How To Clean, Refinish And Repair An Antique Bed
by Valeria Forti
A simple dusting is fine for newer furniture, but if you have an antique bed, chances are that it needs a thorough cleaning.
After decades of use, a lot of grime and dirt will be built up on the surface of the wood. But, most people aren’t quite sure how to clean a antique bed.
Antique furniture should be cleaned in one of two ways, either with warm water and detergent, or with mineral spirits.
It’s always a good idea to clean an area that doesn’t show first. Let the area dry thoroughly and then carefully inspect it for any signs of damage before cleaning the entire piece.
You should use a soft rag or cheesecloth and squeeze all of the excess water or mineral spirits out of the rag.
Concentrate on cleaning one area at a time and rinse it with a clean rag and warm water. Once you’re done cleaning a section, use a dry cloth to remove as much moisture as possible.
Refinishing antique furniture
Refinishing antique furniture can greatly decrease the value. So, you should only refinish if there’s no other option.
If you don’t know how to refinish an antique bed, you might be better off hiring a professional. However, you can easily do the job yourself.
It’s much easier to remove the old finish with chemicals than it is to sand the piece.
There are two main reasons why sanding isn’t a good idea. Sanding won’t get into the intricate areas and the old finish is likely to contain lead.
If you do decide to sand an antique bed, make sure you wear a mask.
Use a good quality gel or paste stripper and follow the directions on the label. You can use a plastic scraper or medium coarse steel wool to remove the finish.
Just remember if you use use steel wool, to make sure to rub with the grain of the wood.
For small intricate areas or carvings, you’ll need a stiff brush to remove the finish. You might have to apply several applications of the stripper to remove all of the old finish.
Once you’ve got the entire piece done, clean it thoroughly with a lacquer thinner.
After the bed is stripped, cleaned and completely dry, inspect it for any marks or rough areas that might need sanded. You can remove any flaws with a piece of 100 grit sandpaper.
Then before applying the new finish, go back over the piece with a 150 grit sandpaper.
The easiest way to refinish your antique bed is with a gel stain. Gels will give you more control and can be applied with a cloth or brush.
Work the stain into the wood and allow it to penetrate for several minutes and then remove any excess stain. Apply as many coats as you need, but make sure to allow each one to dry thoroughly.
Before you decide to refinish your antique bed, you should always see if the piece is in need of any repairs. If you do find loose joints or deep gouges in the wood, you might be asking, how do I repair an antique bed?
You can use a sandable wood filler to fill in any gouges or deep lines that you find before applying the new finish.
If the bed has loose joints, it’s best to use a good quality wood glue instead of screws or nails. To properly repair a loose joint, you should take the section apart and sand it to remove any old glue.
Make sure the surface is clean so the glue will adhere and use clamps to hold it together until it thoroughly dry.
Valeria Forti writes for the blog Antique Furniture a website focused on antiques to feature news from the dealers, tips ‘n tricks and interviews from industry experts.
