How do you clean sticky pine furniture?

Wax build-up causes that sticky surface. Wipe the wood with a cloth lightly dampened in white spirit. This cuts through the grime without stripping the wood bare. Apply a thin coat of clear beeswax once the surface dries. Buff it out firmly to restore a hard protective finish.

I inherited a large dresser and want to know what kind of maintenance it needs if I put it in a modern centrally heated house?

Central heating dries out antique pine fast. Position the dresser away from radiators and direct sunlight to limit the risk of the planks shrinking or splitting. Keep an eye on the backboards. If gaps appear between the joints, the ambient air is too dry. Feeding the wood with a good quality beeswax every six months helps maintain the moisture balance.

Why are some drawers so hard to open?

The wooden runners wear down over time. The drawer drops slightly and binds against the carcase. Rubbing a simple candle wax along the contact edges often provides enough lubrication to fix minor sticking.

My kitchen table has quite a few old flight holes in the legs so how should I treat them just in case they are active?

Active woodworm leaves behind fine, pale dust under the holes. Tap the legs gently on a piece of dark paper to see if any fresh dust falls out. Most historic flight holes are old and empty. If you spot fresh dust, brush a proprietary woodworm fluid directly into the affected area according to the label instructions.