Caring for Antique Wooden Furniture

Keep a Rich Glow with Bees Wax, Even Humidity Levels and Mainenance

Aug 25, 2009
Lorraine Syratt

Antique Buffet with Rich Patina - Lorraine Syratt

Antique wood furniture isn't difficult to care for with good habits and regular maintenance of dusting and waxing. The original glow will continue to add warmth.

Very old furniture may have a rich glow from layers of beeswax polished into it, a testament to the women of the past who were stay-at-home mothers and whose homemaking skills were exemplary. Men and women today can still care for their wood antiques with the same attention and continue to enjoy that warmth in the old wood.

Dusting Antique Wood Furniture

Dust rags get caught on veneered edges and can lift the veneer. Antique furniture often has components which allow a dust rag to catch and pull at them. A light feather dusting is best with a very soft brush in the awkward areas with intricate carvings.

Furniture Polish and Wax

If it wasn't for that care and attention paid in the past, the finish would be worn and dry-looking. It would have to be stripped of its finish to begin again. Paste wax is the better choice for polishing over spray polish. It gets into the wood, preserving it. Spray polish only offers a sheen.

Beeswax on Antique Wood Furniture

Beeswax is ideal for polishing antique wooden furniture. Dab a cheesecloth into the wax and scoop up a small amount with the tip of your fingers within the cloth. Rub the wax in gently along the grain of the wood until that rich glow and shine reappears. With each wax and polish, the homeowner will be building up a seal that continues to protect the wood and preserve it.

Antique Furniture Hardware

Brass or other antique hardware attached to wood furniture should simply be dusted and left to age naturally for that old patina. If a collector has acquired a piece of furniture with very rusty hardware, he or she will want to take measures to have it cleaned.

Brass can be brought up bright and shiny with steel wool, but if the piece is very valuable, a restorer may be the best option. "Bright and shiny," may not be what the collector wants for the piece. Some antique furniture loses its value if it has been over-restored.

Temperature, Humidity and Wood

If the environment is too dry or if there is too much humidity in the home, wood furniture can react to those changes. The temperature and humidity levels in the environment must remain constant from winter to summer.

Many people have experienced problems with antique furniture shipped from England. In England, the humidity level in old Welsh dressers or Jacobite tables has been constant for centuries. The sudden change to a dryer climate has proven to warp some pieces and this is true when the furniture is moved from one enclosed environment to another.

If the homeowner or collector is buying antique wood furniture from England, it's essential for the longevity of the piece, to have slightly higher humidity levels in the home.

Avoid Damage to Antique Wood Furniture

Furniture restorers can be expensive. Scratches, stains and chips can be disastrous and should be avoided. Accidents do happen, but preventative measures may help to lessen them.

Doilies hide that glow of the wood, so many people today are adding felt to the underside of the ornaments displayed on the piece. It's a good way to avoid scratches.
Never place a vase of flowers on antique furniture without protection. Water can damage the surface.
When putting the silver cutlery back into the buffet or sideboard, don't lay them on top to sort them. Metal scratches and dents.
Take care when vacuuming around antique wood furniture. Some woods dent very easily. Over time, the constant bumping can destroy the finish with scratches and dents.

Using Antique Wood Furniture

All the antiques in the home should be used and enjoyed. The home is not a museum. The things brought into it are their because the homeowner loves them. If the homeowner has only one piece of antique furniture, caring for it with regular cleaning maintenance will add to its longevity and become an heirloom for future generations.