Kenneth Lewis Blog

Today, antique furniture makes for beautiful art. But antiques are also beautiful and very popular as home furnishings and décor. Many families have antique pieces that have been passed down as heirlooms. If you have a piece of genuine antique furniture or a family heirloom in your home, here are some interesting and successful ways to clean, care for, and preserve your prized possessions.

Dust your antique furniture along the wood grain with a very soft cloth. If the furniture surface is dirty, a mild soap and water solution is perfect for cleaning. After the furniture has dried, dab some solvent-based cleaning wax in a cloth and clean your antique furniture with it. Follow this step by wiping it with a dry cloth later.

Have you wondered what you can do with spoiled milk? Milk, even if it is spoiled, can be used to remove dirt from wooden furniture. Just dip a cloth in the milk, and then wipe the surface of furniture. Finally, clean again with water.

Wrap a bundle of moist tea leaves in a soft cloth to wipe down the furniture, or you can use plain, cooled tea. This makes furniture more smooth and bright.

If you have an old wood desk or table that has ink stains, you can clean it off with white vinegar. Use a soft cloth with a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar and rub it on the furniture surface. This is particularly good on mahogany and solid wood furniture.

Clean rough and uneven surfaces or carvings with a brush or a vacuum.  Lemon oil helps to preserve antique pieces, but it is not suitable to clean furniture, as it will dry and darken the wood.

Kenneth C Lewis specializes in furniture and wood repair for antiques. Whether it is enhancement, refinishing or restoration,  we offer dramatic results, performing most repairs utilizing advanced products and processes.