How Should You Really Clean Your Old Oak Beams? Your Top Questions Answered
The beauty of wood and its strength and integrity has made it a popular material in construction and furniture for centuries, and if you have wood furniture, it can be an heirloom piece that you can pass on from one generation to the next. The same is true when the wood is used as structural support for buildings; we often see oak beams in older homes and buildings that have been beautifully restored and are taken care of due to their timeless appeal. But if you have old oak beams and are concerned about cleaning them and wondering if they should be restored, here’s how you should really clean your old oak beams: your top questions answered.
Regular cleaning
If your old oak beams simply need to retain their lustre and sheen and you don’t notice any deeper structural damage, all you have to do is dust and vacuum them so they can show off their finish. The thing about oak beams is that they get even more attractive as they naturally age since the grain becomes more prominent, and they attain their distinctive look that makes them more appealing.
For the regular cleaning of old oak beams, you can make use of a solution comprised of water and vinegar. Simply mix two parts water with a part of vinegar and put the mixture in a bottle where you can spray it onto a piece of cloth. Then wipe the cloth on the beams. Vinegar and water are natural materials that will not harm the beams, and vinegar will disinfect the surface and prevent mould or insect infestation.
Cleaning products and materials to avoid
You may already know as well that old oak beams can be quite delicate, so you need to take particular care when cleaning them. When cleaning oak beams, for example, don’t use water alone. Wood ages because of continued exposure to snow, rain, humidity, and moisture, and cleaning with water alone may end up damaging the wood.
You should also stay away from harsh cleaning products that contain chemicals such as bleach and chlorine. These can easily strip away the wood’s natural oils and cause it to lose its lustre; more than this, bleach and chlorine can damage the wood’s integrity as well.
Yet another product you should avoid is linseed oil. This oil has a particularly sticky quality that can attract dirt and dust, leading to the discolouration of the wood beam over time. You should also avoid using insect repellents on your oak beams as they can just end up eating away at the wood.
Additional pointers
When your oak beams are old, you should also be mindful of how frequently you clean them, as confirmed by beam restoration experts like Bespoke Beams. The older the wood beams are, the more delicate they may be, and your cleaning regimen should also take into account how susceptible the wood beams are to infestation and moisture or how much activity occurs inside your building or home.
For example, if your oak beams are very old, sandblasting may not be recommended on a regular basis. If your beams are in an area with high humidity or moisture, you may have to clean them regularly. For most, though, cleaning wood beams twice a year is ideal.