How to Care for Antique Furniture - PegandRail Design Ideas

“Old is gold” is not just a well-known adage. Lots of people appear to be incredibly intrigued by anything that is aged, retro, or a relic. There is a considerable distinction between an old item and an antique piece. Examining the artistic marvels all over the world, you can see beyond their exquisite beauty and be reminded of the memories that are held within them. Furthermore, these beautiful structures symbolize the values and beliefs of the bygone era. They are truly antique.

CeeLo Green said that vintage items have great value and deserve to be cherished. Many items may be considered obsolete, but few remain timeless; therefore, they become an antique. If this old-fashioned value is maintained, it could be given to succeeding generations as a treasured family possession.

Modern technology and synthetic materials have superseded the older hand-crafted items made from elements like wood, stone, and ivory, and so on. The outcome of this has been not only the vanishing of these items, but also the expertise that the craftspeople once had. The products of creative thought and two talented and artistic human hands have been lost and have been replaced by mass-produced items. Even though digital technology has made many traditional machines obsolete, for instance a Remington typewriter has been supplanted by modern laser printers.

What is Antique?

So, what exactly an antique is? Is it just being old enough? No, not exactly! An antique is an item that is at least one hundred years old. The worth of the item is determined by its uniqueness, sophistication, and possibly its connected past. Such items are never used by the current generation. The item might not appear to be much, such as a jewelry box, but it becomes valuable as a collector’s item due to its history; if it was used by a notable person at some point or if it is a scarcity as it is one of the few remaining of its kind.

So, antiques are normally preserved in museum. What kinds of antiquities can you gather? Generally, antiques encompass items such as furniture, art, clocks, jewelry, hanging bells, porcelain statues, swords, kitchenware, silver items, metal containers and lamps, royal apparel, glass items, guns, dolls, popular toys, and the like. As unique decorations, they make the rooms they are put in more luxurious. Having a renowned antiquity has come to represent riches and social standing, which is why movies show billionaires with Picasso art or some other traditional ornament within the confines of their chambers.

Antiques are inimitable, having a distinctive historic significance which cannot be duplicated or valued by modern products. Not only do they lend a certain appeal and attractiveness to a house, but they also act as a link to history. Antiques can provide an insight into a specific era, society, or even an individual. These items can remind us of a particular period in history, and can be employed to teach people in the future about what happened in the past.

Antique Clocks

Clocks in different shapes and styles add to the beauty of a room. There is a wide range of designs that can fit in with the interior of the room. Some of the old-fashioned clocks that can be collected if you can find them include grandfather clocks, pendulum clocks, wall clocks with chimes, and mantel clocks. Although these clocks are usually just intended to look nice, if you’re using them to keep track of time, they may not be quite precise.

Care of Antique Clocks

Lubricate its mechanical parts in every 5-6 years to keep them in good condition. Be absolutely sure how to do it. Half-baked knowledge may harm your antique piece.
Avoid exposure in direct sunlight. Also, keep them on a mantel or near the heater. The indiscriminate uses may cause damage due to unwanted humidity and temperature changes.
Position the clocks on firm bases or fix them tightly on the wall to avoid unnecessary movement or to minimize the risk of dropping on the floor. A single fall may destroy its delicate inner mechanism, and in today’s age of smart digital watches, searching a person who can do the intricate repairs is equivalent to look for a needle in the haystack.
Hold the clock in its entirety while handling or moving to prevent falling off of loose parts.
Care has to be taken while positioning and using clocks that employ heavy pendulums or weights. If it is not otherwise necessary, the experts advise to disengage them from the intricate mechanism and just display the clock as a decorative piece.

Art Antiques

Paintings are pricey when it comes to decorating a home, due to their individualized nature, reflecting the artist’s style and era.

Care of Paintings

Simple dusting with soft dry bristle brush keeps the dust away from the painting surface. Avoid using a rough cloth and don’t try to scrub the surface of the painting. If the paint is chipping off, do not even brush or scrub it.
You may apply varnish. Most of the oil paintings are given a coat of varnish once the work is completed. Reapplication of varnish in every few years will help in protecting the painting. Paintings on paper need to be glazed or laminated.
Know the materials used in the painting and treat them accordingly since environmental conditions affect almost all the components used in making it.
Use clean gloves to handle and clean an antique art.
If the painting is made on paper and mounted on a wooden board, check for brownish discoloration around the edges of the board. Such stains mostly result from deterioration of poor-quality wood and may require careful replacement.
If you wish to display the picture on the wall, hang it on adequate support. Reinforce this support with extra hooks and wires, especially where a painting is heavy in its weight.
Secure the hooks to the frame to prevent damage to the art.

Wooden Antique Furnitures

Cleaning your antique wood furniture properly is essential. It can make a huge difference in the end result, either damaging it beyond repair and decreasing its worth, or improving it to a superior level. Accurately scrubbing can allow decorative wood decorations to stand out more, or uncover an impressive wood grain underneath. Taking care of and showing reverence for something that has been family-owned for a long time should be the foremost worry. What steps should you take to clean antique wooden furniture?

Determine the Wood Finish First

The first thing to do when figuring out how to clean antique wood furniture is to identify the kind of wood finish it has. In order to start removing the dirt, grime and mold that has been building up for years, you must first know what type of wood finish you are working with.

Figuring out what kind of finish the wood has is not too hard and requires a brief examination. Be sure to test out a place that is not very visible on the piece of furniture. By taking this precaution, we can be sure that any unforeseen issues won’t be detected. An effective place to conduct a test would be within a drawer or on the underside of an item. A check could be run on the rear side of the object when it is situated up against a wall.

Gather the necessary supplies to determine the wood finish on the antique wood furniture piece before beginning the cleaning process.

Wood Finish Testing Supplies

Denatured Alcohol: Choose denatured alcohol such as methylated spirits or a wood spirit. Denatured alcohol is basically ethanol with a few extra ingredients that make it a more aggressive substance. In other words, denatured alcohol is an excellent solvent for cleaning. However, it can be toxic. Be mindful when using this substance and test your antique furniture in a well-ventilated area.
Protective Gloves: Since denatured alcohol is toxic and can be absorbed through the skin, you should avoid touching the solvent directly. Protect your hands with a pair of gloves and wash your hands thoroughly directly after using them.
Cotton Swabs: Grab a cotton swab or two from your bathroom. However, make sure the cotton swab is made of 100 percent cotton. Why does this matter? It prevents other agents and artificial fibers from sticking to the wood.

Wood Finish Testing Instructions

It’s time to check out the finish on the antique furniture using the things you have gathered. Here are the basic steps:

Step One: Wearing the gloves, pour a minimal amount of denatured alcohol into a metal bowl or disposable cup. It only takes an ounce at most. Now, dip the cotton swab into the denatured alcohol, letting the fibers soak in the liquid a bit.
Step Two: Rub the cotton swab over a small area of the antique furniture piece. Remember to choose an area that is rarely seen, such as the back or bottom.
Step Three: Notice how the wood reacts to the denatured alcohol. Does the wood finish dissolve or does it remain the same and unchanged? What happens here can reveal a lot about your next cleaning steps.

How to Clean Antique Wood Furniture: Step by Step

Now that you are aware that your antique wood furniture is totally capable of being cleaned, here is a compilation of the supplies needed, with the accompanying step-by-step instructions. Nevertheless, if there are parts of your furniture with a higher concentration of mildew, there are certain steps you can take to clean it, as outlined below.

Ready to clean your antique wood furniture? This is what is required and how to handle it. To commence, be sure to take off any handles, buttons, or levers that could get in your way. If the items appear worn or damaged, you may replace them as well.

Cleaning Supplies

Oil Soap: Unlike a typical household soap, oil soap will both clean and moisturize the existing wood finish. Pick up a bottle of something reliable like Murphy’s oil soap.
Cotton Cloths: You will need at least two clean cotton cloths. However, while you will need at least one for cleaning and one for drying, it’s wise to grab yourself a few extra for both if the furniture piece is quite large.
Small Mixing Bowl: For containing your solution as you clean the piece.
Measuring Cup: To measure correctly and precisely.
Fork or Whisk: This is to mix the water and oil soap to create your cleaning solution.
Rubber Gloves: Wash and reuse the same gloves you used to test the finish. After cleaning the piece with oil soap, you’ll be glad you wore them.

Cleaning the Antique Wood Furniture

Step One: Create the cleaning solution. Put on the gloves while you handle the oil soap and for cleaning hereafter. Mix one ounce of oil soap with six ounces of water, stirring with a fork or whisking to create the solution.
Step Two: Place one of the cotton cloths into the solution, letting it soak. With the cloth or rag completely wet, wring out any excess liquid of the solution. You don’t want it oversaturated. You want just enough to clean off the grime and dirt.
Step Three: Now you are ready to start cleaning. As you begin, keep in mind that you want to start at the top of the antique wood furniture piece and work your way down. As you do so, work along the wood grain, moving the soapy cloth in circular motions. If the cloth becomes too dirty, grab a new cloth and start fresh, repeating the soaking and wringing step.
Step Four: When you finish cleaning the furniture piece, you want to ensure it is completely dry. So pick up a dry cloth or two and in the same fashion as step three, work your way from top to bottom, drying away any and all moisture. Use the same circular motions, too, working with the wood grain.

Conclusion

Vintage pieces for interior decor give a glimpse into history. They’ve historical, financial and sentimental value. They can give an elegant touch to your home, but they can be hard to keep in perfect condition. When you possess something, it is up to you to protect that piece of history – you must be sure to look after it with utmost care and attention.