Antique English
How to Take Care of Your Antique Wood Furniture
Antique wood furniture is probably one of the most highly valued furniture pieces in the market today. Antiques have a way of giving us rare glimpses of the old world and can seem to make history come alive again. Most antique pieces in the market are mainly valued for their historic significance and today, they are purchased either as functional furniture or a collectible piece.
This is the very reason why people who own these kinds of furniture always go the extra mile to maintain its luster and value. So if you plan to collect or purchase antique furniture anytime soon, here are some tips and secrets on how you can keep these pieces at their best shape.
Avoid Fluctuating Humidity
Fluctuation in humidity is perhaps one of the most damaging factors to antique wood furniture. This is because wood has the natural ability to respond to various humidity ranges by contracting or expanding itself. This can be very damaging for wooden furniture. Although brief and abrupt humidity changes can affect wooden furniture to a certain extent, the most damaging kinds of humidity fluctuations are the seasonal fluctuations. When exposed to overly hot or overly cold conditions at prolonged periods of time, the wood may crack, warp or split.
Protect Furniture from Insect Infestation
Insect infestation is equally damaging, not just on antique furniture, but on practically all kinds of wooden furniture – modern or old. Termites are one of the most common culprits that can infect your furniture and the rest of your house. But the good thing is: they are very easy to spot and are fairly easy to eradicate as well.
Another insect that is notorious for destroying priceless antique wood furniture is the wood beetle. It usually lays its eggs in the wood and the small hatchlings eat through them, creating tunnels all throughout furniture or columns. Wood beetles are not as easy to get rid of and the most effective solution by far is to subject them to sub-zero temperatures.
Sunlight Protection
The rays of the sun can also be damaging to your wooden furniture. It can tarnish a clear finished surface and turn it to yellow. The best possible way that you can do to protect your old wooden furniture from UV rays is to simply put them in areas with less sun exposure and draw your drapes or curtains when needed.
Regular Cleaning
A regular cleaning regimen can do wonders to your antique wood furniture. The best possible way to clean wooden furniture would be to simply use a duster or a clean cloth. If you do want to use wood polishes, choose all natural products that will not in any way harm your wood. Stay away from products with silicone oil because they can be damaging to wood as well. Furniture experts also recommend owners to wax their wooden antique pieces at least once every month. Wax serves as a good protective barrier against changing environmental conditions.
Sometimes, taking care of antique wooden furniture can take you time and money. But the priceless beauty that these pieces give out is something that is always worth preserving. So keep these tips in mind the next time you plan to buy a wooden antique piece.
About the Author
Dunleith Designs and Antiques is a shop for discerning, quality conscious buyers of antique wood furniture.
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