Little Known Ways to Clean Antique Tables

People who own an antique table know how difficult it is to refinish and clean it. Since it is an expensive piece of furniture a small mistake can prove detrimental and may end up reducing its value financially and aesthetically.

So here are a few easy tips that you can follow while refinishing or cleaning your antique tables.

Cleaning:

The most important thing to remember while cleaning antique furniture is to not use material that will damage or stain the paint or veneer.

The dirt and grime that accumulates on antique furniture over time can be attributed to the oil that we leave behind from our skin and from our cooking. This combines with the dust particles in the environment to form a layer of dirt on the surface.

Gilded

If your table has areas that are gilded (use gold or silver leaf) you need to be particularly careful because these areas are easily prone to damage. All you can do here is lightly dust these parts with a very soft dry cloth or a soft brush. But before you attempt cleaning the visible areas always try out your ministration on a hidden part to check for unfavorable reaction

Wooden

The wooden or veneer surface will usually have some water soluble dirt and stains accumulated. You will need to use a mild soapy solution to clean this part.

The soap that you use should preferably be liquid dish washing soap that is mild, using a detergent soap or the dish washing bar may damage the furniture. When cleaning soak a soft cotton cloth in a little but of the solution and wipe the surface gently with it.

Avoid using the solution on parts where the veneer is chipped or the surface is already damaged. If you feel the soap solution is not giving you the desired results than you can go for a stronger chemical solution. The best choice would be to opt for a phosphate free TSP solution which is readily available at most hardware stores.

Paint

If the area that you are trying to clean seems particularly sticky this may be caused due to lacquer damage and trying to clean hard will just damage the paint or stained wood underneath. So you need to stop cleaning with a water based solution immediately if you see the finish disappearing since the water based solution will cause the wood to swell.

A solvent based solution will be a safer option in this case. Naphtha which is a good choice is available in most hardware stores. You just need to be careful while using it since it has a very strong odor and should be used with gloves and in an open space. It is important to always use a soft cloth simply because a synthetic or metal scrub will remove the finish.

Once you are done cleaning the surface should look bright and should not have any stain marks. If the surface looks scratched you can use paste wax to brighten it

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!