Vintage Home Furniture

What is the best way to clean and refinish 100 year old furniture?

I have inherited a very old dresser/ desk combo. It is in very good condition, but it needs a lot of cleaning. I want to clean it and possibly refinish it with out doing damage to the wood. I also have another older piece that was painted wand was wonder how to remove the paint and then refinish it. I would appriciate any help given. Thanks =)

Public Comments

1. Cleaning an antique improperly or refinishing it will likely destroy its value. I don't know where to find the right way, but it sounds like you're about to ruin your antiques. My mother did that.
2. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoQbz.3wyDjADUaEhswR94Dsy6IX?qid=1006021205988
3. According to Antiques Road Show, you do not want to clean old furnature, just to keep it dusted and out of harms way. The "Dirt" is called "Patina" and is important in determining the pieces age. Check with antique stores in your area for the value of the piece and then decide if you want to keep it because you like it or because it is an antique. I have removed all the paint on an old dresser because it was peeling off, probably destroyed any value but I use the piece daily (I couldn't do that with the paint falling off). If you start watching Antiques Road Show you could get some tips as to possible value of your pieces and cleaning tips. One lady said she rubbed her furnature with tung oil, but the antiques appraiser said she shouldn't even do that. Another lady used paint remover to remove paint from a painted carrousel horse head, she did it so carefully that the undercoat of paint and "patina" was not removed. If you can remove the outer coat of paint (using very weak paint remover and checking it constantly) and not the original finish, then it would be ok, but that takes months and lots of paitence. Good Luck!