Tips & FAQs
Caring for your pieces
B
e careful
of the sun light! It can damage the wood and the finish on your furniture.
The surface temperature on your fine furniture when in direct sunlight can
exceed 140 degrees in the summertime. That's hot enough to bake the finish
to a crackle and dry the wood and cause it to shrink and crack.
T
ry
to monitor the humidity level in your home and keep it fairly constant
throughout the year by either humidifying in the drier winter season and
dehumidifying
in the more humid warmer seasons. We recommend a digital hygrometer to
get a good idea what percentage the humidity level is. BTW between 40 and
50%
is best for your furniture, artwork and yourself!
K
eep any loose pieces of wood or veneers which have come off your furniture in a Ziploc bag and put it in the piece of furniture so it doesn't
get misplaced. It will save you quite a bit of money when you call us in
to repair the item and it keeps your furniture as original as possible.
A
s
an antique furniture restorer and appraiser, one of the most commonly asked
questions is how to care for heirlooms and fine furniture. When cleaning
a piece that has been neglected and the dirt is visible, a mild detergent
or oil soap will do nicely. However, keep in mind that there are two kinds
of grime. The first is dissolved by water and the second is removed with
mineral spirits. Water base cleaners will remove dirt but not wax buildup
or grease, mineral spirits will. Mineral Spirits will not disturb most
finishes and will not raise the grain. It is safe to use on shellac finishes
whereas
water is not. With a little elbow grease and mineral spirits you can clean
just about any antique or fine piece.
A
n annual application of a quality paste wax is the best way to protect
the old and delicate finishes on you antiques. It also makes it easier
to maintain a "glowing" finish by just lightly buffing the surfaces once
in a while when dusting. But don't use any furniture polishes on a waxed
surface it will soften the wax and
make a smeared mess! We can come to your home and perform an annual cleaning
and waxing of your furniture. Just call us to schedule it, or click here
to schedule a visit via the web.
I
f the brass hardware on your furniture is darkening from oxidation, do not clean it with a polish while it is on the piece. Carefully remove the brasses to polish and replace them when done. Brass polishes will damage the wood finish. We'd
be happy to come to your home and do this for you. Please call to inquire.
T
o
remove candle wax, use a hair dryer on low heat to soften the wax and then
scrape wax off with a credit card. Clean with mineral spirits and apply
a paste wax and buff to return the shine.
T
o contact us to discuss how we can help you, click here.
Please check back to this page from time to time for more useful tips.
Moving Furniture
M
uch
damage occurs when objects are moved. This can be avoided if the item's construction
is wholly understood. Failing that there are a few simple rules that will help
avoid embarrassing moments:
F
urniture should be lifted by its strongest units or rails: chairs, including arm chairs, by their seat rails, tables, by the rails/aprons below the top or by the legs; cabinets and chests by their lowest rails or at "foot level" and
not by the top.
I
n principle NEVER DRAG furniture, not even for an inch! If there is no alternative, then the dragging force must be as close to the floor as possible. This can be eased by purchasing some type of large nylon "disks" to
put under the feet. These are usually sold at hardware stores and home centers.
W
hen transporting furniture whether it's
across town or cross country, any known repairs should be done prior to the
move, this will avoid further damage to the piece.
T
o contact us to discuss how we can help you, click here.