Knowledge center · Care guides — before you write to us
Knowledge · Care guide
Care guides — before you write to us
What you can do at home, and when it is wiser to stop and ask.
Cleaning an antique finish properly
Do not use household cleaners or commercial furniture spray — silicone and solvents damage shellac and an original finish. Dust with a dry microfiber cloth, and only occasionally with a cloth that is barely damp. To refresh the sheen: a thin coat of natural wax (beeswax or carnauba) once or twice a year, in gentle circles.
Humidity and temperature — the quiet enemy
Antique wood “breathes” and responds to changes in humidity. The Israeli climate poses a double risk: a dry summer that shrinks and splits, and a damp winter that swells drawers and joints. Keep relative humidity at 45%–55%, keep furniture out of a direct air-conditioner blast and away from a window in strong sun, and avoid placing it against a damp exterior wall.
Identifying your wood
Antique furniture in Israel is often oak, walnut, mahogany, beech, or a wood faced with veneer. A hardwood (oak, walnut) is more durable and takes restoration well; a softwood and veneer need a lighter hand. A quick sign: heavy weight and tight grain point to a hardwood. Do not sand hard before you know what it is — thin veneer can be sanded away entirely.
Lifting veneer — what to do
A bubble or a lifted corner of veneer comes from moisture or from glue that has dried out. Do not tear it and do not cut it off. Keep the piece that has lifted, keep it away from moisture, and photograph it. Veneer repair needs glue introduced carefully and controlled pressure — delicate work best left to a craftsperson.
Loose joints in chairs and tables
A wobbling chair is the most common failure. Do not fill the joint with epoxy or nails — that makes a future repair impossible. The right repair is to take the joint apart, clean out the old glue (usually reversible hide glue), and glue it again with a suitable woodworking glue. If the chair is in daily use, stop using it until it is repaired, so the break does not spread.
White water rings on a table
A white ring is moisture trapped in the finish (not in the wood itself) — so it is usually reversible. Do not scrape it. Gentle methods, such as mild heat through a cloth or a specialist wax, can draw the moisture out. A dark stain, by contrast, has already reached the wood and needs professional treatment.
Have a piece of furniture and you are not sure what you are looking at?
A few photographs and a short description — and we will get to know your piece. No obligation.
Send photos for a restoration assessment