How to gently and effectively clean antique upholstered furniture

Antique furniture is not just the pride of the owner and an indicator of aesthetic taste, but also the source of many problems. Vintage furnishings are harmed by the slightest increase or decrease in temperature and humidity in the room, excess sunlight and other factors. Antique furniture is cared for according to strict rules. Study them to maximize the life of expensive items.

How to remove dust

Never use a damp cloth. Dry cleaning is the key to the safety of rare furniture made of untreated wood. When cleaning, simply wipe off the dust with a soft, natural cloth. For carved parts, use brushes or brushes to clean every curve.

Advice
To ensure that dust settles on antiques as little as possible, use special dust-repellent sprays. They are sprayed evenly onto a clean surface.

Magazine purity-en.htgetrid.com recommends wiping antique furniture of dust and dirt as often as possible to prevent it from accumulating.

Cleaning parts

How to clean handles or metal trims? To make bronze and brass shine, wipe them with a cloth soaked in ammonia. Use a soft cloth such as flannel.

Metal fittings can be rubbed with a slice of lemon. Polish the part and secure the result with ammonia solution.

First try cleaning copper and steel without using any chemicals.In case of blackening, greening and other persistent stains, it is better to contact a special service. This is universal advice for those whose property is especially valuable.

Do not polish gold-plated or silver-plated parts. Ivory elements also require special treatment. Old material becomes very brittle. Do not rub, but carefully brush away dirt with a dry or damp cloth (a weak soap solution is suitable here).

When treating metal, try not to allow the cleaning agent to come into contact with the base material of the furniture. Also carry out the test on inconspicuous areas: folk remedies are not suitable for all antiques.

Cushioned furniture

To care for upholstered furniture you will need a vacuum cleaner and a special fabric attachment. The device will allow you to clean even hard-to-reach places - the gaps between the back, arms and seat, areas under buttons, drapery.

Important
Wet cleaning is also not recommended for vintage upholstery samples.

How to maintain the integrity of materials

A vintage chair upholstered in leather needs to be soaked periodically to prevent cracks from appearing. A mixture of olive oil and vinegar (in a ratio of 1 to 2), a simple hand cream or special formulations are suitable. The frequency of procedures is once every 1-2 months.

Old wood also needs impregnation. To do this, use ordinary wax. Heat the substance and gently rub it into the wood using a soft cloth. When all the parts are processed, go over them with a dry cloth.

If the varnish has worn down to the wood, then invite a specialist restorer.

What not to do. Storage rules

A few simple rules of storage and care that any self-respecting antiques collector should know:

Avoid stain removers, vinegar and other popular cleaning techniques. Modern chemical polishes can easily ruin rare antique wood.
Do not place wooden furniture near radiators and heaters. This causes the tree to delaminate. The minimum permissible distance is 0.5 m.
Antiques quickly fade under the sun's rays. Use curtains made of thick fabric.
Monitor the humidity level in the room: it should remain stable at 50-60%. In winter, due to heating systems, this figure drops, so you will have to install humidifiers.
The recommended temperature range is from 15 to 20° C.
Protection against mold is not only a stable level of heat and humidity, but also regular access to fresh air.
To prevent wooden cabinet parts from sagging, try to place them on a level floor. The same goes for storing various items inside: use, but do not overload the furniture.
If suddenly small holes or wood dust are found on the tree, then sound the alarm: you have pests. Only calling special insecticidal services will help. Inspect antiques regularly and do not violate storage conditions.

The rules for maintaining antique furniture are quite simple. Don't let laziness and carelessness deprive you of antique valuables.