How to revive wood, especially if it’s old? And, most importantly, how to clean antique wood? These are common questions for those who have antique furniture at home, whether purchased from antique shops and flea markets or inherited.
Owning antique wooden furniture is a great privilege. However, it requires careful attention to provide the necessary care to enhance its beauty and ensure its longevity. Proper cleaning is undoubtedly one of the most crucial steps in the care routine for antique wooden furniture. Here are some useful tips to do it effectively.
Cleaning Antique Wood: Banishing Dust
Dust is one of the main enemies of antique furniture, as it easily settles into crevices, dulling and greasing the entire surface of the object. To eliminate dust, a nearly daily cleaning routine is necessary. Use a soft cloth, especially on glossy antique wooden furniture. For those polished with spirit, in addition to daily dusting, it’s recommended to perform a quick but effective treatment about twice a month. Pass a mixture of water and emulsified wax on the surface of the furniture. A few spritzes, and the wood will appear more vibrant and shiny.
For lacquered antique wood cleaning, the suggestion is to:
- Dust the furniture surface with a soft duster daily.
- Wipe with a damp cloth once a week.
If you encounter woodworms, and they are few, you can try injecting the hole with an anti-woodworm product. If there are many, our advice is to consult a professional restorer. Only in this way can you be sure of a correct job, which should be carried out within their workshop.
Effectively Cleaning Wood
There are numerous specific products on the market for taking care of wood. Make sure to purchase solutions suitable for wooden surfaces to avoid potential damage. For cleaning wood without harming it, the best advice is to use neutral wax and polish it with a woolen cloth. It’s better to avoid DIY experiments, which, if not done by experts, could ruin this precious material completely.
If the furniture surface is particularly vulnerable, and there are cracks or missing pieces, the advice is to:
- Use wax filler sticks, available in all wood shades, to fill them.
- Treat the furniture with a cleaner formulated specifically for wood.
A specific product can be applied to antique wooden furniture using a clean, wrung-out cotton cloth, making circular movements that follow the wood’s grain as closely as possible.
