Or, I have
found that Restor-A-Finish works well to remove
white rings. Always test on a small area first.
Remove candle wax – Wait for the wax to cool
then gently loosen using a fingernail to remove.
6. Draw the drapes
Just as sun damage to the skin is cumulative and
permanent, its effects on wood are just as
destructive. Diffused sunlight over a long period
of time can be as detrimental as direct sunlight
over a short period of time. Sunlight can turn a
clear finish yellow.The only good news about sun damage is that
it’s easy to avoid. Draw the drapes, pull the
blinds or have an UV-filtering film applied to
your windows.
7. Don’t ignore relative humidity
Central heating is the worst thing to happen to
antiques. A warm inside and cold outside makes
life comfortable while wreaking havoc on
antiques. It’s the fluctuations in relative humidity
that central heating creates which cause the
problem. Wood responds to relative humidity by
expanding and contracting as it tries to maintain
a balance with its environment. It’s not the rapid
changes during the course of a day that cause
the most damage. It’s the long-term seasonal
fluctuations, which cause the serious damage.
During the dry winter months when it is cold
outside and warm inside, wood tends to shrink.
During hot damp summers when it is warm outside
and cooler inside, wood tends to expand.
Long-term exposure to these conditions leads to
cracking, warping and splitting.
To guard against the fluctuations in relative
humidity in your home, use a humidifier during
the cold winter and a dehumidifier in the damp
summer. Think twice before putting a good piece
of furniture in a basement, attic, near heating
vents or near fireplaces. Keep fresh air circulating.
Maintain a constant room temperature and turn
it low at night.
Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium located in Toronto, Canada. He does furniture restoration; caning and rushing repairs; appraisals and has teachescourses on antiques. Martin can be reached at http://www.takeaboo.com
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