| There are hundreds of channels on televisions now | | | | methods. |
| with people watching things we never would have | | | | Occasionally use a bit of lemon oil on wood antiques |
| imagined just a couple of decades ago. We have | | | | to keep it from drying out. Wood looks best right |
| several 24-hour news networks, a station devoted | | | | after it is oiled. You can do this with any just about |
| entirely to food, a dozen or more stations with | | | | any wood. Just dampen the rag or paper towel with |
| 24-hour sports, another focused on cartoons, even | | | | the oil and apply that to all wood surfaces. Do this |
| one entirely with soap operas. | | | | every month or so and wood will look new and the |
| One of the things that has become popular in recent | | | | lemon or orange has the added benefit of making |
| years is a show called Antiques Roadshow. It has | | | | the house smell clean. |
| taught people that there are many things out there | | | | The hardest part about keeping antiques looking nice |
| with a long history, they can be worth hundreds or | | | | is preserving it. They are probably starting to wear |
| even thousands of dollars, and with care these | | | | out and fade and it may be tempting to refinish |
| antiques may last for a long time as collectibles. | | | | them. In reality the best thing to do is do what |
| Taking care of these antiques properly is very | | | | museums do. Keep antiques out of direct sunlight, be |
| important. After all, nobody would put a several | | | | sure to wipe up spills immediately, and keep the |
| thousand dollar baseball card in the spokes of their | | | | temperature and humidity in the house as consistent |
| child's bicycle tire. Why would you ruin perfectly good, | | | | as possible. And do not refinish them if you plan to |
| expensive antiques that have been around for years | | | | sell an antique. Generally an imperfect antique is |
| or even generations? Some easy tips to keep | | | | worth more money than one that was refinished. |
| antiques looking nice are to dust frequently with a | | | | Leave the little blemishes, it gives the item character, |
| soft cloth, polish with orange or lemon oils, and use | | | | a history. |
| steps to preserve it. | | | | Antiques make wonderful collectibles. Like all |
| Since antiques are by definition old, they are often | | | | collectibles they need to be treated well to keep |
| more delicate than most pieces of furniture or other | | | | their value and to look good for years to come. Be |
| household decorations. Because of this, most | | | | gentler with them by dusting with just a soft cloth. |
| chemicals or in many cases even water is not | | | | Use oils like Old English on wood rather than polishes. |
| recommended. The easiest alternative is to dust your | | | | And sure to preserve antiques as much as possible. |
| antiques frequently with a soft and clean cloth. | | | | That way they will look great for future generations |
| Spending a few minutes per day dusting an antique | | | | or will hold their value if you ever need to sell them. |
| will keep you from having to use rougher cleaning | | | | |