How to Clean an Antique Bird Cage

An antique bird cage is a work of art and a true collector's treasure. Antique bird cages come in a variety of styles and some types are very rare. Most are made of brass, iron, or wood. Since antique bird cages are often expensive and delicate, you want to take extra care not to damage the piece during a cleaning. Rare and intricate pieces should only be cleaned by an expert. If your cage has severely tarnished brass, rusting iron, porous wood, or soiled wicker, you should have an expert restore your piece,If the cage is only slightly dirty or tarnished, you can attempt to clean it yourself. Sometimes dusting with a soft cloth and brush will sufficiently clean the cage. When you need more than a dusting, a mild soap may be necessary. This guide will help you safely clean brass, iron, wicker, and wood antique bird cages.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mild soap designed for antiques and artifacts
• Soft brush
• Dull paring knife
• 4 soft cloths
• Distilled water
• 2 pails
• A towel

How to Clean an Antique Bird Cage

1. Place the cage on a towel. Use a soft brush with gentle bristles to carefully clean away any dust or debris from the cage.

2. Take a clean soft cloth and lightly wipe away any remaining dust not removed by the brush.

3. Prepare the mild soap solution with distilled water, following the soap manufacturer's instructions, in a pail.

4. Dip a clean soft cloth in the soap mixture until wet. Remove the cloth and wring out the excess water over the pail. The cloth should be damp, not dripping water.

5. Gently wipe the entire cage with the damp cloth. You may need to re-wet the cloth with the soap mixture occassionally. Remember the cloth should never be dripping wet. Repeat until clean to satifaction. Be extra careful cleaning wicker which can easily break. Wood cages should be cleaned with as little water as possible. If tarnish is present on a brass cage, you will need to carefully apply pressure as you clean the affected area. It may take awhile to remove the tarnish. Do not submerge an antique cage in water.

6. If dirt spots are not responding to the soap and water, take a dull paring knife and gently scrape away the debris. Be careful not to scrape the cage.

7. Fill a second pail with distilled water.

8. Wet a clean soft cloth with the distilled water. Wipe away the soap residue. Repeat until all the soap is removed. Remember not to submerge the cage in water.

9. Carefully wipe the cage with a fresh soft cloth until dry. You can apply more pressure as you dry a brass cage to create shine. Be gentle when drying fragile wicker and wood cages. The cage should now be clean and beautiful.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask a reputable antique dealer or your local museum to recommend experts qualified to clean antiques.
• Take a cage that needs more than gentle cleaning to an expert.
• If you have any doubts about being able to safely clean an antique, consult an expert.
• Purchase mild soap solutions designed for cleaning artifacts and antiques. The soap is available from hardware stores and conservation product suppliers. Your local museum or antique dealer can recommend specific brands and where to buy them.
• Use gloves to handle brass cages to keep off smudges between dusting and cleaning.
• Dust the cage between cleanings with a soft cloth and soft brush when needed.
• Cloth diapers make great cloths for cleaning delicate antiques.
• Never keep birds in these type of cages. Antique bird cages are only meant for ornamental use because the chemicals used in early cage manufacturing can be toxic to birds.
• Do not use common commercial brass cleaners and polishers on antique brass. These type of cleaners may permanently damage the cage.
• Wood or wicker cages cannot be submerged in water. Only use a damp soft cloth for cleaning and gently dry with another soft cloth immediately.
• Only clean the cage when necessary to minimize the chance of damage from over-cleaning. Dusting should keep the cage clean for a long time.
• Tap water can be harsh on antiques. Distilled water is much gentler.

Resources

• How to clean brass antiques and artifacts
• How to clean wood antiques and artifacts