home tips: all about antiques

Southern Living, Mar 2005 by Smith, Kelly Margaret

Proper can prolong the life of old furniture, glassware, linens, and more. Learn all the best tips and tricks here.

Caring for Your Furniture

It's true that antiques need special treatment. One wrong move can turn a family treasure into a family faux pas. But that doesn't mean that all antiques are high maintenance; you just don't care for them the same way you do new furniture. We talked to several antiques experts across the South to get their advice. Here's how to keep your precious pieces in pass-down-to-the-kids condition.

Lowdown on Linens

Never use bleach on antique linens. "Bleach will disintegrate the fabric," says Sharon Lockett Smith, owner of Lockett House Antiques and Design in Athens, Tennessee. Instead, whiten linens by rinsing them in a solution of 3 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 gallon of cool water, and then hang them in the sun to dry. Clean fine linens with a mild laundry detergent such as Ivory Snow. Cleaners such as Nancy's Vintage Soak whiten and remove tough spots even on lace.

Solid Advice for Furniture

In her store, Amy Kendrick, manager of Hen House Antiques in Mountain Brook, Alabama, uses a feather duster on antique furniture pieces at least once a week and waxes them twice a year. Gregory Landrey, director of conservation at Winterthur Museum in Delaware and co-author of The Winterthur Guide to Caring for Your Collection, suggests using a paste wax that includes beeswax and carnauba wax. "Stay away from oil-base polishes," he says. "Paste wax provides protection from fingerprints, dirt, and pollution and acts as a moisture barrier." Also, Gregory says to keep furniture out of direct sunlight. If your furniture smells musty or smoky, Amy suggests opening the drawers or doors to let it air out and then sprinkling Ivory Snow powder detergent inside to absorb the odors.

Crystal and Glassware Care

Amy works daily to keep antiques in her store in prime condition. "Don't put crystal or anything hand painted in the dishwasher," she warns. Instead, wash these delicate pieces with soap and water, and allow them to air dry because cloth or paper towels leave residue. To achieve clarity in crystal pieces, Sharon suggests soaking them in a sink full of warm water spiked with a tablespoon of ammonia or vinegar. To rid cloudiness that appears in glassware such as decanters, try this homemade fix: "Fill the decanter one-fourth full with ice; then pour vinegar halfway up the ice. Add a few tablespoons of salt or baking powder; then swish it around," says Amy. "If that doesn't help, try chrome polish. And if that doesn't work, the cloudiness is permanently stained on the glass." KELLY MARGARET SMITH