Even antique furniture can look like new with proper care
Shampoos or stain removers for upholstered furniture are recommended to be used according to the instructions. Foaming agents are necessary for cleaning, and ink or grease stains are best removed with special mild furniture shampoos.
For Italian upholstered furniture, leather is considered the best and most durable material. It is easy to care for. It can only be damaged by high temperatures, simple cleaning agents, and direct sunlight.
Leather is divided into aniline and semi-aniline, which determines the method of care.
Spots or spilled liquid on aniline leather should be immediately removed with an absorbent napkin, then allow the area to dry on its own. It is strictly forbidden to dry leather covering with a hairdryer. Oily or greasy stains should be wiped with a dry clean cloth; over time, the stain will be absorbed into the leather without water. Upholstered furniture made of aniline leather cannot tolerate: soap solutions, cleaning solvents, furniture polish, oils, ammonia solutions, drying oil, abrasive cleaners and similar chemical solutions, as well as detergents.
Semi-aniline leather coverings require the following care when liquid or stains appear: immediately blot the liquid with a cloth or sponge, sometimes with soap, then wipe dry with a woolen cloth and wait until it dries. Grease stains are removed with a dry clean cloth. The use of turpentine and other aggressive substances is contraindicated.
Polished and lacquered furniture requires careful maintenance. These pieces of furniture do not tolerate moisture, so it is recommended to wipe them with a dry cloth, and then with flannel moistened with turpentine or machine oil. After 30 minutes, the surface should be wiped with a dry soft cloth to a shine.
If small scratches appear on polished furniture, they are removed using a mixture (1:1) of red wine and machine oil. After the mixture is absorbed, its residue should be rubbed in circular motions, then polish the surface with a dry soft cloth.
A darkened and dull lacquered surface can be refreshed by removing the old varnish with fine sandpaper, moving it along the wood grain. Then the furniture surface should be covered with a new layer of varnish using a small tampon made of cotton and linen. For this procedure, it is better to use ready-made colored or colorless nitro varnish.
After 40 minutes, when the first layer dries, apply the next. Up to three layers of varnish can be applied. Or instead of varnish, you can prepare a mastic yourself. Place a bowl in a pot of hot water and prepare a mixture: kerosene, wax, and turpentine in a 1:1:1 ratio, or similarly melt a mixture – turpentine (50 g), drying oil (200 g), beeswax (15 g), paraffin (20 g), soap shavings (5 g), and water (1/4 cup).
Before applying the mastic, the furniture surface should be cleaned of dust and grit with fine sandpaper and wiped dry with a cloth. Then apply the mastic thinly, and after 40 minutes polish the surface with cloth or flannel to a shine.