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How to Clean Antique Tools

If you have antique tools, chances are you're not looking to use them as much as to preserve them. That means you have to take special care when cleaning them to ensure that they don't get damaged. If you are at all apprehensive about doing so, take your tools to a professional antique dealer and see what he or she recommends. This person should have a good idea of their value and how you could hurt it by using the incorrect cleaning materials.

Things You'll Need

Carnauba wax
Shallow dish
Microfiber cloth
Old T-shirt
Rubbing compound

Instructions

- 1
  Pour a half cup of carnauba wax into a shallow dish, such as a cereal bowl. Dip your microfiber cloth in the wax and lightly wring it out. Use your cloth to scrub your tools. This should remove most, if not all, light surface dirt.
- 2
  See if your tools are clean now. They should be smooth, shiny and free of dirt. If they are, you're finished. If not, try rubbing compound, which is a paste-like wax. Tear the sleeve off of an old cotton T-shirt and dip it into the tub of compound. Scoop up about a tablespoon of product per tool and rub it all over the soiled areas.
- 3
  Check the tools again. If they are still not clean, repeat Step 2 as many times as needed. If they are clean, repeat Step 1 to give them a protective layer of wax to keep them that way.

Antiques