Use warm water and oil soap, or clean with linseed oil, if your antique furniture is covered with a thin layer of dust or surface grime. Use a dry rag or paper towels to ensure the surface of the antique furniture is dry to avoid occurrence of white-water spots after the cleaning. According to the Smithsonian Museum conservation experts, improper cleaning may leave residue supporting the growth of harmful organisms, such as fungi.
Sometimes, museums conservators find it necessary to rub the surface of the antique with steel wool and a solution of denatured alcohol, which removes most of the grime and dirt. While the surface is still wet, you may wipe off the dirt using paper towels to give the surface a smooth luster. Repeat the procedure if the furniture is not as clean as you expect by rubbing it, this time with paper towels dipped in denatured alcohol, and dry immediately.
Antiques, including wood furniture, which build up grime from many years of existence or neglect, may produce a surface whose texture feels like sand. You can apply lacquer thinner using very fine steel wool and dry the surface using paper towels. Finally, remove any residue with denatured alcohol and paper towels and dry completely, then repeat until you achieve a smooth luster.
A paper by Mike Podmaniczky and Tristram Bainbridge of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Artifacts indicates that some of your antique furniture may acquire stubborn dirt over the years. Thus, you must use tough measures, such as removing the top layer of the dirt using a putty knife after scrubbing the wood surface with very fine steel wool soaked in lacquer thinner. Finish it off with denatured alcohol and dry it off immediately with paper towels.
If the antique wood furniture does not have a coat of paint, do not remove its surface, because it drains natural resins and oils off the wood. Always use lacquer thinner and denatured alcohol instead of bleaching to prevent the wood from totally drying out. However, denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner are highly flammable, thus, ensure you dispose of the containers and never leave soaked steel wool or paper towels in an enclosed area.