Make the Old Look New—Cleaning Antique Furniture

Often we find a beautiful piece of antique furniture that wish to incorporate into our home.  If the piece has been in storage in an attic or basement, chances are it is dirty.  Cleaning antique furniture requires patience and a gentle hand.  Many of today’s cleaners are too harsh for the finishes of the past.  Read on to find out how to best clean your precious piece of antique furniture.

Cleaning antique furniture will require a vacuum cleaner, several soft cloths, a cleanser specially made for wood, a toothbrush and paste wax.  You do not want to use anything abrasive, such as steel wool, as it is apt to scratch the piece.  Test the solvent you are planning to use in a hidden area to make sure it is safe for the wood finish.

The first step in cleaning antique furniture is to vacuum it gently, picking up as much of the loose dirt and grime as possible.  Be careful not to get the end of the vacuum too close to the surface or you can scratch the finish.  Once the vacuuming is complete, place some of the solvent on a soft rag and gently work your way across the surface in small circular motions.  You want to avoid placing the solvent directly on your piece, as it may be too harsh for the current finish.

Once you have finished cleaning antique furniture with the solvent made especially for the wood, use the toothbrush to gently scrub in any nooks and crannies you cannot reach with the cloth.  The toothbrush is soft enough that it will not scratch as another brush or steel wool might.

The final step in cleaning antique furniture is to apply a very thin coat of some type of paste wax.  The paste wax serves a couple of purposes.  First, it helps protect the piece from scratches and such.  Secondly. Paste wax will fill in any minor scratches already present in the surface, creating a smooth finish and bringing out the beauty of the piece. Once you have applied the paste wax, use a clean, soft cloth to gently buff the surface, using small circular motions.

Cleaning antique furniture is not difficult, but can be time-consuming.  It is well worth the time, however, as you see the beauty of the antique piece coming out.  You can stand back and look upon your work with pride, knowing you were an essential piece in returning the antique piece to its original glory.

< Go back to interior decorating articles