Antique collecting and cleaning tips

For those who are into antique collecting either for a business venture or for the pure pleasure of taking care of the treasured possessions is one thing they should be very particular about. This is because proper maintenance will keep the item in its best condition at all times ensuring that it will increase its value as times go by.

If you are into collecting antiques, here are some antique collecting tips that can help you maintain the good condition of the items:

1. Know the specific care requirements of the antique piece in your possession. Since antiques belong to a buy and sell trade, the best care advice would come from the dealer where the pieces were bought. When you are buying antiques for your collection, make sure that you ask the dealer to provide you an extensive list of procedures of how to take care of them. Aside from the list that the dealer has provided, you can also conduct your own research on how to take care of them properly. (REMINDER: Seasoned antique collectors would agree that there are antique pieces that require regular cleaning and polishing to retain their good condition while there are pieces that can retain their good condition without putting anything on them.)

2. Know in which category a specific antique falls. This is very important for antique collecting because it will determine what kind of care you should give the antique piece. Knowing what category the piece belongs to will give you an idea of what you need to take care of it. Aside from giving your accurate procedures in cleaning and maintaining it, the category of the item will also determine what kind of storage it needs to keep it well.

The following is a rundown of antique types and the proper means of cleaning them to maintain original value:

- For coin collections, experts say that it is best to leave them the way they are found.

- For ceramic items, these should be carefully cleaned with the use of lukewarm to hot water and a mild soap or wiped with a damp cloth especially if it has painted features.

- For brass pieces, use a patina or mixture of flour, vinegar, and salt made into a paste and rubbed gently using a soft piece of cloth.

- For furniture pieces, these should be cleaned regularly with water with parts of detergent and bleach to ensure that no mildew can grow. To remove sticky substances from furniture pieces, use hot water and a lemon juice on it.

- Bronze items for antique collecting should be cleaned using a damp cloth that has been soaked in water and soap. (REMINDER: Never use patina on bronze items because it can leave white spots on it that can decrease its value.)