How to refresh old furniture?

Old furniture or display unit or LCD Stand you love, whether family heirlooms or flea-market finds, may have seen better days. Here's a guide to encourage you to refurbish them instead of retiring them to the basement.

- Pick a chair up holding it under the seat; lift it, don't drag it by the top of the back or an arm. Similarly, don't try to move a table by tugging it along by the tabletop; lift it.

- Be careful when vacuuming not to bang into furniture feet and bases.

- Dusting is the least damaging way to clean and prolong the life of objects that have intact surfaces. Use a slightly damp chamois cloth or a very full, soft-haired brush. Avoid dusting sprays. "Their ingredients are harmful to wood because they contain silicones that get deeply into the pores of the wood."

- To remove dirt and grime on brown wood surfaces (not painted, gilded or Asian lacquer), dampen a soap-filled steel-wool pad and rub it with slight pressure along the grain. Then wipe with a dry cloth or towel for a smoother, cleaner surface.