Our Cleaning Process:
We thoroughly clean every piece that comes into our showroom. Here are the specifics:
Vacuum & Steam: This is the very first step when a new piece comes into our workshop. Tables, trunks, crates and other items are thoroughly vacuumed and cleaned with a high-heat dry vapor steamer. All case good drawers are removed and cleaned as well as their inner carcasses. We realize that when buying antique and vintage furniture, especially upholstered pieces, bed bugs are a major concern for many customers. The dry vapor steaming process that we use on all of our pieces would assure that all bugs and eggs are killed on contact. In general, we carry very few upholstered pieces and are extremely careful about the source of these items. Rest assured, we have never had a problem with bugs in our showroom or in customers’ homes.
Vinegar & Water: This cleaning solution is used in combination with steel wool and towels to provide a deep and natural clean to the outer surfaces of unpainted pieces.
Minor Repairs: Repairs are undertaken to fix problematic drawers and legs on particular pieces. We repair items to the extent that we can given our restrictions in space and materials.
Oil & Wax: Using products such as orange oil and furniture conditioner brings out the shine and natural luster of old wood surfaces. This is typically our final step before pieces are photographed and placed in the showroom.
Care, Cleaning & Maintenance of Vintage Furniture:
Due to seasonal changes in humidity, temperature and sunlight, vintage furniture pieces should be cared for to reduce the amount of wear they receive over time. All furniture, especially pieces made of wood, should be kept away from close contact with radiators, heaters, humidifiers and cooling systems to reduce the risk of expansion and contraction. Furniture should also be kept out of direct sunlight if possible, avoiding rays from large open windows that can cause discoloration. Try to avoid placing wet or hot objects on all finished and unfinished surfaces. You should dust your pieces routinely and apply furniture oil or wax every 6 months or so to condition unpainted wood pieces.
General Furniture Care & Maintenance:
Avoid placing pieces in spaces with significant changes in temperature or humidity levels.
Place pieces away from working radiators, heating or air conditioning vents, ovens, fireplaces or windows with a large amount of direct sunlight.
For general cleaning, use a lightly damp cloth. To tackle deep cleaning projects on unpainted pieces, we suggest using a water and vinegar solution. On finished pieces, test this solution in an inconspicuous area on your piece to make sure you will be happy with the result.
Dust regularly using a lint free cloth.
Caring For Wood Pieces:
Throughout the long winter months, wood furniture tends to dry out from a lack of moisture in the air. To keep pieces moisturized and reduce the visibility of minor dry scratches, we recommend using Howard’s Restore-A-Finish wood oils. Make sure to apply a liberal and even amount of oil to the entire surface and then wipe any excess oil away with a cleancloth to help avoid the build-up of dirt and dust.
With variations in temperature and humidity throughout the year, you may find that some case goods such as dressers may have sticky drawers or doors due to the expansion and contraction of the wood. A simple fix for this problem is to rub a liberal layer of wax or soap onto the runners and the inside of the carcass where the drawers make contact. We recommend using white candles or simple white bar soap for this.
Our preferred method of maintaining a varnished finish is a coat of high quality paste wax. Furniture paste wax is stable and long lasting, providing protection from wear, moisture and dust. A thin coat of wax applied annually will help protect your furniture’s finish.