How do you clean untreated pine?

Use a soft cloth lightly dampened with mild soapy water. Wipe the surface quickly and never let water sit on the wood. Once dry, apply a clear beeswax polish using a soft rag. Buff it out after a few minutes to protect the grain and stop the timber drying out.

We found a large dresser base that seems to be missing its top half, so is it okay to just mount shelves on the wall above it instead of finding a rack?

A dresser base remains a useful piece of furniture. Many lost their racks decades ago when styles changed. Floating shelves above the base work well. It serves the original purpose without forcing a mismatch.

Can a dresser base hold a large sink?

Antique pine dressers were built for domestic storage rather than plumbing. The timber structure can usually support a ceramic sink if the frame is sound and the joints remain tight. You'll need to alter the carcase to fit pipes and taps. The top surface also requires thorough sealing because splash damage rots old pine over time.

I bought an old dresser and the drawers are sticking every time I try to pull them out, what is the best way to fix this without damaging the wood?

Sticking drawers usually mean the wooden runners have worn down or the carcase has settled out of square. Check the bottom edges of the drawer sides for friction wear. Rubbing a block of dry paraffin wax along the runners often solves minor sticking. The wax acts as a dry lubricant and helps the timber glide. If the wood is badly worn, a carpenter can glue a thin strip of matching pine to the runner to build the level back up.

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Victorian Pine Dressers

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An antique pine dresser usually pairs an open plate rack over a deeper base section containing drawers and cupboards. They stood in country kitchens and farmhouse sculleries to store daily wares while displaying plates and jugs on the upper tiers.