Tips To Clean Antiques

Antique pieces have a certain kind of epoch charm and preserving it isn't a hard task. Antique objects are always valued for their beauty, artistry and the origin. so cleaning and maintaining them can actually bring the piece back to life. It's not just the antique pieces stored in the attic for many years that appear filthy; even those that has been properly cleaned and maintained regularly can be covered in dust particles.

You may have a nice collection of antiques at home; however it's necessary to restore their appearance to give those pieces its value, charm and personality. Antique collections can be of various kinds. It may range from furniture, jewellery, beds, decorative mirror to some form of artwork and cleaning them can be great fun.

There will be layers of soot and grime that can get accumulated on the outer surface causing them to darken and rust. So it's important to clean them if you want to retain the original finish and colour as much as possible.

Basically maintaining and protecting antiques does not need heavy cleaning. Just simple cleaning techniques can work wonders to preserve your prized possessions. Here are some simple tips to clean antiques at home. Follow these simple tips to restore and repair your antique pieces

Soft brittle brush
For cleaning antique jewellery, gently brush the item using soft brittle brush to eliminate the dust particles. Dip the toothbrush in clean water to remove the dust, never try to soak the jewellery. Wipe the jewellery with a small lint free cloth.

Water
Warm water is the best gentle cleanser. Use it gently on permeable materials like cloth, wood, silk since these are aged and delicate. Wear cotton gloves when handling or touching the antique pieces, as hands and fingers usually contain oil and grime that can cause it to decay. Don't put too much pressure when you clean.

Porcelain, ceramic and glass are simple and easy to clean. Just add a tiny bit of dish wash liquid to water and with your hands gently remove the grime and dust.

White vinegar
Never try to clean the back of the antique mirror as any kind of cleaning solution will damage the reflective support. If the back of the mirror is dirty, just try to dust it off with a feather duster. You can clean the mirror with four tablespoons of white vinegar, ethanol (ethyl alcohol) or ammonia mixed with 1 cup of water. The other option to clean a mirror is with warm tea and a little bit of detergent.

Salt and Vinegar
This is the simplest home remedy for cleaning antique brassware that is made of brass and copper. Mix one tablespoon of salt, white flour and one table spoon of vinegar in half cup of hot water and make a paste. Apply the mixture to the brass piece with your fingers. Let this ingredient remain for approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour. Make sure to thoroughly remove the mixture from the brass.

Baking soda and water
If your gold jewellery doesn't have stones, try cleaning them with one portion of ammonia and two portions of water in a bowl. Immediately dip the jewellery in the solution and brush it with a soft-bristle brush. Next dry it off using a towel.

For silver jewellery without stones, use baking soda with water. Gently apply the mixture on the jewellery with a piece of cloth. Later rinse off the item with water and pat dry.

Beeswax
Beeswax is soft which is also used for cleaning furniture. Use it once every year to clean the antiques. There are several polishes made of beeswax that are available and good for furniture. Before polishing the furniture, try to remove the old wax using branded cleaners that are available in the market and later reapply the new wax after the antique is cleaned properly. Never use lemon oil to preserve your furniture as this can darken the object.