Caring for Your Antique Furniture

First, humidity is one of the most damaging factors to any antique. The comfort provided by a warm, snug indoor environment sadly is terrible for aged furniture.

Due the fluctuating humidity levels caused by central heating, the wood making up antiques is naturally going to respond by expanding then contracting in order to be in equilibrium with its surroundings. Despite common misconception, it is not the swift changes throughout the day that will cause the most significant damages to an antique. In the fall and winter months, wood will usually shrink, and it will expand during the spring and summer. The continuation of this cycle will in time cause wood to split, crack and warp. Such changing of shape will also damage the finish by causing it to become brittle and flaky. A process known as "crazing"

Thankfully, these day one can easily create humidity levels that are constant by using a humidifier during the cold dry seasons, and a dehumidifier during the moist warmer seasons. You should also be careful where you put valuable pieces of furniture. Basements, attics, and heat and cooling sources can often amplify conditions. Maintaining room temperature and air circulation will aid in minimizing the environment's effect on antique furniture.

One way to fix crazing is by using a product called "Restore-A-Finish." This product does a wonderful job penetrating through the flaky finish and bringing out color and restoring gleam.

Sunlight is another major harming factor that will damage antique furniture. Much like sunlight effects human skin, it will cumulate and permanent wood. Exposure to sunlight for a lengthy period of time will obscure the finish's vibrant clarity and cause discoloring. The best way to avoid sunlight destruction is to simply keep furniture out of sunlight. Blinds, curtains, drapes, and even covering the antique with some kind of cloth will protect from the sunlight. There is also UV-filtering film that can be purchased and applied to a window.

Insect involvement in antique furniture can certainly be a pest. Unfortunately termites seem to favor old dry wood, the exact make up of antique furniture. Though they are most common in homes not furniture, if allowed, they will become serious enough to start infiltrating interior wood. The best way to prevent and treat a termite problem is hiring professional pest control.

An ally of the termite mainly found in Europe, the wood beetle is a horrid nemesis of antique furniture. Though less numerous in North America, the wood beetle can hide within furniture. It lays it eggs in side of wood. The larvae will eat there way through the wood creating multiple tunnels. After growing and eating its way though the wood, it will fly off and lay more eggs restarting the cycle. So if you plan obtaining antiques from Europe, be cautious as to preventing in infestation of your home by the wood beetle.

One obvious sign of a wood beetle is a collection of wood dust on the floor near the furniture. Another is if the item weighs less than you think it should, it might have been eaten away inside. The easiest way to get ride of an insect inhabitance of furniture is to isolate all infested objects outside on a few very cold, dry days.

Surface damage can be challenging to prevent if the piece of furniture gets used often. Most of the damage can be prevented by simply using coasters and mats and not placing wet items (cups, glasses, bottles, etc) onto the bare surface. Scratches are almost inevitable with furniture that is used often. If you must use a piece of antique furniture then NEVER slide anything across the surface. Various easy to use scratch repair products usually in the form of come kind of filling can be bought and applied to small, light scratches. However, it is best to let professionals repair deep, heavy scratches.

If anything should be spilled onto antique furniture, it should be wiped up thoroughly as soon as possible. If a strong chemical that could damage the finish or wood should be spilled, it should be cleaned up by dabbing not wiping. If candle wax is spilled onto the furniture, it needs to be allowed to dry, then gently removed with your finger nail or something of similar softness.

Finally, when moving and handling antique furniture, you obviously want to be careful and cautious. Old furniture will probably lack its original strength. Chairs need to be pick up not by the arms, but underneath the seat rather. Also, these old chairs should never be tilted back on. Large pieces of furniture should never be dragged or pushed because this only puts excess pressure on the legs. Whenever lifting any of furniture, it is always a good idea to use cloths or soft gloves at the point of contact between your hands and the furniture. Drawers and cabinets need to be opened using all of the handles.