Nothing says farmhouse decor like antique pieces of furniture, utensils, and other goodies from back in the day. Finding old washboards, window frames, bed frames, and dressers at auctions and garage sales will add a bit of nostalgia to your home’s decor. With the country look coming back into style, you can even find new items that are designed to be reminiscent of the old days. Newer items can easily be cleaned with a soft cloth and a mild cleanser, but your antique pieces may require a little more tender loving care. Taking the time to learn how to care for your older pieces properly is the best way to keep them looking their best for many more years to come.
Dust Your Furniture Often
Dust your furniture and farmhouse decor often. Using a mild cloth will pick up the dust and clear away slight smears and smudges that might dull the patina. You don’t have to apply very much pressure. When dusting your furniture, try to get into the cracks and crevices of the wood. Using a cotton swab is beneficial in this area and will keep dust from building up in areas where a cloth can’t always reach. Another advantage of always keeping your furniture wiped down is that there is less dust floating through the air. Vacuuming once every two or three days will also help to keep flying dust particles to a minimum.
Avoid Using Commercial Cleaning Products
When you are working with antique furniture, even the pieces from the 50s and 60s, you should avoid using commercial cleaning products. Many contain harsh chemicals that can damage the surfaces of many of your older pieces. A little research will help you find many alternatives to products like Pledge, Endust, Lysol, and many of the other most popular brands. The easiest way to remember this is that if you have a natural surface, you should clean it with natural products. Castille soap with a touch of lemon makes a great disinfectant. The soap is mild enough that you can use it around your children and pets while the lemon offers the fresh invigorating smell that newer products are known for.
Mild Soap and Warm Water
Mild soap and water are always a safe option when dealing with antiques. Castille soap is always a good thing to have on hand. Mixed with warm water, it can be used on almost any surface. Many essential oils have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties as well as offering a pleasant aroma. You can also mix warm water and vinegar together with a small amount of olive oil. Put it in a small spray bottle and use it on your antique wood surfaces. The mixture will clean and restore the surface without staining it. Cleaning these surfaces once a week will keep them looking their best and when the olive oil is used, will keep them from drying out and losing their shine.
Condition Surfaces Naturally
Using natural oils, especially essential oils and emollients will keep wood and leather surfaces looking their best. When it comes to leather, the best product, hands down, is good old saddle soap. It restores and cleans the leather, giving it what it needs to remain flexible and pliant. Working your leather surfaces every week or so will ensure they don’t lose their flexibility. Old leather, especially that which hasn’t been treated with modern chemicals, will begin to dry out rather quickly so it’s important that you keep up with its care. If not, it may begin to dry out and start to crack.
Antiques and other types of farmhouse decor can be found almost everywhere you look. It’s important to learn how to properly care for your older pieces so that they will last for many more years to come. With proper care, they will be able to provide future generations with a glimpse of what life was like many, many years ago.
