There is nothing quite like laying eyes on that vintage home décor gem lying among the rough that catches your eye in a love at first sight moment, but knowing how to care for, repair and clean these vintage home décor pieces that have stood the test of time is essential.
Since the 1950s, what our home décor is made out of has changed. As we see with clothing, vintage pieces are primarily made with more dependable materials, like wood and brass with less focus on synthetic man-made materials, like plastic.
If you’ve been lucky enough to find a vintage home décor piece, it is more likely than not it may need a little bit of repair or some gentle care to bring it back to life. In this guide, we’re going to give you our top tips on cleaning and caring for vintage home décor. As a second hand retailer who specialise in second hand and vintage home décor, at Sunshine Thrift we are well versed in the management of vintage materials and knowing what the best solution is for a particular item.
Check out Sunshine Thrift's curated collection of second hand and vintage home decor.
Why vintage and second hand home décor are important?
Not only does second hand and vintage home décor especially, carry a story with each piece; it also serves an important function in reducing waste to landfill. In 2022, Hammonds released the results of a survey where they asked 2000 participants about their homeware habits and the results were shocking.
Just as we are seeing with fashion, homeware is developing its own self-sustaining cycle of fast homeware. Cheap products, made with cheap materials to satisfy the latest trends ultimately resulting in the disposal of these items. The Hammond’s survey revealed that the average person throws away 12 home décor pieces each year, which in the UK totals approximately 70 million items. That can be anything from cushions, frames, vases, linen or mirrors.
Choosing second hand and vintage home décor is a choice to simply follow your own home décor path and not succumb to trends. This results in reducing demand on mass produced, unsustainable short living home décor and reducing waste to landfill.
Not only does second hand and vintage home décor reduce demand on newly produced home pieces, but it also keeps higher quality pieces made with more natural materials in circulation. Materials like solid wood, brass and ceramic are longer lasting and more durable.
How to care for vintage home décor – Wood
Wood is a material that has been used to make decorative home items since the beginning of time and there is a reason for that. Wooden decorative pieces like framed mirrors, ornaments or small pieces of furniture like side tables are dependable, solid, easy to look after and will look great in any home.
Dust regularly: Use a soft microfiber cloth. Dust buildup can scratch vintage wood finishes.
Polish with care: Avoid silicone-based polishes that can damage finishes. Instead, use beeswax or oil-based polishes designed for antique wood. Household polishers like Mr Sheen are also suitable when used carefully.
Avoid water damage: Water damage can completely alter the structure and look of a vintage wooden item. If you snap up a wooden home décor piece that has already sustained water damage; small imperfections can be repaired with some unique methods. Remove any remaining moisture by putting a towel over the stain and ironing it with no steam. Mayonnaise (as strange as it sounds) has also been known to reduce any damage to rotted varnish caused by water damage.
When using your wooden vintage home décor piece, be sure to wipe spills immediately and never place drinks directly on surfaces, coasters and mats are your friend here.
Control the environment: Although this may be difficult depending on your room set up, do what you can to keep vintage wood home décor pieces out of direct sunlight as this can alter the colour of the varnish.
Repair lightly: For scratches, use furniture touch up markers or a wax crayon that matches the wood. Larger damages, including those caused by water damage, may be better in the hands of a professional. If you don’t have the budget for this, does the damage add character to the piece? If so, why not keep the fault and then it’s a truly unique piece to you.
How to care for vintage home décor - Metals (Brass, Copper, Iron, Steel)
Whether your vintage home décor find is entirely made of metal or has metal elements to it, it is important to recognise the different methods you can employ to keep your piece looking great.
Dust first: As with your wooden vintage home décor pieces, start with dusting. Always wipe metal with a dry, soft cloth before polishing.
Gentle polishing: Use mild, non-abrasive cleaners. Well known polishers like Brasso are suitable for most metal elements on vintage home décor. Use sparsely and build up to avoid using too much on a delicate item. Natural home cleaners such as a lemon juice and baking powder paste can also bring the shine back to an item.
Prevent rust: As with wood, the environment itself is important in preserving the condition of metal vintage home décor items. Keep iron and steel pieces dry. If rust appears, gently buff with steel wool, then apply a protective wax or oil.
Appreciate the age: Vintage metal pieces develop a natural age and dullness that actually adds charm and can’t be recreated. Don’t feel pressured into over polishing to the point where this vintage home décor piece now appears brand new. The vintage charm is what makes it special.
How to care for vintage home décor - Fabrics & Upholstery
Caring for vintage fabrics can be particularly difficult because often they are more delicate natural materials like wool, cotton and linen that need to be treated differently to modern fabrics that we are used to caring for, like polyester and nylon.
Vacuum regularly: Use an upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove dust and dirt from fabric fibres found on vintage cushions, or upholstered small pieces of furniture.
Spot clean carefully: Stick to mild, diluted soap when treating stains on natural fibres (cotton, wool, linen) and always spot test in an inconspicuous area first to avoid any visible damage.
Professional cleaning: Where necessary call on the help from a professional dry cleaning surface, especially on valuable materials such as silk. Although there will be an additional cost involved, the peace of mind knowing that your treasured vintage find is in safe hands is invaluable.
Reupholstery: If you’re a crafty person who likes to give anything a go, reupholstering a small piece of furniture is a fun way to make your vintage home décor find truly yours. In the event the existing upholstery is too worn to be repaired, replace it with a fabric of your choosing. There are plenty of online guides and tutorials on how to reupholster furniture for you to follow. If time and patience isn’t on your side, seeking the advice of a professional may be a better step to take.
Protect from sun: As we have previously mentioned, direct sunlight can cause fading to colour. Where possible keep your vintage fabrics and upholstered items out of direct sunlight.
How to care for vintage home décor - Glass (Mirrors, Tabletops, Decorative Items)
Glass is delicate, we know this, so it always amazes us when we see vintage mirrors and vintage glassware that has withstood 40, 50 or even 60 years. However, it is easy for vintage glass to sustain chips, cracks and scratches. Sometimes these imperfections add charm, sometimes they can distract the eye away from the piece itself and need repairing.
Gentle cleaning: When cleaning glass use a microfiber cloth and a vinegar water solution. This is a proven method of removing thick dirt and streaks. When it comes to antique mirrors, avoid ammonia based cleaners which may damage the silver backing. When cleaning or polishing glass, always avoid abrasive pads or harsh cleaners as this will only amplify the issue.
Repair chips carefully: Small chips and scratches can be repaired at home using a glass polishing kit and some buffing pads. Clear nail varnish or superglue, then buffed, has also been known to improve the appearance of damaged glass. If the damage is greater than a small crack, assess whether the crack or chip adds character or for safety does it need to be repaired. If it is the latter, then contact a professional restorer.
Secure placement: Make sure the glass is secure, whether that is in a picture frame or a mirror or as part of a decorative piece of furniture. Vintage glass can be thinner than modern pieces so is more prone to lasting damage or breakages caused by knocks and falls.
How to care for vintage home décor - Ceramics & Pottery
Ceramics and pottery are common types of vintage home décor, from tea pots to vases to ornaments. You would struggle to browse a vintage shop instore or online and not come across multiple ceramic pieces. This makes it even more important that you know how to look after your ceramic vintage home décor finds.
Dust with care: Use a soft brush to get into textured or patterned surfaces. We find that using a child’s toothbrush is a great way to dig into the nooks and crannies to lift the dirt away without leaving any scratches.
Clean gently: Lightly rinse and wipe ceramics with warm water and a mild cleaner. Sometimes water and minimal abrasive action can be enough. Don’t soak your ceramic vintage finds as water can seep into any cracks and make existing damage much worse. You should also keep your beautiful ceramics well away from the dishwasher, vintage ceramics and pottery should always be hand washed.
Preserve painted finishes: Many vintage ceramic and pottery finds are made beautiful by the hand painted decoration. To keep hand painted finishes intact, avoid abrasive cleaners as they may fade or scratch the design.
Final thoughts
Repairing and caring for your vintage home décor finds is about keeping these treasured pieces in circulation, allowing them to be loved in a home again instead of ending up in landfill. Knowing how to correctly care for your vintage home décor finds is all about knowledge and confidence and once you have that you will never look back. Choosing vintage over brand new will soon become your go to choice and fast homeware will have a hard time getting through your front door.
Over 100 curated second hand and vintage home decor pieces
