How to Restore Luster to Antique Furniture

Cleaning

• 1

  Fold paper towels to form a thick pad and moisten with warm water until the paper is barely damp. Squeeze about a teaspoon of facial cleanser onto the damp paper towels.

• 2

  Wipe the cleanser onto a small area of the wood and rub gently to remove dirt. Clean one small section of the furniture at a time, replacing the paper towels with clean ones as needed.

• 3

  Wipe down the cleaned wood with a soft, dry, cloth.

Waxing

• 4

  Apply a thin coating of paste wax with a soft cotton cloth. Use a wax made for wood furniture. These usually contain beeswax or carnauba. Cover the entire surface with a thin layer of wax.

• 5

  Allow the wax to dry for one hour.

• 6

  Buff with a soft cloth or a lamb’s wool pad. Use a firm, circular motion and light pressure. The more you buff, the shinier the surface will become. Continue buffing until you achieve the shine you desire.