Every piece of furniture was originally intended to be used. Whether it was a chair to sit on, a table to sit at or a dresser to fill those objects had a practical purpose. However, when a well-made piece of furniture survives decades of use, it might fall into the antique category. At that point, those pieces aren’t so much practical as they are investments. If you’re making an investment in antique furniture, then you’re going to want to take proper care of them. Here’s some good advice for that goal:

Avoid Spray Polishes

Regular dusting works wonders for keeping antique furniture clean. If there has been some dirt or grime build up, then use warm water and mild dish soap to clean. Just be careful not to use too much water and to wipe the piece dry with a soft cloth.

Apply Paste Wax

A high grade paste wax is recommended to protect the finish. Apply a thin layer and wait for five minutes. After that, buff lightly with a cloth. Wait for 30 more minutes and buff again with a bit more “elbow grease.” You should see the shine come back to the piece then.

Keep Furniture Out of the Sun

The sun that blasts through your window can reach temperatures of 140 degrees. That much heat can literally cook a fine finish. This won’t happen in a day but constant exposure over months and years can cause the finish on that piece to fade. The heat can also dry out the wood causing it to crack. Not only should you keep your antique furniture away from direct sunlight but they should also be at least two feet away from any heat vent or radiator.

Remove Hardware

If you want to polish the metal fixtures like knobs on a drawer, then you should remove them first. Anything you would be using to get those pieces clean can damage the surrounding wood.

As you take care of your antique furniture, you’ll probably be adding pieces to your collection. To help make room in your home or in storage, you’ll want to hire Junk King Contra Costa. These are the professional junk haulers who can swiftly take away all the furniture that would never achieve antique status. One junk clearing session with Junk King Contra Costa is all it will take to open up room in your home for special antique furniture pieces.