CARING FOR ANTIQUES – ELBOW GREASE AND WAX POLISH

Yes, a home can be a castle, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a stuffy museum. If you’ve been lucky enough to have inherited a gorgeous item of antique wooden furniture, or you’re a collector yourself, with the right care and maintenance, these pieces of history will retain their value and their intrinsic beauty.

The general definition of an antique is something that is 100 years or older, but it is worth noting that not every ‘antique’ is valuable nor does it necessarily have an historic value. However, most antiques do have a sentimental value and it’s worth preserving them properly for that reason alone.

Antique furniture and modern furniture can’t be cared for in the same way. Sprays, polishes, oils and finishes can have an effect on the value of the furniture as they can contain harmful chemicals, so it’s really important to understand what can and can’t be done when it comes to looking after antiques.

The three main things to consider are cleaning, protection and where the furniture is to be located.

Cleaning

A regular dusting is important, but it’s also important to dust gently. It isn’t good for any piece of furniture to have layers of dust on it, but it’s equally damaging to rub or dust very vigorously. Always use a soft cloth and don’t use any commercial furniture sprays or polishes. Furniture oil will temporarily improve the patina (sheen) of the wood, it can also leave a residue that actually attracts dust which can be abrasive, and plus it can stain the surface. Any polish or oil containing silicon should be left on the shop shelf as it can leave a residue that is difficult to remove or could actually penetrate and damage the wood’s surface.

The very best way of cleaning your antique furniture is to use the right polishes – and that is a thin coat of natural wax polish followed by a buffing with a soft, slightly damp cloth and regular dusting to keep the surface free from any abrasive grit or grime.

Protecting your antique

Keeping antique furniture dust-free and properly waxed is a major step towards protecting their value and beauty – but it’s equally important to ensure protection from a home’s daily activities. Water is one of wood’s worst enemies – so take care when putting any vase of flowers on top of your antique. Any spilt liquid should be wiped up immediately (ensure the surface is 100% dry) and place the vase on a protective mat (eg a square of felt etc) to prevent it from scratching. In fact, all ornaments should have little protective ‘feet’ on them to prevent scratching.

In order to avoid the surface fading unevenly, try and move lamps and other ornaments around. And remember that metal scratches wood, so take care when you lay cutlery down on the wood tabletop.

When using a vacuum cleaner, take care not to scratch or dent the surface with the hard plastic nozzle.

Location

Antiques shoulnd’t be placed near windows as they can easily be damaged by direct sunlight. Not even a good furniture polish will be able to restore the original beauty and colour of an antique if it has been damaged and faded by sunlight. Wooden furniture will react adversely if the environment is too dry or if there is too much humidity – so keeping temperature changes to the minimum is advisable. In a very humid environment, wood can warp, the veneer can swell and mildew and mould can form, whilst it can crack and the joints loosen if the atmosphere is too dry.

Antiques shouldn’t be placed in front of heating and airconditioning vents, radiators, fireplaces or stoves.

Caring for antiques isn’t hard. To keep the beauty and heritage of your precious pieces, all it takes is a little time, effort, the right wood care and natural wax polishes.

Information from LOOKING AFTER ANTIQUE FURNITURE