Keep the Stories Alive Your Guide to Cleaning Vintage Treasures
Broccoli Salad Supreme
Do you find yourself fascinated by all things vintage or tend to get lost in the whims of nostalgia? If so, you’re not alone! Antiques aren’t just old trinkets — they’re timeless treasures gifted to us from the past. Whether it’s an heirloom painting or an old brass duck, these items have stories and hold priceless and sentimental value for many. Depending on how “vintage” your pieces are, cleaning and restoring them can require knowledge, precision, and care. One mistake can erase their historical significance and cause irreparable damage. Use these five tips to clean your antique collection safely. Identify what the antique is made of. Despite what many say, soap and water aren’t always safe, especially for antiques. Water can cause warping in wood, damage certain fabric materials, and tarnish metal. With many antique pieces, the finish determines your cleaning method. A tip for wood is to test the finish with denatured alcohol. Handle it delicately.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS
• 10 cups broccoli florets (about 3 1/2 pounds) • 6 cups seedless red grapes (about 3 pounds) • 1 cup sliced celery • 6 green onions, sliced
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2 cups mayonnaise
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled • 1 1/3 cups slivered almonds, toasted
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large salad bowl, combine the broccoli, grapes, celery and onions. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar. Pour over broccoli mixture and toss to coat. 2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Just before serving, gently stir in bacon and almonds.
Before restoring your antique, it’s essential to consider whether handling it will potentially damage it. Wash your hands before touching items, and consider wearing gloves as an added precaution to prevent transferring oil from your hands to the collectible. Avoid harmful chemicals.
eating, making it even more fun for them! Just be sure their choices can grow in your area during the current season. Make space and plant together. After choosing your seeds, you must ensure your garden is ready to sustain life. Dedicate a section of your lawn or patio to your gardening efforts and start laying soil or filling your planters. Help your children transplant their seeds or young plants directly into the area. Now, put them in charge of caring for the plants by checking on and watering them. You may want to supervise to ensure they aren’t over- or under-watering. Make it fun and informative! You can get your kids more involved by encouraging them to research their plants and track their growth. They can even look online to see how their plants should be developing. Soon enough, those fruits and vegetables will be ready to eat, and you should let your children pick anything ripe when possible. Seeing the fruits of their labor (literally) will make this experience even more enlightening and enjoyable for them.
No matter what your antique is made from, it’s always best to avoid products containing ammonia, bleach, and other harsh chemicals, as they can strip finishes, damage structural integrity, and cause discoloration. Be mindful of cleaning tools. Microfiber cloths, cotton swabs, and soft bristle brushes are fantastic tools for cleaning antiques. Having the right tools beforehand ensures the cleaning process is effective and prevents damage to the antique. Store it in a safe place.
Depending on the type of antique you have, do a little research on the piece to understand how to store it properly. Keeping pieces out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources and moisture will always favor the antique. Plus, learning the fascinating stories behind vintage pieces is part of the charm of why you enjoy them so much!
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