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Step 1
Avoid extreme dryness, especially in the winter months. Dryness will cause cracking and splitting of wood. Turning on the whole house humidifier in central heating will provide the ideal environment. If you don't have a whole house humidifier, a room humidifier will provide a good alternative.
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Step 2
Keep antiques away from heat sources such as radiators, fireplaces, or any heaters of some type like pellet stoves. Constant and above normal home temperature heating will cause the wood to warp. Also keep furniture away from direct sunlight. Move the furniture or redirect the heat to avoid heat source problems. A redirecting example would be to buy vent deflectors to direct air flow in a particular direction.
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Step 3
Apply clear hard wax to the antique at least once a year. There are so many brands and different types. Research for hard wax in the internet to get an idea of what to buy for your furniture's wood and finish.
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Step 4
Do not use wax or polishes containing silicon. They are difficult to remove. When you want to apply new wax, you should remove the old wax with a mild non-alkaline soap and water solution.
