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Caring for Treasured Keepsakes
By Brenda Hyde
and Eileen Titterington
Caring for family keepsakes can be a tricky process, especially if you are now cleaning a treasure that was buried in
Grandmother's attic for years and needs more than just a simple dusting. We have gathered tips both from personal experience
and advice given to us over the years. We hope you can use this as a guide to caring for your collectibles.
Furniture Care
Before you refinish a very old piece of furniture try cleaning it first
with a little soap and water using 0000 fine steel wool to get all the
old wax off, don't rub too hard , make sure you dry it all off with clean rags.After it is dry apply a coat or two of good paste wax, follow the directions on the can of wax that you use.
Always keep in mind that with very old furniture you detract from the
value of it if you refinish it unless it is not the original finish.
Oil Lamps
To clean old oil lamp bases you can try warm soapy water
at first, but if the residue is stubborn try putting crushed ice
along with canning salt. Shake, and it removes the residue.
In a pinch you can use regular salt, but the canning salt is
much courser.
Musty Paper Collectibles
To rid paper collectibles such as magazines, pamphlets or
sheet music of a mildew or musty smell enclose the item in
a closed container such as a plastic storage tub with a lid.
You can sprinkle baking powder directly on the item and
keep it enclosed for a few days. Check the smell, and repeat
if necessary. A less messy method is to place dryer sheets
around the item, not on it, and enclose.
Collectible Books
Collectible books are more valuable with the
dust jackets, however they can become brittle
and torn through the years. If you have a book
you are handing down in the family look into
covering it with a special plastic covering for
the jacket. Brodart has many archival supplies
and you can request a free catalog at their website:
Brodart: Archival Supplies.
Brass Collectibles
Clean with a solution of either ammonia and water, or salt and vinegar. Rinse well after
cleaning and then polish.
Porcelain
Clean with a damp sponge or with a mixture of ammonia and water. Hydrogen peroxide OR a solution of bleach and water may help remove stains.
Remember that you do need to be very careful with your collectibles. Often attempts at restoration will detract from the value. If you have something that you feel needs to
be restored contact a professional or research your options carefully.
About the Authors:
Eileen Titterington helps to run T's Old Things, which sells collectible
book and antiques. Brenda Hyde is editor of Seeds of Knowledge
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