How To Clean And Care For Antiques, According To An Expert

Age is more than just a number.

Antiques are at least 100 years old—and due to their natural patina, it’s important they be cleaned properly. Whether you got yours from Great-Grandma Ruth or shopping antique towns across the South, you don’t want to actually clean them too well and risk removing decades of built-up charm.

“The most common antiques we run across are wood furniture pieces that have brass or silver handles, knobs, and pulls,” shares Justin Harris, owner of cleaning service Cowtown Maids in Fort Worth, Texas. All of these materials become more precarious as they age, making it all the more essential that we know exactly how to clean antiques. Thanks to Harris, now we do.

Meet the Expert

Justin Harris is the owner of the cleaning service Cowtown Maids in Fort Worth, Texas.

Identify the Material and Finish

“The most important aspect when cleaning antiques is identifying what the antique is made of and how it is finished,” advises Harris. “For some antiques, natural patina adds character, value, and protection; for others, it could be just a long time between cleanings.” Failing to distinguish between the two could result in a devalued or even damaged antique.

In many cases, the answer is fairly obvious. With wood, however, how you’re going to clean is determined by the finish. “You can use denatured alcohol to test the finish on the wood,” Harris recommends. “If it smudges, gets sticky, or dissolves, this typically means it has a shellac or wax finish.” Otherwise, it’s most likely lacquer, oil, polyurethane, or varnish, which can all be treated the same way.

The other major difference is in brass: Lacquered brass won’t tarnish, but unlacquered brass will.

Related: 8 Ways To Shop For Antiques Like A Designer

Handle with Care

Before starting to clean, think about every step and whether what you’re planning to do will help or potentially hurt the antique. One big thing to remember is to wash your hands thoroughly, and consider even wearing gloves, as you want to avoid passing on oils from your skin.

You can gently remove dust with a clean, dry microfiber cloth that won’t cause any scratching. Avoid paper towels, toothbrushes, etc. and opt for the cloths when cleaning and drying as well.

Related: Old-School Cleaning Tricks That Southerners Stand By

Choose Products Carefully

Not all cleaning products are the same, especially when it comes to delicate antiques. First and foremost, Harris issues a warning: “Stay away from any toxic products or harsh chemicals—they can eat away the surfaces of your antiques."

“For any wood finished with lacquer, oil, polyurethane, or varnish, we use a very diluted mixture of Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner and water,” he explains. If that doesn’t work on certain areas, Harris moves on to Murphy Oil Soap Wood Cleaner. In both cases, the mixture is a mild one tablespoon of cleaner to one quart of water. Harris recommends always cleaning with the grain to remove more dirt and grime.

“There are many great home recipes for silver and brass, but I have found that wiping them clean with our Sal Suds dilution and then using Nevr-Dull Magic Wadding Polish works great to bring them back to their brilliant and shiny origins,” Harris continues.

If your antique mirror is cloudy, you can brighten it up by lightly spritzing ¼ cup of white vinegar and one cup of water onto the mirror, then wiping it away as usual with a lint-free cloth.

Use Your Silver

Surprisingly, the best way to take care of silver is to simply use it. By doing this regularly, it’s able to develop a patina of tiny scratches. Plus, by hand washing the silver often with hot water and a mild soap like Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap, it’s able to avoid tarnishing via oxidation from exposure to the air. When not in use, they can go in airtight boxes or anti-tarnish bags.

Lacquered brass and copper will benefit from the same cleaning routine as silver. With unlacquered brass, you can rely on Bar Keeper’s Friend.

Know When To Call The Experts

Cleaning antiques can feel high stakes—so when should you delegate to the experts? According to Harris, you should call in the pros when you’re dealing with wood finished with shellac or wax. This is because it likely needs to be refinished, which involves abrasives. “We recommend this be done by professional antique refinishers or professional woodworkers,” he says. This will cost you, so consider whether the piece is worth enough to you financially or emotionally before making the decision. (And remember that imperfections are all part of the charm!)

Antique rugs are also best left to the professionals, because you’re in risk of damaging the fibers and dyes.