By its very definition, antique furniture will have been around for at least 100 years (and often longer), so you’ll want to ensure it continues to stay in the best condition for hundreds more years to come.
Proper periodic cleaning will help you maintain your antique or reproduction pieces and keep them looking their best in your interiors. We provide some top tips on the best ways you can do this.
Should You Clean Antique Furniture?
You may be worried that cleaning antique furniture will cause damage or disturb the important heritage of the piece, but cleaning (when done right) will actually help you ensure its longevity and can even increase its value.
Approach cleaning antiques in much the same way you would approach cleaning any other high-quality furniture – with a gentle touch and with the appropriate cleaning supplies.
How Clean Antique Wood Furniture
Chances are the antique furniture you’re looking to clean is made from some kind of wood. Luckily, if you’re set up with the right basic equipment and a bit of know-how, cleaning antique wood is relatively easy.
Establish the Wood’s Finish
Before you do anything, you might need to establish what kind of finish your furniture has. If you don’t already know, a simple test will reveal it.
Dip a cotton bud in a small amount of denatured alcohol (i.e. a wood spirit) and apply it to a small portion of the furniture that is rarely seen.
The way the wood reacts will tell you what kind of finish has been used.
If the finish dissolves: It is likely a shellac finish which can be more challenging to clean and restore properly and will probably call for the help of a professional.
If the finish remains the same: It is probably a polyurethane, lacquer, varnish or oil finish, which are usually pretty simple to clean yourself.
For General Cleaning
Gently dust the piece with a soft, dry cotton cloth to remove any surface dust. You can do this part throughout the year as you would with contemporary furniture, just take extra care not to scratch anything.
Put on some gloves and use a very mild, diluted soap to carefully clean the surface of the furniture. Again, use a soft cloth, dipping it sparingly in the cleaning solution and wipe it lightly across the piece so as not to introduce too much moisture onto the wood. Oil soap mixed with water can be good for cleaning and protecting wood while improving the wood’s natural shine.
It can be a good idea to test your diluted cleaner on a patch of furniture that is hidden from sight just to be sure that it isn’t going to damage the wood – provided you are using a mild soap or purpose-made wood/oil soap, you should have no issues.
Use this cloth and soap method to work your way all over the furniture piece, using gentle circular motions along the wood grain to lift up dirt. If your cloth starts to get too dirty, replace it with another as you go.
Once you’re happy the entire piece has been wiped down, go over your furniture with a completely dry cloth to get rid of any remaining moisture.
Keep in mind that you’re not necessarily ‘washing’ the wood, just providing a gentle cleaning to manage surface dirt.
For Dirtier Furniture
If you’re dealing with more stubborn dirt, grime, stains or even mildew, you may need to use a slightly stronger cleaning solution.
One tried and tested method is to mix four parts white spirit with one part linseed oil, then use a cloth to wipe this solution onto your piece much like in the steps above.
Adding a Wax
To finish off your piece after cleaning, you may choose to apply an additional wax coating to protect the wood and give it a further sheen.
Use a clean dedicated wax cloth to thinly apply your chosen wax (a beeswax furniture wax can work well).
Once the wax has dried and hardened down, use a second cloth to buff it to get that nice shine.
How to Clean Antique Lacquer Furniture
If you’re dealing with something like Chinese lacquer furniture, you can use the same sort of general cleaning tips stated above, ensuring you use soft cloths and gentle soaps or cleaners.
If you want to restore its shine, you can use a silicone-based polish occasionally.
Professional Cleaning & Restoration For Antique Furniture
If your furniture experiences more troublesome damage or you’re just not confident cleaning it yourself, it may be worth getting in touch with an expert. Extensive restoring and refinishing is best left to skilled craftspeople who can do your antique justice.
All of the furniture here at Indigo Antiques is lovingly handpicked and restored at our workshop in Wiltshire. This means we know every piece inside and out, so can advise you on any cleaning techniques that may be unique to your purchase.
The team uses traditional techniques and materials to ensure each of our Oriental antique pieces retains its character and heritage – we are interested in preserving the furniture and honouring its past rather than making it look brand new again.
We can provide a restoration service for Oriental antiques if you have something that needs a bit of a touch-up.
Thinking of expanding your antique furniture selection? Infuse your spaces with the charm and stunning craftsmanship of our traditional Chinese furniture and more. Whether you’re seeking a striking centrepiece or some finishing touch accessories, we stock an extensive selection from India, China, Tibet, Japan and Korea.
For a bit of inspiration, see our guide on styling Chinese furniture.
