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The value of antique furniture increases through years thus it should be taken care of if one wants his or her precious antique furniture to last a long time. There are several things that should be done in order to preserve the beauty of antique furniture. And every responsible antique furniture owner should be able observe them. When placed inside the home, it should not be placed near a radiator or any other heat source. If there is no choice but to place the furniture near a fireplace or a radiator, a heat barrier should be made. This could either be a fireplace screen or anything that will reduce the amount of heat directed towards the antique furnitureAny antique home furniture should also be protected from humidity. A central heating can create an environment which could create negative effect for any antique furniture which is more often than not, rarer than a contemporary furniture piece. Thus it is recommended that if a home has a central heating system, a humidifier should also be installed. Unlike when buying discount furniture from furniture stores, a homeowner should consult a specialist when it comes to picking the right humidifier. One can either use an electric or a non-electric humidifier. These humidifiers work in different principle but all of which are designed to maintain a safe level of humidity inside the home. Since antique furniture pieces are very valuable, investing on a good quality humidifier is a good step as any antique furniture is a good investment especially with the fact that the price of antique furniture goes up with every passing year. One should also use a hygrometer to check the level of humidity inside the home. According to experts, the humidity should be maintained at levels of between 50 and 55 percent. When moving antique furniture pieces, care should be observed. Always lift up furniture by their strongest units. Thus, one should be able to understand the construction of certain furniture to determine where its strongest points are. Also, a furniture item, especially an antique one should not be dragged at anytime. But if a situation presents itself when antique furniture cannot be moved without being dragged, the dragging force should be as close to the floor as possible. Things that can ruin an antique furniture piece are scratches and bruises. Thus, a valuable antique item should be placed somewhere it can be away from anything that could bang against it which could result on scratches. Solvents could also wreak havoc on the surface of antique furniture pieces. Therefore, any homeowner should be careful around precious furniture items and not to drop any solvent on its surface. If a solvent is inadvertently spilled on said item, it should be dabbed off. It should never be rubbed dry since a solvent could soften the surface finish. Thus, rubbing it off would strip the surface finish which could ruin the whole look of the furniture. These tips should be observed by any antique furniture owner to make sure that their antique items would last for decades to come.

Everyone loves the look and feel of wicker furniture. Nothing quite like a well woven wicker set placed in an open lawn to add a touch of comfort as well as class! You can get exquisite pieces of wicker furniture for your interiors as well. There are not only coffee tables and chairs made using wicker but beds, breakfast tables, magazine racks, and many more things as well. Wicker furniture is something which works well indoor as well as outside. A lot of people still do not know what exactly is wicker and sometimes confuse the technique for the product. Wicker is the technique of weaving various types of materials like rattan, reed, willow or even water hyacinth over a core. Due to the strength and durability of the rattan core the wicker rattan furniture is most sought after. As the name implies it is made by using the wood of the rattan vine, a plant native to the rain forests. And you are most likely to find the best of pieces in Indonesian furniture shops, in the Philippines, China and India among other countries. Here are some tips on how to care for your wicker furniture:1. Never leave wicker furniture out in direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time. Harsh sunlight will cause the weave to dry and crack. 2. Try to maintain humidity levels within your home. In case of too much humidity wicker furniture will absorb some moisture and you may find mould or mildew growing on it. This leaves ugly patches and ultimately the furniture warps, bends and then snaps. In case of too much dryness too the reeds may split. So, if you live in a place that is very dry, you may need to wipe regularly with a damp cloth. 3. Vacuuming regularly is the best way to keep your wicker furniture clean. Use the soft brush attachment of the vacuum to reach the dust settled down between the weaves. Otherwise you can wipe the furniture regularly with a soft cloth. Reach the nooks and crannies with an old toothbrush or a paint brush. Simultaneously check for splits and holes. 4. If your wicker set has collected too much dust you can use a water spray hose to wash it. Use bleach in water and scrub with a soft brush to remove mould. Wipe dry thoroughly after this and let dry in shade. But be sure that your wicker is not a paper fiber wicker or you will be left with very big mess. 5. Never let anyone sit on wet or damp wicker furniture. The reeds bend with the weight and the shape can be irreparably damaged. 6. Spills should be immediately wiped with a damp cloth otherwise it gets absorbed into the material. It also encourages growth of mildew. 7. If you have pets at home you are more than likely to find pet hairs in the crevices of your furniture. Pay special attention to these places when you vacuum. And if you still can’t reach them use tweezers or a small brush. Wicker furniture looks great in any type of setting and with a little bit of care it can give you years of service.