Cleaning guide for vintage furniture

Yes we know how beautiful it looks!  Apart from its visual appeal, vintage furniture is also an economically sound and environmentally sustainable option of decoration. You may find both simple and intrinsic designs and patterns of furniture in the antique and vintage market. Now if you wish to keep their aesthetic appearance intact through the years, you would be required to keep its proper care. Here are some simple steps to help you start right away.

(Note- If you have expensive, valuable antique furniture, it would be wise to first contact a professional curator or antique restorer.)

Moving on, here is your step by step guide:

Step 1. Wherever you buy your vintage furniture in Perth from, it’s highly likely that it would come with a coat of dust or accumulated wax; and it is imperative to get it stripped off either layer if you wish to clean or restore it further. What you need to do, is use some branded wax cleaner or paint thinner to get the wax and dust layer off. Make sure that you use thinner in a well ventilated room with facemasks and gloves to protect your skin and prevent inhalation of toxic fumes.

Step 2. For cleaning old wax you need to use a fine steel wool soaked in paint thinner and rub it gently on the wood to liquefy the wax accumulation. Now use a clean cotton rag to wipe the liquid. The most important thing to remember is not to rub harshly as this would leave nasty scratch marks on your furniture.

Step 3. Now use some dish wash liquid in warm water and with the help of a cloth rag soaked in it, wipe off the entire furniture surface for any leftover waxy residue. Also make sure that you do not let the wood soak any water since this can potentially harm your furnishing item.

Step 4. If you wish to paint your furniture, this would be the correct time. You can consult the internet for the latest trends or visit a nearby store to get ideas for various colour patterns.

Step 5. After drying the paint you would have to reapply the wax on the furniture. Applying wax proves better than oil based polishes since they do not provide any protection against dust and minor scratches.

Follow these simple steps at least once a year and believe us, you would have the best vintage furniture in Perth to boast of. If you have any new ideas or suggestions regarding maintenance of vintage furniture, share them with us through your comments.