Care and maintenance of vintage products

Keeping your vintage products looking great 

When you buy antique and vintage finds from Fransk Brocante, you don't just get beautiful items for your home - you also bring little pieces of history and craftsmanship with you. Each champagne cooler, café au lait bowl, centerpiece or carafe has lived a life before, and that patina and soul is a big part of their charm.

To preserve both the beauty and durability of your finds, it's important to care for them with respect for the material. Most of our products are made from classic materials such as silverplated, steel, brass, copper, pewter, porcelain, earthenware and glass, and each type requires its own gentle treatment.

In this guide, you'll find tips on how to clean, maintain and store your brocante finds - so they can continue to bring joy and tell stories for years to come.

• Pletsølv – rengøring, polering og opbevaring
• Messing og kobber – fjern ir og bevar gløden
• Stål– sådan holder du det blankt
• Tin– særlige hensyn og hvad du skal undgå
• Porcelæn og fajance– rengøring og håndtering
• Glas– tips til skånsom vask og opbevaring
• Franske krukker - krukker af terracotta

Stain silver - care, cleaning and preservation

Sterling silver is a classic material that has been used for generations for champagne coolers, dishes, cutlery and decorative objects. Its shiny surface and timeless look fits perfectly into both modern and classic homes. Many of the sterling silver products you'll find at Fransk Brocante bear the marks of time - and it's the patina that gives them their special character.

To maintain shine and protect the surface, we recommend:

Cleaning and maintenance

• Always wash silverplated in lukewarm water with mild dish soap and a soft sponge or cloth.
• Avoid steel wool, coarse scourers and dishwashers - they can scratch and damage the surface.
• Rinse thoroughly and always wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth to avoid lime stains.

Polishing

• Use one especially suitable silver polish or a polishing cloth intended for silverplated. Silvo polish available in major supermarkets is suitable. Rub gently in circular motions and wipe with a soft, dry cloth.
  
• Only polish when necessary - too frequent polishing can wear down the silver coating.
• If you want to preserve the authentic, slightly matte patina, you can simply wipe and avoid heavy sanding.

Storage

• The patina comes when the products are exposed to sunlight. If it's a vase or candlestick , it's of course difficult to keep out of the sunlight and therefore these products also need to be polished more often.
• If you don't want the silver to darken, store it dry and away from direct sunlight. 
• If you don't use it regularly, you can wrap it in a piece of cotton fabric to protect the surface from moisture and light and thus patination. 

Many of our vintage champagne coolers and casks have small areas of natural wear - it's part of their history and adds to their charm. So you don't need to polish them to a mirror finish to enjoy their beauty.

Brass and copper - how to keep the glow

Brass and copper are classic materials that have been used for centuries for everything from cookware and carafes to candlesticks and champagne coolers. They have a special warmth and glow, and over time they develop a beautiful patina that many collectors and interior lovers consider an important part of their charm.

Cleaning and maintenance

• Wash brass and copper objects in lukewarm water with mild dish soap and a soft sponge. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
• Avoid dishwasher and aggressive cleaning agents that can damage the surface and remove the patina.
  
• If you have items with a dark ir or greenish tinge (typically on copper), you can gently polish them with a paste of lemon and fine salt or a special brass/copper polish. Again, a product like Brasso, available in most large supermarkets, can be used as a polish. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth.

Preserve the patina

• Many people choose to let brass and copper age naturally - it gives an authentic and vibrant look. If you want to preserve this natural patina, you should avoid heavy polishing and just wipe regularly.
  

Storage

• Store brass and copper items dry and away from moisture as with silverplated. Prolonged exposure to moisture can promote scratches and stains, especially on copper. 
• If your product is not used that often, it can be wrapped in a piece of cotton fabric to cover the surface and avoid exposure to moisture silverplated 

Many of our brass and copper products have a natural ageing process that should not be removed. It's this vibrant surface that makes vintage finds so unique - adding charm and history to your home.

Steel - shiny, durable and easy to maintain

Steel is a durable and timeless material used in everything from champagne coolers and dishes to kitchen utensils and decorative objects. It doesn't require much maintenance, but with the right care, you can keep steel shiny and prevent discoloration for years to come.

Cleaning and maintenance

• Most of our steel products, such as the ice cream bowls, are dishwasher safe and freezer safe.
• If you use a dishwasher, wipe them with a soft, dry cloth afterwards to remove any lime rings and water stains. 
• If you don't want to test the dishwasher, clean the steel in lukewarm water with mild dish soap and a soft sponge.
• Whether dishwasher or hand washing, avoid aggressive detergents, chlorine or scouring powders that can scratch the surface or leave matte stains.

Polishing and maintenance

• If the steel loses its shine, you can polish it gently with a microfiber cloth or a stainless steel polish. There are different types of products for cleaning steel hobs in supermarkets and they work really well if you want to polish back some shine in a tray, for example. 
• Always sand in the same direction as the steel structure to avoid streaks.
• For more stubborn stains, you can make a mixture of a little baking soda and water as a mild scouring paste - but use it with caution and without a scouring pad.

Storage

• Steel is not affected by sunlight in the same way as other metals. However, we still recommend storing them in a dry and clean place. 
• Avoid prolonged contact with moisture or acids (e.g. lemon juice or vinegar), which can cause stains.

Most of our steel ice cream bowls have a natural surface texture and traces of use that are part of their authenticity. Small marks and patina do not make them less valuable - on the contrary, they tell the story of a long life of use.

Tin - classic and vibrant material with natural patina

Pewter is a classic material often used for antique champagne coolers, jugs and decorative dishes. It has a beautiful soft sheen and over time develops a natural patina that is a big part of its charm. Pewter is relatively soft, so it requires a little more gentle care than steel and brass. 

Cleaning and maintenance

• Always wash pewter in lukewarm water with mild dish soap and a soft sponge or cloth.
• Avoid dishwasher, abrasives and steel wool as they can scratch the surface.
• Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth to avoid water stains.

Polishing and patina

Pewter is either encountered as polished pewter or unpolished pewter. Polished pewter has a shiny surface and resembles a cross between steel and silverplated. 

• Many people choose to preserve tin's natural patina as it gives the object character and shows its age and history.
  
• For a glossier look, you can use a special polishing agentpart to tin - but be aware that repeated polishing over time can wear the
  dt on the surface.
• For polished pewter, we only recommend normal cleaning (as described above), whereas for unpolished pewter, you can clean off the dark spots with a polishing paste (lime and water). You can buy wiener lime in most DIY stores. 
  
• Ketchup is also a good polishing agent for tin. 
• Always polish with soft movements and avoid pressing hard.

Storage

• Store tin products in a dry place away from moisture to avoid discoloration.
• Avoid prolonged contact with acidic foods or liquids that can cause dark spots.

Small imperfections and color differences are normal in vintage pewter and help to emphasize its authenticity and artisanal origin.

Porcelain and earthenware - timeless beauty and everyday joy

Porcelain and earthenware are among the most beloved materials in French country style - from café au lait bowls and jugs to centerpieces and dishes. They bring elegance and charm to everyday life and can last for generations if treated with care.

Cleaning and maintenance

• Always wash porcelain and earthenware in lukewarm water with mild dish soap and a soft sponge.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes (e.g. from very hot to cold water) as this can cause small cracks in the glaze.
• Wipe gently with a soft, lint-free cloth to avoid lime stains.
• Although much French porcelain is dishwasher safe, we recommend hand washing to better preserve colors, patterns and glazes. 

Maintenance and use 

• Never use abrasives or steel wool - they can scratch the surface and damage the decorations.
• Avoid leaving items in water for long periods of time, especially if they have small cracks or crazing, as moisture can penetrate.
• Again, avoid dishwasher!

Storage

• Store porcelain and earthenware in a dry and stable place where they won't get knocked together.
• Place soft spacers between stacked plates or bowls to avoid scratches.
• If you display them on open shelves, for example with café au lait bowls, you may want to wipe them regularly to avoid dust in small cracks.

Many of our vintage pieces bear small traces of use - fine cracks or light patina - that only emphasize their age and unique history. It's these details that make them special and give them soul in modern homes.

Glass - elegant, fragile and timeless

From classic Ricard glasses and carafes to champagne glasses and Souvenir de la Fête glasses, glass brings lightness and elegance into the home. Although glass is generally very durable, it still requires gentle handling to maintain clarity and avoid scratches or dullness.

Cleaning and maintenance

• Always wash glasses in lukewarm water with mild dish soap and a soft sponge.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes that can cause the glass to crack.
• Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth to avoid lime rings and water stains.
• Avoid dishwashers for antique or mouth-blown glass - it's more fragile than modern glass and can become dull from repeated washing.

Maintenance and shine

• If the glass seems dull, you can gently polish it with a little vinegar on a soft cloth - this will remove limescale and bring back the shine.
• For heavier limescale deposits, you can leave it overnight in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Remember, it foams up when you mix it, so start with a little vinegar. 
• Never use abrasives or rough sponges as they can scratch the surface.
  

Storage

• Always place glasses upright and well spaced so they don't bump into each other.
• Store glass away from strong heat and direct sunlight as it can affect clarity over time.
• Hvis du opbevarer glas i kasser, så brug blødt papir eller stof som adskillelse mellem hvert stykke.
• Mouth-blown or handmade glass should be handled with extra care as it is often thinner and more delicate.

Small air bubbles, unevenness or variations in thickness are typical of handmade glass - the very things that make each piece unique and tell the story of traditional craftsmanship.

Franske krukker - terracotta krukker 

Confitkrukker har haft et langt liv, men det er ikke ensbetydende med at de ikke kan leve rigtig mange år endnu. De skal blot som så mange andre vintageprodukter vedligeholdes. 

Cleaning and maintenance

• Mild rengøring med en blød børste eller en klud og lidt lunken vand.
• Undgå at bruge hårde kemikalier eller opvaskebørste. 
• Undgå at lade krukken stå i blød, da det kan gøre den mere porøs.

Vedligehold 

• For at fjerne pletter eller aflejringer, anbefaler vi en blanding af lunken vand og lidt natron. Men rens forsigtigt :)
• Vi anbetaler også at man lader være med at overrense, men i stedet bevarer krukken naturlige patina. Det er også med til at fastholde værdien af den. 

Storage

Vores holding er, at de ikke skal gemmes væk fordi de er så smukke - de skal frem og de skal bruges. Der er et par ting man skal være opmærksomme på:

• De er ikke frostsikre, så hvis du har dem udenfor om sommeren, så tag dem ind, inden der kommer for meget dug og især frost. 
  
• De er heller ikke så glade for at stå direkte på jorden udenfor, da der kan trænge fugt ind i leret, hvilket gør dem mere porøse. 
• Direkte sollys kan med tiden ændre lidt på glasurens farve - det er dog ikke skadeligt, det er blot kosmetisk.