How to easily restore and care for your antique and vintage furniture

So you have acquired or inherited an item of wooden furniture of which you are proud.But how to keep it looking its best and preserve it? If its worth looking after it is worth spending a little time to care for it. However as time is short for many of us today we often reach for a quick fix spray or impregnated pads to work quickly over polished surfaces.The real answer, for light oak, ash, beech , and pine, according to professional restorers and polishers, Gilboys , is beeswax.

Supplies Needed

Gilboy's Gold Furniture Beeswax Polish

Gilboy's Beeswax Polish Kit

If the furniture you are caring for is dark oak there is a product available for you from Gilboy's

Step by Step Instructions

6 point guide to caring for your furniture, using its product:

1.Clean the surface to be polished if dirty with a slightly damp cloth and wipe dry

2.Protect with a dust sheet carpets and fabrics where you are polishing

3.Apply the wax sparingly to the surface with ‘0000’ wire wool (its like cotton wool) or a soft cloth

4.Apply in small amounts evenly and in the direction of the grain avoiding over application

5.Allow to dry and harden for 20 to 30 minutes

6.Buff with a clean cloth in the direction of the grain


The natural quality will shine through! Keeping the shine should only require a once a year treatment of the wax and then often only every few years.A daily or weekly use of a slightly damp cloth to remove any dust followed by a soft dry cloth to finish-off is all you need.

Anything else is considered totally inadequate both to produce a great finish and to provide the necessary protection for the wood surface. Gilboy’s head Restorer, William Arscott argues that many polishes and waxes sold today contain chemicals and oils that are detrimental to the finish.If these products have beeswax in them it is often so little as to be ineffective.He says,”These types of polishes should be avoided.It is likely that some of these polishes will cause damage to the patinated finish and in the long term will require restoration and conservation to the finish.”