Q&A for How to Clean Antique Furniture

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Is beeswax okay to use on an antique wooden carved table?

Community Answer

Sure! Beeswax has many anti-aging properties that help preserve the natural look of your antique.

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Question

How do I get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke from furniture?

Community Answer

Febreeze works well. Use the kind in a plastic bottle with a trigger sprayer. I prefer the unscented. If the smell is inside drawers or cabinets, spray thoroughly, and leave them open for a few day to thoroughly dry and air out. If you can still smell it, a bowl of coffee beans or grounds shut inside a drawer or cabinet will also deodorize. I've used coffee to destroy a lot of bad smells in antiques, not just tobacco smoke. I've also used sliced apples to remove smoke smells from inside my cabinets after a kitchen fire. Set the slices in a glass or ceramic dish so the juice doesn't damage your wood. Close the doors and leave them for a few weeks.

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Question

I have a 200 year old antique cedar chest. How do I treat it?

Community Answer

Wash it with lukewarm water without soap. If you need soap, use it very diluted. Afterwards, dry with a cloth, and dust occasionally.

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How do I get rid of an old, musty smell in my antique furniture?

Community Answer

Take time to clean the furniture, and spray fresheners like Febreze on the linen or cloth parts of the furniture.

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Question

How do I get rid of a musty smell inside my cupboard?

Community Answer

If these are kitchen cupboards, I have had success by painting the interiors. When we had water issues under our sink, we dried the cupboards out, repaired and cleaned them, and then used a bleach spray to kill any mold residue. It still smelled, so I used a stain remover spray to spray the interior surfaces, including the cement floor base. That got rid of the smell, so now I'm planning on painting over them. I would imagine that a similar process would be successful for you as well.

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How can I clean antique furniture that has been infested with mice?

Community Answer

Drive away the mice using repellent. Take note of any damage, then fix it, then clean.

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Question

What can I use to help drawers slide open on my antique pieces?

Community Answer

Candle wax works well. ub a candle on the bottom of the drawer runners. Just a thin layer, then open and close drawers to spread wax.

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Question

How do I get rid of a musty smell in the drawers of an antique hutch?

Community Answer

Try baking soda. Put baking soda in shallow dishes and put the dishes in each drawer.

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Question

What glue can I use to glue some small wooden parts inside my antique china cabinet?

Community Answer

Use Hide glue, which was probably used in the construction of your cabinet. It can be undone if necessary.

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