Published on
Keeping your antique furniture in great condition is important not only for the life of the piece but the value as well.
Follow the steps below to repair your antique furniture at home.
1. Scrub with soapy water
Cleaning should always be the first phase of any furniture renewal project. Experts often recommend using liquid Ivory dish soap mixed with water for cleaning furniture.
Dip a sponge into the soap solution and use it to gently scrub the surface of your furniture. Removing decades of built-up dirt and grime will often restore much of the original lustre. You can even use a paintbrush for cleaning any hard to access carvings and mouldings.
When you've finished cleaning, rinse the surface with a damp sponge and clean water, then dry it with a soft towel.
2. Fill damaged spots with epoxy
If you find any missing veneer, chipped wood or a damaged mouldings you can easily fix them with epoxy putty.
When the epoxy putty is thoroughly mixed, press it gently into the area that needs to be filled or repaired.
After the epoxy hardens, you can sand and stain it but sand carefully and precisely to avoid damaging the finish surrounding the repaired area.
3. Scrape old paint
Easily scrape away old paint from your furniture without damaging the finish by using a delicate paint scrubber. A razor blade works well as a home-made paint scrubber or you can buy one in your local DiY store.
4: Apply gel stain
Restore the shade or colour of tired-looking furniture with gel stain. Apply the gel stain to the surface and wipe off any excess. Sadly, gel stain can't eliminate dark water stains or cover bad defects but it can hide fine scratches and colour in areas where the finish has deteriorated.
5. Fill small cracks
You can use wax filler sticks to repair tiny cracks or small holes in your furniture. They're very easy to use and if you take the time to build-up your layers carefully and match the colours accurately the resulting repair can be almost impossible to spot.
6. Repairing dents
If you have any small dents in your furniture try making some fine slits in the affected area and then wetting with water. The moisture will be absorbed and swells the dented area back to its original shape.
7. Patch the missing parts
If a part of the furniture is missing then it is always best to consult a professional to have it patched. Only craftsmanship and keen attention to detail will result in a satisfying repair.