All the Ways You Should Clean Wood Furniture, but Not
There are plenty of options for cleaning and polishing wooden furniture in the cleaning department of the supermarket. And while products designed for use on wood do the job, you don’t always need a special product to make your mahogany table or oak chairs shine. Here are a few other ways to clean wood, many of which involve items you may already have in your home.
How to clean wood furniture with household items
As always, if your wood furniture is fairly new and comes with manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, follow them. Also, be aware that most contemporary “wood” furniture looks like laminate or veneer , which may have different care instructions than solid wood.
It is best to use a microfiber cloth when cleaning wood because the material’s tiny fibers are capable of trapping more dirt and dust than other types of cloth. And start with at least two (but ideally more), making sure one stays dry.
Here are a few ways to clean wood furniture:
Regular/light cleaning
If you are cleaning wood furniture that is currently in use or on display in your home (as opposed to an item you bought at a yard sale that needs to be thoroughly cleaned), wipe it down with a dry microfiber cloth , wiping away any fingerprints or smudges. how are you going.
For stubborn sticky stains, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth and gently rub the sticky area until it disappears. If it still won’t budge, mix a small amount of dish soap with warm water, soak a cloth in it, and repeat the steps above.
Toothpaste
Apply a thin layer of non-gel toothpaste to a water ring or stain on wood furniture. Leave for five minutes (but no more so that the toothpaste does not stain the tree itself). Then buff it with a dry microfiber cloth, being careful to rub only the water stain, avoiding the surrounding wood as much as possible.
Mayonnaise
Like toothpaste, mayonnaise can also be used to remove water and moisture stains from wood furniture. Using your finger or spatula, apply the mayonnaise to the stains in a circular motion. Leave for an hour, then check part of the stain to make sure it is gone. If this is the case, remove the mayonnaise with one cloth and then dry the spots with another cloth.
Do-it-yourself cleaning and dusting spray
Looking for a solution that you can make yourself and have on hand for everyday cleaning? You can mix a batch of this:
- 1 glass of water
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons mineral oil or coconut oil
- 15 drops lemon oil
Pour the ingredients into an empty spray bottle and shake well (both at the beginning and before each use). To use it, simply spray it on wood furniture and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth.
Do-it-yourself cleaning polish
Want to clean up your dirty wood and make it shine? Mix equal parts olive oil, denatured alcohol, turpentine, and strained lemon juice for a DIY polish . Then apply it with a microfiber cloth and buff with a separate, clean, dry microfiber cloth.