Antiques dealer Kathleen Eichleay doles out tips to field reporter Barry Stranz on how to find new uses for old items.
- To prevent damage to fine and antique china, put paper doilies or paper towels between plates and saucers when stacking. This will prevent scratches. Also, never hang cups by the handles or stack them. Line them up in a row.
- Antiques aren't just collectibles that have to sit in a corner and look pretty. Put them to use. There are many architectural antique items that can be put to practical or decorative use around the home. These items are often found at architectural salvage galleries, flea markets, estate sales, garage sales or even in the attic.
- Use your imagination and consider using items in a different way than they were originally intended. For example, old ceiling-light fixtures can be placed on a table and used as candelabras. Just place tall candles in the light-bulb sockets and decorate with moss or greenery. These make great centerpieces.
- It's not necessary to find just the right print or picture to make use of an interesting antique picture frame. Hang the empty frame on the wall and place smaller frames within it. The smaller frames could contain old family photos or unique pieces of art.
- A turn-of-the-century baby's crib can easily be made into a daybed. Just place a crib mattress on the bed and wrap it with an interesting cloth. Then place decorative pillows on it to create a unique piece of furniture.
- Find an old piece of molding or interesting woodwork, and carefully screw old coat hooks into the wood for a decorative coat hangar that would look beautiful in a foyer.
- When cleaning antiques, it may be OK to just clean some of the dust off them. Try not to scrub the item so that it looks bright and shiny. This will destroy the antique patina, or appearance, and will only decrease the value of any piece. Do not use anything too abrasive on the item. The best tool is a soft cloth.
- For a homemade cleaning solution for antiques, pour one capful of a light household cleaner into one gallon of water. Apply this with a soft cloth and dry.
- To care for antique wooden items, apply a small amount of non-abrasive hand soap, such as the type used by auto mechanics. This will loosen any surface grime that can be wiped away with a soft cloth. Test it in an inconspicuous place first to make sure it doesn't harm the wood finish. Do not use this on high-gloss finishes.
- For metal or cast-iron antiques, use steel wool, buff with flannel, then apply a small amount of lemon oil.
- When storing items, keep them in an environment that has steady temperatures and humidity.
