Caring for your antique wood pieces is critical to keep their value.
Even though the pieces are very old, don't neglect proper care for them.
Wooden pieces such as chairs, tables, dressers, etc have different requirements than other types of antiques.
Every day care.
If your antiques are part of your daily life (which great pieces are!), then make sure they are treated with care.
The value of an antique goes down if the original finish is removed, so you want to avoid this type of restoration work.
Always use coasters under cups and glasses, even just a cup of coffee.
Wooden surfaces can be damaged by heat as well as moisture.
If the piece is a dining room table, make sure that you have a trivet or other heat protective mat to place food on.
Don't push anything across the surface of the piece.
That means do not slide plates, decorative pieces or anything else over the top of the table or desk.
Doing this can result in scratches on the surface.
While you may be able to buff away very small surface scratches, anything deep will need to be repaired by a professional.
Clean up spills right away.
To protect the finish on your piece, clean up all liquid and solid spills immediately.
If the liquid is some sort of solvent (such as polish remover), blot the liquid rather than wiping so you don't risk removing more finish by smearing the solvent over a wider area.
Dust your wood antiques with a clean dry cloth.
You don't need to be using a spray cleaner on your antiques.
Long term care.
How you treat your antiques over the long run will determine how well they keep their value.
Controlling the humidity is one important factor.
Depending on where you live, you may have damp conditions all the time, or dry winters and moist summers.
With wood antiques, you want the humidity to be as stable as possible.
This means don't store your pieces in a damp basement, or in a stuffy attic.
Seasonal changes will have the biggest impact on your pieces.
Consider installing a humidifier on your furnace to raise the humidity levels in winter and run a dehumidifier during the summer months.
Keep your pieces out of direct sunlight.
While that end table may look great in front of the south facing window, the sunlight that shines on the table can yellow the finish.
And it will discolor unevenly.
Wax your pieces three or four times a year.
Using a paste wax, apply a small amount in a circular motion, then buff dry with a new cloth.
This waxing will give you a depth of color and finish and will remove any tiny surface scratches.
Do not use spray polish, as this can actually remove the finish from your piece.
The only time you want to use a spray polish is when you have a waxy buildup that has dulled the finish on your antique.
Following these tips will give your wooden antiques a long life, keep their value and allow you to pass on heirloom pieces to your family.