Antique Wool
Clean and Polish Your Antique Wood Furniture
Great-Grandma goofed, and that's what started it all. Great-Grandma's pride and joy was her beautiful mahogany buffet. She treated that buffet like it was a member of the family; she dusted it every day and waxed it twice a year. Great-Grandmother would be shocked to discover that her regular waxing and dusting created the dingy, dirty finish that is on the buffet in 2010.
Antiques Are Covered With Old Wax and Dirt
You see, once you put wax onto wooden furniture, the only way to get it off is with a chemical remover. Every time you wax your furniture, the new wax blends in with the old wax, and as you polish you just move it all around. When you dust your furniture, some of the dust is picked up on the dust cloth, and some of the dust is rubbed into the coat of wax. After a while, the accumulated wax and dirt cause the furniture to become dingy looking. The once-beautiful buffet becomes covered with a layer of dirt and wax.
To Restore the Shine, The Wax and Dirt Must Be Removed
To restore the shine and glow to antique furniture, it is necessary to remove the old dirt and wax without damaging the original finish. With a few supplies from the hardware store and a little patience, you'll soon be able to have your antique glowing again. You may be tempted to just apply a coat of furniture polish, but don't do it. Furniture polish will restore the shine for a day or two, but ultimately you will be adding to the problem, not solving the problem. Of course, this cleaning technique assumes that the furnitures finish is still intact; a finish with significant chipping and peeling should be refinished.
Assembling Your Supplies
The first item on our list is a solvent that will remove wax without harming the furniture finish. The solvent for wax is mineral sprits; it will lift the dirt and wax without harming the underlying finish. It might surprise you to learn that you will be using steel wool to remove the wax. Don't let this scare you; it's what refinishers use to polish finishes. It's imperative, though, that you use the finest grade steel wool available,which is grade 0000 (four-ought). Have on hand Q-tips, absorbent rags, some rubber gloves, good ventilation, and a bucket of water or a sink. For the final polishing, you will use a burnishing cream. Liberon makes a fine burnishing cream that can be purchased from several online distributors.
The Cleaning Technique
The mineral spirits can be poured directly onto the furniture's top; pour about a half-cup at a time. Using the 0000 steel wool spread the solvent over about a two-foot square area. Always rub in a straight line in the direction of the wood grain; rubbing across the grain will create visible scratches. Apply a slight downward pressure to the steel wool; your objective is to loosen the wax. Continue this procedure over the entire piece of furniture, using as much mineral spirits as is needed to keep the surface wet.
The drying time for mineral spirits is about 45 minutes. As the solvent dries, you will notice a dirty grayish film forming over the furniture. This film is the loosened, dirty wax that you have lifted from the surface. When the solvent has thoroughly dried, use a damp rag to wipe up the dried wax. Clean the rag often. Use Q-tips to get into corners and grooves.
Repeat the above procedure with mineral spirits and clean steel wool until no more waxy dirt dries on the surface. When the furniture is free of wax and dirt, apply the burnishing cream with a soft cloth, and rub until you are satisfied with the shine.
Ongoing Maintenance
To keep your antique furniture beautiful, polish it once a year with a good quality cream polish. If the finish is significantly worn and you have a few bare spots, treat the bare spots with a light coat of paste wax to protect the wood. Dust regularly. Never use spray polishes, dusting sprays, treated dusting cloths, or any product that touts its ability to make your furniture shine. Chances are those products contain silicone, and polishing your furniture with silicone is like spraying it with WD-40 lubricant. Proper care will keep your antique furniture looking beautiful for future generations.
About the Author
Wayne Jordan has been a restorer of pianos and antique furniture for over 30 years. His restoration work can be found in the VMI Museum, the Maryland Governor's Mansion, and fine homes throughout the Mid Atlantic states. He is a Certified Personal Property Appraiser and Auctioneer. Visit his website at http://www.waynejordanauctions.com and his blog at http://www.wayne-jordan.blogspot.com
Quilts and wool batting demo by Bet Ison
 |
 Antique Amish Handmade Mohair Wool Carriage Buggy Lap Blanket Fern Pattern 44x52 $125.00 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 21m Buy It Now for only: $125.00 Buy It Now |
 MARVELLOUS ANTIQUE 1880 KURDISH JAFF OR SANDJAB BAGFACE GV $125.00 Time Remaining: 42m |
 WONDERFUL ANTIQUE TURKOMAN TEKKJE TORBA WITH LOTS OF SILK GV $255.00 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 38m |
 LARGE FLORAL BLACK 9X12 AGRA JAIPOUR ORIENTAL AREA RUG CARPET WOOL $1,018.50 Time Remaining: 29d 18h 48m Buy It Now for only: $1,018.50 Buy It Now |
 Antique Qashqai bagface full pile natural dyes 130 kpsi $76.00 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 20m |
 ANTIQUE RUBY BRAND BABY WOOL OR BLEND IVORY SWEATER W CROCHET MOP BUTTONS SZ 1 $6.99 Time Remaining: 29d 3h 6m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 Buy It Now |
 Antique Woven Carpet Runner 35 Inches by 12 Feet Very Good From Museum $19.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 4h 3m |
 ca1900 Amazing Wonderful Old Antique Khamseh Rug 69x51 ft $175.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1h 6m |
 Vintage Antique Henry Pollak New York 1930 40 Warm Brown 100 wool Cloche Hat $69.99 Time Remaining: 29d 1h 55m Buy It Now for only: $69.99 Buy It Now |
 Antique Chinese Mandarin Art Deco Rug 810x113 DRAGON $809.00 (20 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 7m |
 9X12 MASTERPIECE MINT NEW HQ HAND KNOTTED SUPREME PERSIAN WOOL HERIZ SERAPI RUG $1,650.00 Time Remaining: 9d 1h 24m Buy It Now for only: $1,650.00 Buy It Now |
 Beautiful Finely Woven Antique Black Orange Paisley Wool Scarf Fringed As Is $19.99 Time Remaining: 5h 54m |
 Hand knotted Nomadic Traditional Blue Cream Rectangular Wool Rug 32 x 60 $65.00 Time Remaining: 1h 9m |
 ANTIQUE TURKOMAN BUKHARA HANDKNOTTED ORIENTAL CARPET PILLOW COVER 16 x 16 $29.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 20m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 Buy It Now |
 Superb Vintage Antique 1900s 1920s Shawl Collar Wool Letter Sweater $103.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 4h 42m |
 ANTIQUE TURKOMAN BUKHARA HANDKNOTTED CARPET CUSHION PILLOW COVER 16 x 16 $29.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 20m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 Buy It Now |
 ANTIQUE VICTORIAN WOOL SILK RELIGIOUS SAMPLER LAST SUPPER MASS COMMUNION $42.68 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 23h 30m |
 ANTIQUE TURKOMAN BUKHARA HANDKNOTTED CARPET CUSHION PILLOW COVER 16 x 16 $29.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 20m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 Buy It Now |
 Antique Kashmir Paisley Wool Shawl 120 $29.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 6h 36m |
 Antique Victorian Wool Coverlet c1840 Folk Art TURKEYS Tulips FEATHERS + Ferns $265.00 Time Remaining: 1d 23h 20m |
 ANTIQUE TURKOMAN BUKHARA HANDKNOTTED CARPET CUSHION PILLOW COVER 16 x 16 $29.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 20m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 Buy It Now |
 8x10 Persian Serapi 100 Wool Handknotted Rug Carpet 58899 $756.00 Time Remaining: 2h 6m Buy It Now for only: $869.40 Buy It Now |
 Antique Wool 3 Squares Dark Suiting Quilt Machine Stitched 68 x 81 $9.99 Time Remaining: 22d 20h 10m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now |
 Huge Victorian 1860s Paisley fine wool shawl Cutter Projects Crafts $434.69 (23 Bids) Time Remaining: 17h 34m |
 Antique Welsh Wool Reversible Tapestry Blanket Throw Bettws Y Coed Snowdonia $118.55 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 22h 24m |
 Antique Rare Color 4x7 Nichols Art Deco Chinese Oriental Area Rug Wool Carpet $735.00 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 52m Buy It Now for only: $735.00 Buy It Now |
 antique MANDERSCHEID CO WOOD SHEEPWOOLFLAX COMB advrake holder WOOD EARLY $84.95 Time Remaining: 1h 43m |
 Handwoven Vtg French Aubusson Pillow Cushion 195 Wool $159.00 Time Remaining: 28d 1h 3m Buy It Now for only: $159.00 Buy It Now |
 vtg antique 120 LONG X 52 wide WOOL PAISLEY white background AS IS $1,035.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 19h 41m |
 vtg antique 122 LONG X 66 wide WOOL PAISLEY black background AS IS $999.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 19h 45m |
 8 X 10 SILVER PAK OUSHAK ANTIQUE STYLE HAND KNOTTED WOOL VEG DYED OUSHAK RUG $750.00 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 47m Buy It Now for only: $750.00 Buy It Now |
 REALLY GORGEOUS ANTIQUE KURDISH BAGFACE GV $171.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 41m |
 70 YEARS 10 X 13 ANTIQUE PERSIAN HANDMADE WOOL GOMBAD ISFAHAN ORIENTAL AREA RUG $550.00 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 56m Buy It Now for only: $550.00 Buy It Now |
 GREAT 1890 ANTIQUE TURKOMAN KYZIL AYAK BAGFACE GV $125.00 Time Remaining: 1d 41m |
 LARGE SOLID GOLD COLOR MODERN 7X9 GABBEH PERSIAN ORIENTAL AREA RUG WOOL CARPET $644.25 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 48m Buy It Now for only: $644.25 Buy It Now |
 Antique 1910s 20s Pin Stripe Wool Pants Union Made Boardwalk Empire VGC SMALL $26.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 5h 40m |
 Primitive Dog Cat Hand Hooked Wool Rug Hooking Antique Adaptation PRHG $135.00 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 44m Buy It Now for only: $149.00 Buy It Now |
 ANTIQUE PERSIAN Carpet ROYAL KERMAN NAVY WOOL Rug 9 7 X 7 $499.00 Time Remaining: 29d 6h 42m Buy It Now for only: $499.00 Buy It Now |
 LARGE ANTIQUE SQUARE 10X11 MASHAD PERSIAN ORIENTAL AREA RUG WOOL CARPET $400.00 (17 Bids) Time Remaining: 4h 13m |
 Soumac Soumack Hand Knotted Wool RUNNER 26 X 10 243838 $198.00 Time Remaining: 29d 1h 19m Buy It Now for only: $198.00 Buy It Now |
 ANATOLIAN ANTALYA NOMADS GOAT HAIR WOOL KILIM RUG CARPET $149.00 Time Remaining: 1d 24m |
 19th Century Antique Sewn Wool Sampler MARY ANN CALDER 1846 $23.71 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 21h 55m |
 MASTERPIECE 250 KNOTTS ANTIQUE 10X13 KERMAN PERSIAN ORIENTAL AREA RUG CARPET $3,825.00 Time Remaining: 29d 4h 44m Buy It Now for only: $3,825.00 Buy It Now |
 19th Century Antique Sewn Wool Sampler Named Dated 1838 $23.71 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 21h 58m |
 Pair of Antique Wool Flower Aubusson Pillow Top Covers $145.00 Time Remaining: 25d 17h 27m Buy It Now for only: $145.00 Buy It Now |
 Vintage Original Antique German Bruckner Oktoberfest Felt Wool Hat Pins Old $11.50 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 19m |
 Antique C1820 Handwoven Paisley Shawl Kashmir Ivory Silk Wool Floral 104 by 49 $709.00 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 1h 16m |
 c1930s ANTIQUE HIGHLY DETAILED KORK WOOL PERSIAN BIJAR RUG 23x31 MUST SEE $662.00 Time Remaining: 29d 12m Buy It Now for only: $662.00 Buy It Now |
 WONDERFUL ANTIQUE KAMSEH RUG GV $125.00 Time Remaining: 1d 39m |
 AMAZING NAVY BLUE RUNNER 3X9 MESHKIN PERSIAN ORIENTAL AREA RUG WOOL CARPET $303.00 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 50m Buy It Now for only: $303.00 Buy It Now |
 Hand knotted Agra Traditional Copper Dark Navy Runner Wool Rug 26 x 79 $70.00 Time Remaining: 1h 48m |
 Antique Hunting Hamilton Tartan Premium Wool Throw Sale Price: $70.00  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionA softer and thicker wool Tartan Travel Rug (as they are called in Scotland), this blanket, in the Antique Hunting Hamilton Tartan is made in Great Britain. Machine washable only on a cool or wool wash...  |
 Wool Shawls and Wraps Antique Jacquard Design 80 x 40 inches List Price: Sale Price: $77.70 You save: $33.27 (30%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThe literal meaning of jamawar is "grown piece", the technical and trade name for a shawl cloth or long shawl. Such pieces are woven on loom and have an intricate pattern. The tapestry technique is used throughout for weaving jamawar... |
 DELICATE CROCHETED WOOLEN CAPE - A Vintage 1916 Crochet Pattern (ePattern) - Instant Download Ebook - AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD to Kindle DX, Kindle for ... antique, ladies, yarn, craft, women, girl) List Price: See Reviews For This Product DescriptionDELICATE CROCHETED WOOLEN CAPEThis pattern was originally published in 1916. It has been edited and converted to digital format (by NorthernLightsVintage) for viewing on the Kindle wireless handheld reader, as well as other devices... |
 Of Wool and Loom (White orchid books) List Price: Sale Price: $32.89 You save: $15.11 (31%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThis is a study of the Tibetan rug-making tradition. The first part deals with the description and explanation of craft and culture, while the second part is a catalogue of the finest examples of each type of weaving and carpet style. |
 Reversible Silk Wool Fabric 06 Antique Gold Sale Price: $49.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionReversible Silk Wool Fabric Antique Gold Experience warmth and elegance with this regal silk wool fabric blend. |
 Tamarac by Slippers International Men's 8015 Slipper, Antique Deer, 13 M Sale Price: $59.95 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product |
 Robert Abbey 125 Tic-Tac-Toe One Light "O" Table Lamp in Antique Natrual Brass See Reviews For This Product DescriptionRobert Abbey 125 This table lamp from the Tic-Tac-Toe Collection will instantly add character to your home and improve your decor. A stylish rectangular pale shell dupioni fabric shade sits atop a sleek O-shape finished in antique natural brass with a black marble base... |
 German SS M-43 Wool Cap: Field Grey (Death Head) - 7: 56 cm Sale Price: $35.95 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionNew Made Item: A fabulous high quality wool construction Field Grey/Green wool (cotton lined) Waffen SS M43 cap comes complete with embroidered Eagle and Death Head Badges. Available in the following sizes: 7 (56 cm) Item AGG7105-1 7 1/4 (58 cm) Item AGG7105-2 7 1/2 (60 cm) Item AGG7105-3 7 3/4 (62 cm) Item AGG7105-4 IMA in no way indorses the ideology of the Third Reich... |
 Surya IN8247-2610 Antique Brass Mugal Collection Rug - 2ft 6in X 10ft List Price: Sale Price: $1,135.00 You save: $340.50 (23%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 6-10 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThe Mugal Collection is designed for people who appreciate gracious living and elegant homes. Representing patterns originating in the villages of Tibet, these exquisite rugs are hand knotted from 100 percent semi-worsted New Zealand wool using traditional Tibetan weaving techniques... |
 Swiss Army Style Warm Wool Blanket Sale Price: $26.98 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionBrand new warm and comfy wool blanket. Modeled after the original vintage Swiss Army European blanket used by Switzerland's military. We have found the replica of this popular blanket. Now available with the same classic Swiss white cross sewn into the woven red stripe... |
|
|
Hand-tufted Antique Wool Rug (8' x 11') $365.49 Accent your favorite living areas with the handsome design of this ??(style)?? wool rug Rug was hand-tufted in North Central India from wool pile Area rug has a soft antique gold background |
|
|
Handmade Exquisite Wine/ Gold Wool Rug (2' x 3') $28.09 Let the elegance and versatility of the Antiquities wool rug enrich your office decor. |
|
|
Handmade Exquisite Blue/ Gold Wool Rug (3' x 5') $47.59 Let the elegance and versatility of the Antiquities wool rug enrich your office decorArea rug is hand-tufted of 100-percent woolRug features a classic design in shades of gold, sage green, rust, and burgundy against blue |
|
|
Hand-tufted Antique Beige Wool Rug (8' x 11') $405.44 A vivid oriental pattern and luscious pile height highlight this hand-tufted Antique wool rug. This area rug features striking shades of beige and browning. |
|
|
Hand-tufted Antique Beige Wool Rug (5' x 8') $169.99 A vivid oriental pattern and luscious 0.625-inch pile height highlight this hand-tufted Antique wool rug. This area rug features striking shades of beige and brown. |
|
|
Handmade Antique Isfan Dark Gold/ Light Green Wool Rug (3' x 5') $58.64 Update your home decor with this Antique Wool Isfan rug Fringeless borders give this area rug a clean, elegant look Hand-tufted traditional design rug features a dark gold background with a light green border |
