Embarking on the journey of restoring and maintaining wooden furniture can be a fulfilling experience. William Kirk Restoration’s recipe for a furniture cleaning solution aims to rejuvenate wood with minimal effort. It’s important to note that wood-rotting fungi thrive between 20-30 degrees Celsius, but are killed at temperatures above 40 degrees. This knowledge is crucial in maintaining the natural beauty of wood, preparing it for protection or painting.
Members of BAFRA, the British Antique Furniture Restorers’ Association, are experts in antique furniture restoration, each boasting a minimum of 5 years of professional experience, often exceeding 20 years. Their expertise extends to a range of treatments for wood furniture, including decking treatment, protector solutions, and specialized products for various wood types such as meranti, mahogany, pine, wicker, cane, and bamboo.
When cleaning wooden furniture, using a soft cloth to wipe down the surface before polishing and restoring is recommended. This process helps balance the moisture content of the wood with the environmental humidity, preventing water loss and shrinkage. Pure Tung Oil, a natural, hard-wearing, water-resistant oil, is an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor wood care.
Specialists like the After Noah team focus on repairing antique, mid-century, vintage, and collectible wooden furniture made up to the 1970s. If you’re working with specific timber types, sealing might be necessary before applying wood dye or stain. Homemade deck cleaners, often a mix of bleach or dish detergent with water, are effective for DIY projects. In cases of severe damage to antique furniture, wood putty can be used to conceal discrepancies in wood color.
Products like Rotten Wood Repair Kits are ideal for restoring windows, doors, and boats. These kits, along with tools like the Miller Scratch Pen, offer solutions for minor and major wood repairs. Restofinisher, a unique product that revives wood furniture to a new-like state within minutes, is another handy tool for restorers.
Professional services often include restoration of damaged veneers, inlay, marquetry, French polishing, chair caning, reupholstery, leather desk lining, wood turning and carving, as well as glazing and mirror repairs. Remember, when using solutions like Restofinisher, it’s crucial to occasionally shake the bottle to prevent separation of oil and water/vinegar. Lakeland offers a range of top-quality furniture polish and wood cleaners to keep your wood in pristine condition.
