Inspect First

Inspect before Restoration

The best place to start is a thorough inspection of the piece to be restored. Determine where the worst build up is. Check inside corners, carvings, around hardware and molding, or any other obstacles that might stop a dust cloth in it's tracks and leave whatever was being pushed by the cloth.

Remove Hardware

The first thing after the inspection is to apply some furniture restoration cleaner in an inconspicuous place to be sure that it's compatible with the finish. Always follow the label directions on the cleaner container.

The furniture restoration job is easier if you can remove the hardware. Generally when you remove the hardware from older furniture there is a little ridge on the finish at the base of the hardware. This ridge is a buildup of wax, polish and dust and is quite often crusty and defies dissolving so it would be a good idea to have a plastic putty knife handy to do a little scraping to remove the ridge. If you try rubbing the ridge off with steel wool and cleaner you may rub through the surrounding finish before the ridge is rubbed down. A table knife isn't a good idea either, you could damage the finish.

Restore A Small Area At A Time

It's always a good idea to work in a small area at a time, about 10 inches in diameter, then go over the whole connected surface and blend the smaller areas together. When I say connected surface that means a whole area, like a complete top, or a complete half of a table that opens for a leaf, or one side of a piece, or one shelf, any surface that continues uninterrupted by an edge, a molding or anything else that contains the surface.

Next, using a small paint brush, apply cleaner to any place that might have an extra buildup, like inside corners, carvings or anything else of that nature, so that the cleaner can have extra time to start dissolving the excess buildup. Follow the label directions and cautions on the container of cleaner for your furniture restoration project and clean the larger expanse of flat area. Daub more cleaner on the badly built up areas while you're cleaning the flat area. Periodically test an area of excess build up using a toothbrush on carving or similar areas and a dowel sharpened in a pencil sharpener for inside corners and deep crevices.

Make A Second Restoration Trip

After you're sure that the furniture is completely clean, go over it again to be definitely sure, especially if you know that spray polish has been used on the furniture. Removing the silicone that has come from spray polish is one of the most difficult parts of the finish portion of furniture restoration.

Inspect Your Furniture Restoration

After the cleaning is all done give the piece a good buffing with a soft cloth.
If the finish is all there, not worn off in places, and has a nice appearance your furniture restoration is complete. Best not to use any spray polishes, because you'll just start the buildup process again and sprays can do it quickly and are the most difficult to completely remove. If the finish is all there, but looks a little dull there are several wax and polishing products that can give it a more lively appearance. Many of those products can be used on everyday finishes too.

Wax And Polish

Before you wax or polish go over your furniture with a slightly damp cloth to remove dust and fingerprints, then buff with a clean, dry, soft cloth, then use the wax or polish very sparingly. It doesn't take much wax or polish to give a good appearance and too much can make the finish look worse in a short time, cause quicker build up and a much shorter time until furniture restoration is necessary again