Furniture with Metal Accents: Care and Cleaning Tips
December 16, 2007
Contract bistro chairs come in all shapes, sizes, and materials, each with its own care requirements. Wood and upholstery care are very important, but what about the metal hardware that comes on a lot of furniture? What should a conscientious furniture owner do to properly care for these screws, bolts, nails, and other bits that get dirty and tarnished over time? Should you polish them?
Probably not. In fact, if you polish certain materials, you can do more harm than good. For example, if you polish a piece that you think is made of brass, you can remove the finish and damage the surface if it turns out to be plated bronze or another finished metal. If you’re sure of yourself and still want to polish the hardware, remove it from the piece before you begin. Keep careful track of the small nails and nuts you remove, because you won’t want to find one rather abruptly when you walk across the room in bare feet.
You will want to clean the hardware first, with a mixture of 50% acetone, 50% alcohol. This will remove any residue. Put the mixture on a soft-bristled brush and clean each piece carefully. Let it air dry, then polish with a lint-fee cloth. Don’t use commercial furniture polishes, but instead use a very fine abrasive, like a jeweler’s micro polish, mixed with alcohol to make a loose paste. A clean resin protectant can then be applied to the hardware before returning it to its place on the furniture.
If it’s impossible to remove the hardware from the furniture for cleaning, block off as much of the surrounding surface as you can to prevent damage. Then follow the steps above, but with a smaller tool, like a cotton swab.
Posted by Janna under Uncategorized |