Would you park your 1923 Duesenberg on the street instead of in your garage, or would you take your new Aston Martin to an automated car wash? I hope not. Selecting treasures, both old and new, demand attention, no matter what they are.

Cleaning and maintaining the condition of a wooden globe, whether it is an authentic antique or a vintage replica, requires diligence and knowledge. You may think that you don’t need to be as careful with a reproduction as with a 16th or 17th century original, but this is not necessarily the case. High-quality wooden balloon and balloon bar replicas are generally made by skilled craftsmen who have been using many of the same methods and materials for thousands of years, so proper maintenance is important.

How to clean your old wooden globe

Inspect your balloon before cleaning and proceed only if there are no damage or weak spots.

To remove dust, wipe the surface gently with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use furniture spray or polish. If you notice areas starting to peel, have it repaired. The fabric can trap one of these areas and make things worse.

If your antique needs more than a little dusting, here are my easy-to-follow 2-step instructions on how you should clean it: 1) Don’t 2) Find an experienced and reputable conservator to clean and / or restore it. .

The web has many suggestions on how to clean antiques written by people who claim to be specialists. Unfortunately, many people ruin their precious treasures by following his advice. Improper cleaning can destroy an ancient globe map, so make sure any “specialist” you consult really knows what they are doing.

Professional conservatives can do a lot. They can touch up and stabilize it and repair the shell. If the map has missing or damaged pieces, these can often be replaced with printed reproductions that are tinted to match the rest. Sometimes preservatives can even reduce or even reverse discoloration and yellowing.

How to clean a replica of a vintage globe

High-quality vintage-style balloon replicas should be cleaned with the same care as authentic antiques, because the map on your wooden balloon was most likely made in a similar way. It consists of using printed pieces of paper called paper blocks, adhering them to the shell and then varnishing them.

Inspect your balloon before cleaning it. To remove dust, gently wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth. If you see bare or weak spots, have it repaired first; fabric can snag in one of these areas and increase damage.

If the dust is insufficient, wipe the surface of the balloon with a soft, dry cloth. Work in small sections, cleaning up (don’t scrub) loose dirt. For excessive staining, try dampening a soft cloth under running water, but be very careful. Read the section below, because some dirt or stains are sometimes preferable to a damaged balloon.

Squeeze the cloth very well or spray water on the cloth (never on the balloon). The strength of varnish has come a long way over the centuries, but that doesn’t mean your balloon is completely sealed and waterproof. The map can absorb excess moisture left on the surface, so do not allow water to settle on the surface. Dry the area immediately with a clean, soft cloth.

If this is still not enough, you can risk mixing the water with a little mild soap or detergent and repeating the steps above. Damage-free cleaning depends on how careful you are, what potentially harmful materials are in the detergent, and how well your globe replica or stick globe replica has been manufactured. Never use harsh or abrasive materials or solutions that contain alcohol or solvents.

Care tips

o Keep your balloon out of direct sunlight. Long exposure can fade map colors and print, as well as darken and yellow varnish applied to paper cuts.

o Do not use harsh or abrasive detergents, as well as alcohol or solvent solutions, while cleaning your balloon. Avoid even using water if gentle cleaning with a soft, dry cloth is sufficient.

o If any section of your globe begins to peel or has already done so, or if you see weak spots or damage to the surface of the shell, take it to a professional conservator immediately.

o Keep your balloon, especially an antique one, in an environment where the relative humidity and temperature do not fluctuate much. Many materials used to make replicas and ancient globes are sensitive to climate change.

Proper care is obviously essential to preserve the status of an antique. However, careful maintenance of an antique replica can help ensure that a globe made in the 21st century survives to become an antique in the next.