Ali asked, “Any tips on good way to clean antique gold leaf oak mirror?”
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Gold leaf is an age old process of decorating by pounding gold into very thin sheets. It is used to decorate many things from picture frames to clothing to dishware.¹ It is beautiful to look at, but don’t try to clean it other than routine gentle dusting, as it can easily be damaged. Any cleaning besides dusting should be completed by a professional. However, here are some tips to help you care for your gold leaf piece.
Caring for Gold Leaf
- Only dust gold leaf routinely with a sable brush (a soft, unused paintbrush) or a feather duster.¹
- If your gold leaf needs a more thorough cleaning, take it to a professional guilder.² Gold leaf is applied either with water gilding or oil gilding and only a professional can determine which your piece is and then clean it appropriately. (Gold leaf that is applied by water gilding will be dissolved by water. Solvent-based cleaners will do the same for gold leaf applied by oil gilding.)¹
- Don’t polish or try to shine a gold leaf piece; it might cause the gold leaf to flake off. If pieces do come off, save them; no matter how small, a professional might be able to restore the item.³
- Store or place gold leaf items away from the sun. Don’t store it in a place, like an attic, where the temperature and humidity are not controlled, as this can cause the wood underneath to swell or contract and potentially damage the gold leaf.¹
Additional Tips and Advice
- If you have a gold leaf piece that has been damaged, you can use gold leaf paint for small repairs, but be warned that the shades hardly ever match exactly.⁴
Sources
- Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook
- Care & Repair of Furniture by Albert Jackson & David Day
- Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
- How to Clean Practically Anything by Consumer Reports
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