Whether you collect antiques to hold on to the past, for sentimental value, chasing for the perfect piece, or other reasons, antiques are collected and stored in households around the world. Once you purchase the perfect antique, it’s important to keep it in great condition to ensure it retains its value for several more years!
Here are some tips on how to take care of a number of different antique items available online on Proxibid.com!
Furniture
Antique furniture is VERY different than modern day furniture. The materials, polishes, adhesives, and quality have changed dramatically in the last 50 (or more) years. Keep that beautiful kitchen table, chairs, desk, and other items safe with the proper care.
First, make sure your antique furniture is in the right environment! UV lighting is damaging to antique furniture, and sunlight can degrade the material and warp it. It’s important to have curtains blocking most of the sun on these pieces to keep them pristine.
Another thing to consider is the humidity level in your home. Alan Grahn, an antique expert, states collectors should “maintain a constant humidity of no more than 40 to 60 percent” in their homes. This helps keep the material of the piece in the best condition during the next course of its life.
Always avoid using modern day cleaning supplies, soaps and oils! The chemicals inside of these items can break down the material. A tip for everyone: you don’t need to add wax, but if you do, use wax made specifically for antique restoration.
Collectibles
A collectible item can be anything from memorabilia to artistic pieces. A collectible is an item that you collect and hold dear to your heart.
If you’re a sports fanatic, we are the perfect website for you! Always case up your collectible items. Just make sure the case is protecting any valuable cards, gloves, bats, helmets, etc. It's important to keep the environment room temperature and as dry as possible. Once moisture starts to set in, itcan wreak havoc on your baseball cards or signed pieces.
When it comes to porcelain and pottery, NEVER lift the item by the handle. This can cause the handle to break off and the piece to shatter. Pick it up and hold it by the sides. Again, don’t use modern-day cleaning supplies. Some hot soap and water will do the trick when cleaning these items.
Books
A book holds the past and can teach us about the future.The Library of Congress suggests that when handling books be preserved to wear gloves. You never want to pull the book by the ends or edges of the spine. Lightly grab the middle and pull it off the shelf. This will help to keep the spine intact, which keeps the book together.
Always consider the condition of the book. Does it need to be placed in certain temperatures? Does it need its own preservation container? How fragile is the book? These common questions are critical to consider when taking care of or preserving your antique book collection.
It’s important to buy the right storage for these books. A historic or antique book shouldn’t be left on any shelf in your home with the hopes of it never being destroyed. These books are fragile and can easily break, get ruined, and warp. Sunlight, excessive moisture, and the wrong storage can harm your antique books.
Coins
Coins and currency auctions and collections are a big deal! The most rare coins can be collected on websites like ours. Currency from Brazil, China or other places in the world are collectibles cherished by numismatics.
Once you start your collection, keep it in prime condition. Coins are designed to last throughout time. It’s important to store them in one of the following items:
- A folder
- Coin board
- Albums
- Flips
- Hard Plastics
- Slabs
- Coin Tubes
Read more here to learn about these different storage methods and their importance for your collection.
Once you find the right storage, clean and polish your coins before storing them. First, wash your hands in hot, soapy water and ensure all the dirt and oils are off your hands. Next, dip the coin in a small bucket or bowl of hot, soapy water and let it soak. Then take the coin, rinse it off, dry it completely, and store inside one of the proper storage containers.
Ornaments
In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, it’s important to take care of those generations-old Christmas ornaments. The best tip for Christmas ornaments is to make sure they aren’t on the main family tree with children around. As parents and grandparents, you know children are fascinated with the tree and want to constantly touch it. This can cause one of those antique ornaments to easily shatter.
The next step is to keep the ornament in the original packaging if possible. This helps keep the item clean and safe when not in use. Always store your antique ornaments together and in a separate place.
Your antiques have lived longer than you have! Take care of them the proper way. Don’t let humidity, bad storage or other novice antique collectors destroy your prized possessions.