Restoring an old piece of wooden furniture can be an involved and tedious process, so it is important to determine what kind of work is truly necessary before you begin. An inexperienced do-it-yourselfer may look at a blemished piece of furniture and assume that it needs to be refinished, when in fact a touch-up may be just as effective (and a whole lot less time-consuming). In many cases, a thorough cleaning and waxing may be all it takes to turn that dull, worn-out table into a rich and lustrous centerpiece once more!
Cleaning the Furniture
Regardless of the level of restoration needed, it is important to carefully and properly clean your furniture. Even if you ultimately plan to refinish the piece, it is essential to remove the dirt, dust and oil that has built up over the years beforehand. If the furniture does not contain any surface scratches or cracks in the finish, you may even find that a thorough cleaning is all it takes to restore its beauty and luster, as dirt and grime can often give the illusion of worn-off finish.
An oil-based wood cleaner should be sufficient for the job and can be easily found in supermarkets or home improvement stores. When cleaning, it is important to use a soft cloth or sponge and to apply the cleaner evenly, using strokes that go with the grain. After application, allow the cleaner to dry for a couple hours before wiping it off with a new cloth. Please note that, depending on the state of your furniture, this process may need to be repeated several times.
If commercial wood cleaner doesn’t do the trick, a solution of warm water and a little bit of liquid detergent or vegetable-based oil soap can be used. Just be sure to apply, rinse, and dry quickly, as you want to avoid water damage to the wood.
Once your furniture has been cleaned, you may decide that refinishing isn’t necessary after all. If this is the case, it is recommended that you wax and buff the wood in order to protect the finish and give it a nice shine.
Retouching vs. Refinishing
If you decide that your wooden furniture is in need of more than just a thorough cleaning, you will need to determine whether you want to refinish the entire piece, or simply retouch sections of it. Here are some guidelines to help you figure out which option is appropriate:
Problems That Require Refinishing:
Problems That Can Be Fixed By Retouching:
Retouching can save a lot of time by eliminating the need to refinish the entire piece, but remember that it only works for restoring damage to the finish itself. If a scratch or crack is deep enough to penetrate the wood, then your furniture will need to be refinished.
Retouching
There are many techniques for retouching the finish of wood furniture, depending on the type of problem you’re dealing with.
For finish that has been discolored by age, water damage, or prolonged exposure to humidity-known as “blushing” – it is recommended that you lightly rub the surface of the wood with No. 0000 steel wool that has been dipped in a vegetable-based oil such as linseed oil. This acts as an abrasive that removes the damaged top layer of the finish. It is important to rub slowly, lightly and evenly, so as not to cut through the finish entirely and down to the wood. Once the blushing has been removed, buff the surface with a hard furniture wax.
If your finish has minor scratches or cracks, you can avoid refinishing the entire piece by using a retouching process known as reamalgamation. This is essentially a process whereby the original finish is turned back into a liquid, evenly redistributed over the wooden surface, and then allowed to dry. The chemical(s) used for reamalgamation depend on the type of finish your furniture has, so it is crucial to research this ahead of time. Please note that this process will only work on shellac or lacquer finishes-not on varnish.
Refinishing
If you find that the damage to your furniture is too deep to be repaired via retouching, refinishing may indeed be necessary. In order to give your piece a new finish, you will first have to remove the old one with a chemical stripper. The stripper should be generously applied to the furniture with a natural bristle paintbrush, as the chemicals will dissolve synthetic bristles. When working with powerful chemicals, it is necessary to use proper safety precautions, such as gloves and goggles, and to work outside if possible to avoid overexposure to strong fumes.
After the original finish has been stripped, it is a good idea to sand down the wood. This will remove any remaining finish as well as ensure a smooth and even surface on which to apply the new stain or paint.
The kind of stain you can use will vary depending on the type of wood you’re working with, so it is important to ensure that the two are compatible. In addition to researching this information ahead of time, it may be a good idea to test your wood stain on a small, inconspicuous area of the furniture to see how it will look. If satisfied, you can then apply it to the entire piece.
If you intend to paint your wooden furniture rather than stain it, it is best to use a glossy oil paint, as other types of paint will not adhere properly to the wood surface.
Author’s Note: Previously published here.
…
Alycia Hartzell is a seasoned design professional with experience in both residential and commercial interior design. She writes for Domestic Modern – a leading retailer of modern rugs and designer collections such as Amy Butler Rugs. Learn more at: http://www.domesticmodern.com/
Read more articles written by Alycia Hartzell
Related posts:
- Furniture Feet Add Style, Consistency to Kitchens
A growing trend in the cabinetry industry today has been using furniture feet under counters, islands, and other kitchen fixtures. Using various styles of furniture feet has many advantages for the designer looking to augment the theme of a particular kitchen; from bringing the coziness of the living room into... - Wood Crafts for Home Decor
When you choose wood crafts for your home decor you will be choosing one of the best looks available. Real wood is a very sturdy and lasting material that will be a part of your family for generations if you so choose. Many from which to choose are available to... - Conserve the Forests with FSC Certified Wood Components
A huge source of apprehension for those concerned with forestry issues: the illegal exploitation of natural forests. The Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) has gone to great lengths to address this problem. They ensure that wood bearing the mark “FSC Certified” was harvested under all applicable laws and treaties. Those flying... - Can the US Furniture Industry Compete Globally?
Here in North Mississippi that’s the question everyone seems to be asking. I’m sure they are asking it in other areas such as North Carolina as well. My impression is that folks just don’t believe they can. I witnessed the decline of the U.S. Steel Industry first hand. I also... - How To Clean A Wool Rug
Surprisingly enough, cleaning a wool rug is a lot easier than most people think. By following these simple steps you will be able to clean your wool rug and save the money you would normally spend to have it professionally cleaned. You will need a vacuum, a bucket, mild detergent,... - Kitchen Nightmares and Disasters
We’ve collected some of the most prevalent kitchen nightmare topics and have compiled them into a list, for your viewing pleasure. Hopefully they will serve as useful information to help you avoid kitchen disasters. 1. “I installed my kitchen cabinets, after I put in my marble countertops. A row of... - Your House is Clean, But is It Green?
Cleaning a home or business is often a ritualistic experience, and one meant to remove matter we deem as dangerous, unhealthy or unpleasant to those living or working there. It All Adds Up Think about what you do and what products you use when you clean. You spray glass cleaner... - More Creative Ways to Save Money
Shop for clothing at thrift shops (especially for young kids). Look for gently worn or even new clothes for 1/10 the price of new (or less). Pay your bills online. It’s protected and you can save with stamps. Put your kids on the school bus rather than driving them... - The Appropriate Use Of Color And Light Can Enhance Your Next Home Decoration Project
When decorating, a common challenge that many people face is attempting to make a relatively small space appear larger. Fortunately there are several decorating techniques that can be used to achieve a more spacious look. First, and perhaps most important, the proper use of color will go a long way... - Residential Builders Focus on Multiple Exterior Textures!
Over the years, the exterior of homes have tastefully taken on more and more textures such as stained wood, painted wood, brick, stone, stucco, iron, slate, cedar shake…all melded together to create a desirable piece of real estate. Well planned facades create that first impression. It’s the first impressions that... - Summer Cooking and Acid Reflux
The summer season provides a cornucopia of delicious vegetables, fruits and herbs. Preparing meals during this wonderful season presents boundless opportunities to prepare easily digestible food. This is particularly important to those who suffer from acid reflux. The tomato, which many consider the quintessential fruit of summer, has long been... - Indoor Outdoor Rugs Are A Useful Addition To Any Home Decor Project
Polypropylene area rugs are a great choice as they can be used indoor or outdoors. Each of these rugs is created with a 100% polypropylene yarn that is then carefully constructed in a cablelock style using acrylic fabric. By using polypropylene these very special rugs have proven to have far... - Tips for Homeowners: Simple Measures You Can Take to Save Your Home from Fire
You may have homeowners insurance that provides coverage for damage to your home resulting from fire, but this coverage cannot protect your loved ones or memories in the case of fire, it only covers material objects. Every year, 4,000 Americans die in fires, and the vast majority of those deaths... - The Dangers of Mold Growth in Your Home
Molds are part of the natural environment, outdoors molds play a significant part in the environment by breaking down dead plant matter such as dead trees and fallen leaves. Molds that grow inside homes should be best avoided. Mold has some resemblance with plants as well as bacteria, but is... - Even YOU can save while on a shoestring
Believe it or not, how much you save has little to do with how much you make and studies have proven this! It is time to put away the excuses; here’s a roadmap for finding money you didn’t even know you had. That One Simple Word-Savings When you hear that...