How to Clean & Restore Antique Wood

If you enjoy collecting antique wood furniture and architectural woodwork like railings, you know that over time the woodwork can become dull and coated with grime. When that happens, it is necessary to clean it and restore the beauty of the original woodwork. But restoring antique wood is a process that needs to be handled carefully. Before trying to clean and restore any antique wood furnishings, research the proper and safe ways to bring your woodwork back to life.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Several clean cloths
• Water
• Furniture cleaner
• Old toothbrush
• Flour
• Salt
• Vinegar
• Paste wax
• Artists paintbrush
• Shoe brush

Instructions

1. Apply a very mild soap and water solution to the woodwork to see whether any grime or dirt is removed using this process. Use regular, mild dish soap, not laundry or dishwasher soap. Starting with a mild dish soap solution will clean any surface dirt or water-soluble grime from the furniture without harming it. Do not allow the soap solution to sit on the surface of the wood. Apply small amounts and wipe off with a clean cloth immediately.

2. Apply a good, commercial-quality furniture cleaner to the woodwork with clean cloths. Follow the directions on the label for exact application procedures. The furniture cleaner should strip away any old layers of wax buildup.

3. Apply a small amount of the furniture cleaner to an old toothbrush and use the brush to clean around crevices and curves in the hard-to-reach areas of your woodwork. You can also use cotton swabs or even a piece of string to reach very detailed sections of wood furniture.

4. Clean antique brass hardware by mixing a paste of flour, vinegar and salt, and carefully cleaning the hardware using a soft clean cloth without getting the paste on the woodwork. If possible, remove the hardware from the furniture before cleaning and then reattach hardware when you are done.

5. Restore the beauty of the old wood by applying a thin layer of paste wax over the woodwork with a small artists paintbrush. Buff up the shine on the woodwork by using a shoe brush.

Tips & Warnings

• Lemon juice can also be used on old furniture to remove any sticky substances such as gum or old tape.

• Always test the solution you will be using by applying a tiny bit to an unseen portion of the woodwork, to find out if it has any adverse effects on the woodwork.