ANTIQUES & FURNITURE RESTORATION INC
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How to Properly Maintain Your Fine Furniture (Fine Furniture Care 101)

11/17/2016

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Taking good care of your furniture is much easier than most people think and when done properly, your quality wood furniture will be enjoyed by generations to come.
To maximize the life of your fine pieces, be proactive.
Sometimes it’s tough to follow all of these guidelines but it’s definitely worth a try.
Antique Furniture

Avoid Most Advertised Polishes

Don't Use Pledge
Don’t use Pledge! Most furniture polishes you pick up from the supermarket have silicone in them. â€‹They may look great but over time, this material creates a slick surface tension and will eventually have a blotchy appearance, leaving smudge marks when handled. House cleaners love to use the stuff because it makes all your furniture shiny and they think that makes you happy. Have a conversation with your house cleaner and be sure they you know what they are using on your fine pieces.​

Use This Instead

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For any fine finish, we recommend dusting and wiping with a damp cotton cloth. Once or twice a year, using Mohawk's Oz Cream Polish will help take off any buildup from regular use and bring back some luster. Pro Tip: Use this on your wooden kitchen cabinets and be prepared to be mindblown!

No Extreme Changes in Temperatures or Humidity

Be conscious of drastic changes in temperature or humidity that can quickly cause damage to your furniture. Avoid damp or humid areas and do not use storage facilities that are not temperature and humidity controlled.
​

Lift, Don’t Drag

This one might seem obvious at first, but there’s a few things that don’t come right to mind. Small scratches are bound to happen over time from normal use but why not avoid this as much as possible by always lifting objects instead of dragging them across your furniture’s surface. You should also be using protective pads to protect your furniture from plastics, warm items, vases, etc. Also, it’s very helpful rotate any accessories you have on furniture surfaces so they are not sitting in one spot all the time.
​

Blot, Don’t Wipe

Let’s be honest, no matter what you do, accidents will happen. Clean up spills immediately and don’t wipe liquids across the surface of your furniture. Instead, get an absorbent cloth and use a blotting action. Liquids left over a long period of time will probably damage the finish, so you’re working against the clock here. Also remember that alcohol, perfumes, nail polishes, etc. may cause severe damage and will most likely need professional attention, but minimizing the damage is always worth it.
​

Dust Regularly

Maybe we should’ve mentioned this one first… Use a clean, soft cloth and always dust in the direction of the grain. Dampening (not wetting) the cloth can help you cling on to any surface dust. Microfiber cloths are also great as they hang on to the dust instead of just moving it across the surface. Don’t forget to dust every nook and cranny, even the places you can’t see. Dust can accumulate in hidden areas, and really have an effect on air quality. This is specifically important in bedrooms, so grab a step-stool or ladder and clean the top, hidden parts of your wardrobes and cabinets.
HINT: Line the tops of your wardrobes and cabinets with parchment paper or newspaper. It won’t be visible and after dust accumulates, you can just cover it with a new layer and fold the corners towards the middle. Throw it away and replace. Easy! 
​

Get in Touch with a Professional

Contact your local furniture refinisher. Sometimes, it’s helpful to apply a polish or wax once or twice a year and they can help you figure out what the best polish is for your specific finish. 

Our Favorite Products

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For any fine finish, we recommend dusting and wiping with a damp cotton cloth. Once or twice a year, using Mohawk's Oz Cream Polish will help take off any buildup from regular use and bring back some luster.
Has a drill hole stripped? Have a crack? Missing Corner? Mohawk's Epoxy Putty Stick is a great way to fix these problems quickly. Make sure you pick a color close to your piece.
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Watch How-To Video
Purchase on Amazon
Watch How-To Video
Scratches happen. Corners get bumped. Mohawk's Pro Mark Touchup Markers are your go to to quickly repair these bumps and scratches. If you can use a marker, you can touch up your furniture...
​Make sure you pick a color close to your piece. 
Boiled Linseed Oil is great for pieces that are lacking moisture or finish and refinishing isn't the first choice. As always, try first in an inconspicious area to see how the current finish will react. 
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5 Years Listed With Angie's List... 10 Super Service Awards!

12/15/2015

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Angie's List Super Service Award 2015

This year, we earned the Super Service Award in all three categories we are listed in: Refinishing and Repair, Upholstery and Antiques!

We are very proud to serve our Angie's List clients and look forward to many more years of great service!
“Our standards for the Super Service Award are quite high. The fact that Antiques & Furniture Restoration earned this recognition speaks volumes about its dedication providing great service to its customers.”
-Angie Hicks
Angie's List Press Release
After being listed on Angie's List for only 5 year we have received 288 reviews, the largest number for any Furniture Refinisher in the Washington, DC Angie's List. For perspective, the next refinishing business  has 166 reviews, and has been listed on Angie's List for much longer. Of our 288 reviews, 250+ are an A+. Thank you for your patronage!
Check out another feature Angie's List did on our business:
Furniture Refinisher Works 'MIRACLES' Renewing Heirloom
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We have won Angie’s List Super Service Awards for the past 5 years in the Washington, DC Area.

CATEGORIES AWARDED
ANTIQUES
REFINISHING & REPAIR
​UPHOLSTERY
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Download the Official ​Angie's List Press Release
Official Angie's List Press Release
File Size: 541 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

About Angie's List

Angie’s List helps facilitate happy transactions between nearly 3 million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly-rated service providers in 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of authentic reviews of local service, Angie’s List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers, and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

About Antiques & Furniture Restoration, Inc.

Antiques & Furniture Restoration was founded in 1991 in New York City  by Yasser Haridi. When Yasser started a family he moved his business to the DC area and it quickly became the area's premier commercial and residential fine furniture restorer. For more information, visit Antiques & Furniture Restoration's website at Refinishing.org, or call 703-437-7446.
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    Antiques & Furniture Restoration has been providing the highest quality furniture refinishing, upholstery and repair services available to the Washington area for over 25 years.
    We take great pride in what we do and specialize in preserving the integrity of the pieces we work on. We bring your piece down to the bare wood and every step of the process is done by hand. We NEVER use any acids, high pressure water or dipping tanks. We truly take no shortcuts and you can bet that you will end up with a period correct, finished product that you and your family will enjoy for many years to come. Make an appointment to stop by our shop and we'll walk you through our signature process.
    We serve the entire Washington, DC metropolitan area including but not limited to Loudoun, Fairfax, Frederick, Montgomery, Baltimore, Prince George, Charles, Prince William and Fauquier Counties.
    Our customers love us. We have over 250 positive reviews on Angie's List and more than 70% of our business comes from repeat and referral customers.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

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Antiques & Furniture Restoration Inc
45945 Trefoil Ln Ste 172
Sterling, VA 20166
United States
Tel: 703-437-7446
Email: [email protected]
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​Providing Antique Restoration, Refinishing & Upholstery Services in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia areas including but not limited to:
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  • Home
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Testimonials
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    • Contact
  • Doors
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