5 Tips for Maintaining your Antique Wooden Table

Nov 5, 2014

Here are five tips for maintaining your antique wooden table. One of the most stunning pieces of furniture to have in any home is an antique wooden table. There is nothing like the solidarity and feel of an antique wooden table. There is an aura about it that dominates a dining table or a workspace and lends it some degree of gravitas that modern furnishings simply cannot provide. However, it’s one thing to find the means to obtain an antique wooden table, and a whole other thing to actually maintain it without relegating it to being a mere display piece.

When it comes to maintaining antiques, some antique maintenance techniques can actually be ruinous for your furniture. However, keeping your antique wooden table looking its best isn’t all that difficult if you follow these 5 tips for maintaining your antique wooden table.

5 Tips for Maintaining Your Antique Wooden Table – A Quick Look

Having an antique wooden table look its best involves some maintenance. Here are five tips for maintaining your antique wooden table without the need for much expense:

Step One – Keep antiques away from direct light.

Antiques do not like direct sunlight, why? It degrades whatever finish was applied to the surface of the piece, and it yellows the surface of wood that has been shellacked or coated with any type of resin-based finish. If your furnishing has veneers, inlays or marquetry, these likewise will loosen or otherwise pry off the antique table, as direct sunlight can loosen whatever adhesive has been employed to keep them in place.

To avoid sunlight damage, it is prudent to cover your antique wooden table with heavy linen, cotton, or damask table cloth. If you’re a fan of lace, a tablecloth of heavy lace lined with linen on the bottom ensures that light does not penetrate the finish of the wood. If you intend to use it as a work desk, then coasters and placemats are adequate protection

Step Two – Regularly moisturize your antique wooden table

When moisturizing you table it is strongly advised that you do away with the penchant for oil-based ‘moisturizers’ as they do very little to actually help prevent the wooden surface from drying. If your antique is placed in a very dry place such as an attic, it is far more at risk of drying out. To mitigate this, wiping down the whole of the piece with a clean damp rag, and then applying a thin coat of paste wax or professional restorer’s polish should help seal in moisture. And, this prevents the sheen of your piece from dulling.

It should be noted that traditional French polishes and period-correct polishes are always best, although one should steer clear of silicone-based polishes which penetrate the grain and can prove to be more damaging than helpful in the long run.

Step Three – Keep your antique table away from damp spaces

Heat can cause extreme dryness in wood which can result in damage, so too can extremes in moisture. Wood is not impervious to moisture, and too much of it can cause mould or rot, which in turn can wreck your antique wooden table. That is why keeping your antique table away from damp areas, such as cellars, is important, and always remember to mop up any spills on its surface immediately

Step Four – Avoid the accumulation of dust.

Dust is the enemy of antiques. Not only does it dull the finish, it eventually causes buildup which clogs the grain of wood or otherwise creates an abrasive surface that may scratch the finish. In order to prevent dust from accumulating on your antique table, always make sure to wipe it clean with a moist cloth.

Step Five – Regularly check for pest infestation.

One of the worst enemies of antiques, particularly of wooden furniture, is pests. Termites and powderdust beetles are pests, and these eat away at wood and cause very unsightly and irreparable damage. Regularly check for signs of frass – a fine sawdust, which pools underneath your wooden antique table. If this is evident, consult the services of a professional antique restorer and a professional exterminator. These are just 5 tips for maintaining your antique wooden table that is easy and inexpensive to undertake.

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