If you are into antiques, then you know that a vintage sofa is not just something to sit on. It is a work of art.  Many times, it is a very expensive work of art.  Unlike art, however,antique furniture is not hung on a wall or kept in a protective glass away from harm.  Furniture is sat on, napped on, tripped over, spilled on, and lived on.  This is why it is important to learn how to properly care for your prized vintage pieces. You can’t always control certain environmental factors, such as your son’s affinity for using great-grandmother’s cream French Directoire period daybed as a trampoline (with his shoes on, of course), but there are some things you can do to help keep your family heirlooms as close to mint condition as life will allow. 

Here are some guidelines and tips for preserving your antique furniture so that it may be a part of your family for generations to come:

*  Keep your furniture out of direct sunlight.  Exposing your furniture to direct sunlight for long periods of time will fade materials,wood, and even leather.  It is very important that you arrange the furniture in your room so that your vintage pieces stay away from uncovered windows, skylights, or frequently used doors.  If rearranging your furniture isn’t an option, now would be the time to invest in a nice set of drapes to keep the sun from taking it’s toll on your antiques.

*  Keep your furniture away from sources of heat.  Avoid putting your vintage furniture near radiators, heating and air conditioning vents, stoves, or fire places.  Not only is this an obvious fire hazard, but extreme heat and cold can cause materials to dry out, melt, or distort and things like glues, veneers, and marquetry to loosen. 

*  If you live in an area of high heat and high humidity, make sure the level of moisture in the room(s) stays low.Moisture paired with heat can take its toll on furniture.  Moisture causes wood to expand and contract and increases the chances for your furniture to mold, rot, or even become infested with insects.  Not a pretty situation!  You may want to think about investing in a dehumidifier.  If it keeps your furniture mold-free and rot-free, it’s definitely worth the money.  The same goes for those living in a dry climate – invest in a humidifier.

*  Keep ‘em clean!   This one may seem like a no-brainer when it comes to preserving your things but it is very important.  Antiques require more meticulous care than contemporary furniture, which means you need to keep it cleaner, more often.  Do not use harsh chemicals such as commercial dusters, polishers, or even oil on your antiques.  Spray polishes can destroy the finish on your furniture and despite the current common belief, you do not need to oil the wood on your furniture to keep it from drying out.  In fact, the oil can lead to degradation of the finish over time and attract dust, dirt and other particles to the surface.  Dust your furniture with a lint-free cloth to keep it’s surface free from dust and invest in high-quality furniture wax to keep wood surfaces shiny and moisturized.  Consult an antiques dealer before waxing if the finish is very old or deteriorating. 

*  Antique furniture restoration is not ado-it-yourself activity.  You run the risk of compromising the value and possibly ruining your furniture by trying to restore it yourself – unless of course you have years of experience restoring vintage furniture.  If you have a damaged or deteriorating heirloom/antique that you believe has significant historical value, it would probably be a good idea to seek out an appraiser or conservator for a careful restoration

*  Take extreme care when moving your antique furniture.  Remove all drawers,contents, and glass if you plan to move your furniture.  Also, carry tables by the legs as to prevent the top from detaching from the base, chairs by the seat rails, and never drag antique furniture across the room.  Doing so could result in the loosening of joints.

And most importantly,digitize photos and other important information about your collection on iTaggit.com to protect your items should anything happen to them!

Signup with iTaggit today to protect your valuable heirlooms and antiques!