How to Clean Antique Furniture

Co-authored by Tanglewood Sue

Last Updated: December 8, 2022 References Approved

Valuable antique furniture will have a layer of grime on its surface from years of exposure to dust, dirt and fumes. If you want to clean up antique furniture, be gentle. You do not want to damage the furniture by using harsh chemical cleaners. Make sure to maintain the furniture after cleaning it by dusting and polishing it regularly.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning the Furniture

1
Choose a mild cleaner. To start, choose a mild cleaner. As you want to keep antique furniture as damage-free as possible, harsh chemicals are a bad idea.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Tanglewood Sue
DIY & Upcycling Specialist
Expert Interview. 24 March 2021} A mild dish soap diluted in water is a safe choice for most antiques. Use dish soap intended for hand washing dishes. Soap that you would use in a dishwasher is more acidic.^{[2]
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- If dish soap is not successfully removing grime, it's okay to opt for a slightly stronger cleaner. Something like Murphy's Oil would work, but use only a small amount. You should not use an abundance of oily products on older furniture.^{[3]
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- Some experts feel furniture paste wax, which you can find at most hardware stores or department stores, is a better option for cleaning antiques than oil.^{[4]
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2
Rub the surface down with a soft cloth and your chosen cleaner. To start, wet a rag with a light amount of your chosen cleaner. Gently rub down the surface of the furniture. Keep wiping the surface with the same rag until the rag no longer picks up new dirt or debris.^{[5]
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- Avoid scrubbing, as this can damage the finish of old furniture. Use gentle wiping motions instead.^{[6]
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- Move the rag in the direction of the grain of the wood.
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3
Remove stuck on stains with steel wool. Some areas may have stuck on stains or grime. You can use steel wool to remove these stains as long as you use #0000 wool and work at the stains using gentle motions.^{[7]
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- Rub in the direction of the wood grain. Keep rubbing until the unwanted dirt and debris is gone.
- Make sure not to use too much force. This can damage the finish.
4
Use a toothbrush in hard-to-reach places. Some areas in the furniture, like corners or curves, may be hard to reach with a rag. For these areas, use a toothbrush. Dip a toothbrush in your cleaning solution. Following the grain, scrub down hard-to-reach areas until dirt and grime is gone.^{[8]
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5
Wipe down the furniture and allow it to dry. Once you're finished cleaning, you can wipe down the furniture with a dry rag. Use gentle motions to sop up most of the liquid until the furniture is relatively dry to the touch. Allow the furniture to air dry a bit before continuing with the cleaning process.^{[9]
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Polish the furniture when finished. Once the furniture is dry, add a layer of polish. This will make the finish glow and give the furniture a nice look. To polish, simply take a clean cloth and buff the furniture until it glows.^{[10]
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Research source} Furniture polishes, especially silicone-based polishes, are best avoided on antiques.^{[11]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Maintaining Antique Furniture

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Dust antique furniture regularly. To prevent the buildup of grime, dust your furniture regularly. When doing routine dusting in your home, take a rag and dust off any debris built up on antique furniture.
- If you're using dusting sprays, go for a mild spray or no spray at all on antiques.
2
Keep antique furniture out of sunlight. UV light is very damaging to antiques. Therefore, it's a bad idea to allow your antiques to be exposed to sunlight.^{[12]
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- Do not leave antiques outside, especially in shaded areas.
- Do not store antiques near a window, where they may be exposed to sunlight from outdoors.
3
Use a humidifier in a dry environment. Antique furniture is affected by moisture in the air. Changes in humidity can cause wood to shrink and crack. Keep a humidifier in the room where you store your antiques. This will keep the humidity stable, minimizing the negative affects of changing in moisture in the air.^{[13]
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4
Remove antique furniture right away if you suspect a pest infestation. Antique furniture can be very valuable. Therefore, it's a bad idea to allow it to be exposed to pests. Certain types of bugs, like beetles, as well as rats and mice will chew through antique furniture. In the event you notice a pest infestation in your home, remove antique furniture right away. Store the furniture elsewhere until the infestation is resolved.^{[14]
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- Check for any loose or damaged bits before moving antique furniture. You should not carry furniture holding areas that are wobbly or dislodged.
- Carry chairs by the seat rails. Carry tables by the apron or legs. Always carry furniture, especially large furniture, across the floor instead of dragging it.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Avoiding Pitfalls with Cleaning and Care

1
Consult an antiques expert before attempting to restore or alter old furniture. If you have an antique that's pricey or a collector's item, do not attempt to restore it on your own. Talk to a local antiques dealer and ask for advice or tips. If you're not familiar with restoring furniture, you may want to hire a professional instead of attempting to restore an antique on your own.^{[15]
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2
Test your cleaner on a small portion of the furniture first. You want to make sure your chosen cleaner will not harm your antiques. Test a small amount on a tiny area of the furniture that is not easy to see, such as underneath the seat of a chair. Wait a few hours and check. If you do not notice any damage or discoloration to the furniture, this cleaner is probably safe to use.^{[16]
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3
Avoid using oils on very old furniture. Murphy's Oil, when diluted, is usually safe to use on antiques.^{[17]
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Research source} However, with very old wood furniture, opt for wax over oil-based products. Wax-based cleaners are a better option, as wax will serve to protect wood as well as clean it.^{[18]
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4
Leave paint on furniture alone. It's common to notice old or chipping paint on antiques. Your first impulse may be to remove such discolorations. However, this is a bad idea and may negatively affect the value of your furniture.^{[19]
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- Collectors usually want antiques as close to original as possible, including any chipped or stained paint. If you're intending to one day sell your antique furniture, you should especially avoid altering the paint.

Community Q&A

Question

Is beeswax okay to use on an antique wooden carved table?

Community Answer

Sure! Beeswax has many anti-aging properties that help preserve the natural look of your antique.
Question

How do I get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke from furniture?

Community Answer

Febreeze works well. Use the kind in a plastic bottle with a trigger sprayer. I prefer the unscented. If the smell is inside drawers or cabinets, spray thoroughly, and leave them open for a few day to thoroughly dry and air out. If you can still smell it, a bowl of coffee beans or grounds shut inside a drawer or cabinet will also deodorize. I've used coffee to destroy a lot of bad smells in antiques, not just tobacco smoke. I've also used sliced apples to remove smoke smells from inside my cabinets after a kitchen fire. Set the slices in a glass or ceramic dish so the juice doesn't damage your wood. Close the doors and leave them for a few weeks.
Question

I have a 200 year old antique cedar chest. How do I treat it?

Community Answer

Wash it with lukewarm water without soap. If you need soap, use it very diluted. Afterwards, dry with a cloth, and dust occasionally.

Warnings

When using any harsh chemicals like paint thinner, do it in a well-ventilated room, wearing protective gloves and a face mask.

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