How to Restore Old Wooden Furniture

In this article we share the best tips for restoring old pine and carob furniture to leave them like new. Also know the tricks to paint wooden furniture, in addition to cleaning, lacquering and much more. If you want cleaning service from us visit us tenancy cleaning portsmouth

Antiques are very precious and delicate furniture, so they need some care. However, over time, pine or carob furniture can be damaged and we have to restore it. I discovered all the tips on how to clean old furniture, how to beautify carob furniture, as well as tips for painting, lacquering and polishing it.

How to clean wooden furniture

Before you start restoring the furniture, it is important to remove the finish from the wood to restore it to its original appearance. In the case of wooden furniture that does not have paint or varnish, you just have to clean it with a damp microfiber cloth with neutral soap and let it dry before following the other restoration stages.

Cleaning varnished wooden furniture

If you don't know how to clean lacquered or varnished furniture, don't worry. I followed the following recommendations:

Sanding is an excellent method of removing old paint and varnish that are present on the surface. You can sand by hand or use an orbital sander to remove the finishes. Then use a rag with solvent to clean it.
Paint strippers are also an effective means of removing varnish and paint. So apply the solvent or stripper with a brush and remove the product with a putty knife. Afterwards, clean the surface and sand it lightly with a fine sandpaper. To complement cleaning, we recommend Cif Ultra Gloss , which removes dust, guaranteeing high protection and care.

It is important to know how to clean old wooden furniture so as not to damage it. Learn more methods to clean wooden furniture .

How to remove the rottenness of the furniture

Eliminating woodworm is not a complicated process, but it will take you a few days to combat it. I followed these steps:

Eliminate any trace of dust and dirt. The wood must be clean before applying the treatment.
Inject a woodworm solution (you can buy it at a hardware store). Syringe it into the holes and make sure to fill in all the gaps.
Use plastic and wrap the furniture well. It should be fully laminated. In this way you will get the solution to act in depth.
Unwrap the furniture and inject the solution again. You'll want to do this at least twice to make sure you remove any traces of woodworm.
Deep clean the furniture. Eliminate any remaining trace of the solution and clean each part of the furniture.

How to remove moisture from furniture

Ventilate the furniture that has humidity well, because if you do not manage to dry it completely, it will continue to generate odor, mold and the wood will deteriorate even more. Also, use the heating moderately, since it will help you to dry the wood with humidity in bad weather days. And how to avoid humidity in the furniture? I opened the doors or drawers regularly to avoid moisture.

How to repair dents in wooden furniture

One way to restore wood is by repairing bumps. This is a very important point in the restoration of antique furniture, since it is necessary to deal with cracks and bumps in the wood. To do this, use a damp cloth with hot water or milk. Place it in the area of the slit and secure it to the furniture with tape. Let it act for a few hours and the cracks will have disappeared. The holes and fissures, it is advisable to cover them with putty using a spatula and then sand the surface.

How to restore varnished wooden furniture

There are several resources that you can use to recycle old furniture and rustic wood. Know some of the types of restoration:

Wallpaper restoration: there are a wide variety of patterns that can be used to personalize old wooden furniture. You can paste the wallpaper on the doors or line the inside of the drawers to give a new look.
Use of strong colors: to give a fresher touch to the furniture, you can choose more vibrant colors and a different paint pattern, such as the design of vertical and horizontal stripes to change the decorative format.
Vintage paint: Another option is to choose pastel colors, such as pink or light green to give the wood a new look.
Use of different drawers: you can use drawers of different formats and colors to give your old furniture a new look.

How to paint vintage style wooden furniture

Patina is a very good technique to give your pine or carob furniture a vintage look. The patina procedure is very easy. I followed these tips on how to paint furniture with a vintage finish:

I chose which color is going to be the one that predominates the most and you are going to apply it as a base color. Let dry, pass the brush or sandpaper and place the other color in the second layer.
As soon as you finish applying the second color, with a cloth, remove the excess paint and scrape off the second layer of semi-fresh paint. In this way, the final finish of the patina is obtained with the mixture of colors and the textures of the wood.
Finally, apply wax to seal the pores of the wood and then varnish the furniture.

How to lacquer wooden furniture

Lacquering is a decorative technique that leaves the surface of the furniture looking smooth and with a great shine. Here we show you how to lacquer your wooden furniture.

Lacquer pine furniture

I followed these steps to lacquer a pine piece of furniture:

Clean the furniture and remove all dirt from the surface.
Fill the holes and sand the wood.
Apply the coat of varnish or lacquer with a brush or spray. Do not forget to wear gloves and protective glasses during the process and to carry it out in a ventilated place.
Give your furniture at least 2 coats of varnish or lacquer to make it last longer. Let dry for 48 hours between coats.

How to polish old wooden furniture

The final finish to make the furniture brighter is to apply a second coat. It is advisable to wax the surface once or twice a year to ensure that it is in perfect condition after the restoration. I discovered how to wax carob or pine furniture:

Lemon salt and vinegar: mix the products, wipe the combination with a cloth and let the furniture dry.
Vaseline: apply Vaseline to the surface and wipe the wood with a dry cloth to polish it.
Furniture wax: use it with a microfiber cloth and make circular movements on the surface. Then let the furniture dry.
Specific products for wood: verify that they have silicone oil to protect the material. I followed the instructions on the packaging.

How to make refinished furniture last longer

In order for your restored furniture to last a long time, it is important to take some care. Get to know our tips:

Avoid exposing the wood to the sun. Try to use blinds or curtains to avoid exposure.
Protect the furniture from contact with water. It must be avoided that it gets wet and that it is not in a very humid environment, since humidity makes the wood soften.
Move the cabinet away from the air conditioner. The wooden furniture tarnishes if it is in frequent contact with the air.
Don't make sudden movements. Old furniture can be easily damaged if it is not well maintained. If you have to move them, it is better to lift them than push them to avoid possible damage to the structure.
Clean frequently. Cleaning is important for the conservation of wood and to avoid the accumulation of dust.
Avoid abrasive cleaning supplies. Products that have ammonia, for example, deteriorate the furniture and take out its shine and color.
Do not support hot containers. If you rest hot objects directly on the surface, it will cause a stain on the wood.
Spot clean immediately. If any liquid is spilled on the furniture, clean it with absorbent paper and then with a sponge. This will avoid leaving irreparable marks and damaging the wood.

With these old furniture restoration tips you don't have to worry anymore. Now you can restore your rustic wood furniture and renew the decoration of your home. I also discovered how to whiten wood darkened by the passage of time and how to recover wood burned by the sun .

Frequently asked questions about restoring old furniture

How to clean varnished wooden furniture?

Cleaning varnished wooden furniture is very simple. Pass them a dry cloth to remove dust and once a week pass them a damp cloth with soap and water. If you have to remove old paint, sand it down and then use a solvent-soaked rag. Always sand in the same direction as the grain to avoid scratches. You can also use paint strippers to remove varnish or paint.

How can I restore an old wardrobe?

First you have to identify the defects in the furniture and then sand the entire surface and paint it. You can also do it for the repair of blows. You just have to use a damp cloth with water, place it in the area of the slit and fasten it to the closet with tape. Let it act for a few hours and the cracks will have disappeared. If there are holes and cracks in the furniture, cover them with putty using a putty knife and sand the surface.

How to paint an old wooden furniture?

If it is an old piece of furniture, we recommend water-based paints, since they are easy to correct if an error occurs. You have to sand the entire surface to remove the varnish, clean it, and then apply a coat of paint in a color you like. Let dry and give it a second coat of paint. To finish, apply a water-based varnish in layers and let the furniture dry.

What paint is used to paint vintage furniture?

To achieve an aged effect, the best option is to use a quality, mineral-based chalk paint, which offers a more natural finish. Use a brush, since the bristles offer an ideal texture for the effect and achieve a more vintage result. If you use short and hard hair brushes, the brush strokes will be more marked. If you prefer those with long and soft hair, the finish will be smoother.