Antique furniture does not like heat, direct sunlight or a very dry room. Keep your furniture away from radiators or an area of the room that is in bright sunlight for long periods of time.
In most cases all that is required in terms of maintenance is to dust your furniture frequently with a soft dry cloth. Two or three times a year apply a small amount of clear or dark beeswax. Leave for a couple of hours or overnight and buff to a shine with a clean cloth. Do not use spray polishes as they will damage the surface particularly if the piece has been French polished.
Cleaning brass handles and fittings
How clean and shiny you like your brassware on furniture is a matter of taste. If you wish to clean handles consider removing them from the furniture so as not to damage the wood. A good quality brass cleaner can be used. If the fittings are very dirty, using fine wire wool (0000) can be very effective.
