Antique furniture is definitely a
good investment. 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.
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
properly and at the right intervals. Here are some major factors
to consider cleaning your antique furniture.
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.
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 discolor it and cause it to
fade, and no amount of cleaning antique furniture will be able
to solve that problem.
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.
