How To Clean Wood Furniture – Having wooden furniture at home adds a classic look to your space. Solid wood furniture can last for decades when properly cared for. Most homeowners choose this type of furniture for their home because it is sturdy, versatile and beautiful to behold. The best part? Wooden furniture is low maintenance which is perfect for busy families. Still, wooden furniture requires dusting and cleaning it from time to time. So, what is the best way to clean wood furniture?
Prepping The Furniture
- Gather all your supplies
- Prepare the area by removing any delicate objects
- Vacuum the furniture
- Clean (Use guide below depending upon the type of wood)
How To Clean Wood Furniture
Use Dish Soap • Mineral Spirits • Dusting
What Not To Use To Clean Wood Furniture
Treating Truly Grimy Wood Furniture
How To Clean Wood Outdoor Furniture
How To Clean Specialty Wood Surfaces
How To Clean Wood Veneer
How To Clean Wood Furniture
This is a question that you’re most likely asking yourself when faced with the task of cleaning wood furnishings.
If you are familiar with your furniture finish, including stain, paint or other treatments, you can use a cleaning method that is specific to it.
However, if you are not sure which finish was used for your furniture, these steps are worth trying out.
How To Clean Wood Furniture – Use Dish Soap
If you’re wondering how to clean wood furniture, you can start with liquid dish soap.
Put a few drops on a cotton ball dipped in a small amount of warm water then wipe it on the inside of the leg of your cabinet or chair to see if there are any changes to the wood stain.
If none, mix detergent and water and sponge it on the entire piece.
How To Clean Wood Furniture
Use Dish Soap • Mineral Spirits • Dusting
What Not To Use To Clean Wood Furniture
Treating Truly Grimy Wood Furniture
How To Clean Wood Outdoor Furniture
How To Clean Specialty Wood Surfaces
How To Clean Wood Veneer
How To Clean Wood Furniture – Try Mineral Spirits
If you notice wax build-up on your furniture, you can apply mineral spirits which are petroleum based and safe to use on wood furniture.
You still need to take precautions, however. Begin by testing the mineral spirit on a small, less visible portion of your wood furniture to make sure that it doesn’t stain.
Then, wipe your furniture down using a clean cloth soaked in mineral spirits.
Wipe off any residual cleaner with a moist cloth and make sure to check for any visible damages to your wood’s varnish.
Work in a well-ventilated area when using this treatment
How To Clean Wood Furniture – Dusting
What is the best way to clean wood furniture? If you want to preserve the finish of your wood furniture, dusting must be part of your routine.
Regular dusting can help remove any deposits that create a filmy layer on your wood’s surface.
Feather dusters and/or clean and soft cloths can be used to remove dust.
But to keep the dust from floating and simply landing back on the surface of your furniture, the best method is to use a damp cloth.
A damp cloth will cause the dirt to cling on your lint-free cloth.
How To Clean Wood Furniture
Use Dish Soap • Mineral Spirits • Dusting
What Not To Use To Clean Wood Furniture
Treating Truly Grimy Wood Furniture
How To Clean Wood Outdoor Furniture
How To Clean Specialty Wood Surfaces
How To Clean Wood Veneer
What Not To Use To Clean Wood Furniture
All-purpose cleaning sprays should not be used on your wood furniture unless it is covered in a plastic coating.
Cleaning wood with water is not recommended either unless you are dealing with a sticky film on its surface.
You should dip a cloth in water mixed with mild detergent or soap, wring off excess water, and wipe the sticky area.
Use a circular motion to remove any dirt or dust. Rinse the surface afterward and make sure that you use a dry cloth to remove any water residue.
Use Vinegar And Olive Oil As Polish
What is the best way to clean wood furniture? You will need to polish your wood furniture at least two times a year if you want to maintain its beauty.
Mixing vegetable or olive oil with white vinegar is the perfect furniture polish to try.
Mix a quarter cup each of white vinegar and olive oil then apply it on the wood using a soft cloth. Buff afterward to make it shiny.
This solution helps add moisture to your wood but as with any treatments, try this one out on a small area on your wood furniture before you start cleaning.
Allow Furniture To Dry
Regardless of the cleaning solution or cleaning product that you are going to use, it is essential that you let your furniture dry first for at least 24 hours.
Allowing your furniture to dry completely makes it easier to see the full effect of your cleaning since as the surface, as well as the wood, will be completely dry.
Once the wood furniture has dried completely, go over it and see if there are any repairs that need to be done.
If some areas show damage, try treating them with finish repairs. Stripping and refinishing your wood surfaces may take time.
On the other hand, if your wood furniture, such as wood garden furniture, looks okay after cleaning, you might only need to apply some paste wax using a cheesecloth pad on the surface then leave it to dry.
Don’t forget to buff it afterward or apply some lemon oil polish to make your wood furniture shine.
Aside from learning the best way to clean wood furniture, it is also necessary to learn how to maintain your furniture too.
Here are a few tips that can help you keep your wooden furniture in good condition
Treating Truly Grimy Wood Furniture
While spray polishes smell great, using this type of polish too often can result in a buildup of wax, residue, and dirt.
If you notice your wood furniture is getting dull, give your pieces a good cleaning by dissolving some soap flakes in water (detergents may dull wood if used too often).
Sometimes, wood furniture retains so much wax that it becomes grimy and sticky.
In these cases, put a few drops of white vinegar into a cup of water.
Dip your microfiber cloth in the liquid and rub in a circular motion.
Grimy wood furniture may take quite a bit of elbow grease to clean. Take care not to soak the wood’s surface as you clean.
How To Clean Wood Furniture
Use Dish Soap • Mineral Spirits • Dusting
What Not To Use To Clean Wood Furniture
Treating Truly Grimy Wood Furniture
How To Clean Wood Outdoor Furniture
How To Clean Specialty Wood Surfaces
How To Clean Wood Veneer
How To Clean Wood Outdoor Furniture
For outdoor furniture made of wood or wooden garden furniture try a simple cleaning method.
First, rub your furniture with a soft cloth dipped in detergent to remove dirt and grime. If your outdoor furniture remains grubby in spite of cleaning, you will need to consider refinishing it.
Rub denatured alcohol on a small spot that is hidden from plain view.
If the finish does not remain intact, it will require some professional treatment.
Usually, the top layer of the furniture is removed and then replaced by a professional.
The wood should be protected afterward using wax.
You should apply wax on wood finishes but make sure that you use a fine steel wool first to rough the surface a bit so that the wax will penetrate evenly.
There are different types of wax that you can use depending on the type of wood furniture that you are working on.
Depending on where you live you may need to deal with a high relative humidity and subsequently, mildew.
Depending on the extent of the mildew, you may need to contact a professional.
Cover Used Areas On Wood Furniture
To prolong your furniture’s life, it is better that you use placemats, tablecloths and the like on areas that are frequently used so that there will be no stains or spills on the surface.
Prevent Infestations On Your Wood Furniture
Certain types of insects love to chew on wood furnishings which is why you need to control them.
Check EPA guidelines on how to prevent termites and wood beetles from harming your home.
How To Clean Specialty Wood Surfaces
Laminate
Laminate products are created from synthetic materials.
They should be dusted regularly with a soft cloth.
Avoid traditional dusting sprays, wax, and wood polishes as these tend to build up on surfaces.
Keep laminates out of direct sunlight to reduce fading.
Also, be aware permanent rings can form on laminates.
To clean laminates, dampen a microfiber cloth in warm water.
Move with the grain.
Use another microfiber cloth to pick up remnants. Never use ammonia-based cleaners as these chemicals can damage the laminate and create a cloudy look.
How To Clean Wood Veneer
Wood veneers are less expensive than solid wood because of the way veneers are made.
Veneers are often made from particle board and covered with a thin layer of real hardwood.
Veneer furniture offers the look and feel of wood without the expense. Plus, you can sand and stain veneer furniture. Chippendale and Hepplewhite both use veneer.
Veneers must be protected from moisture and heat so use coasters.
Never let a spill sit.
Do not use chemical cleaning products on veneer.
Dampen a micro cloth with warm water and a small bit of detergent. For scratches, apply oil polish or wax.
Polishing the scratch with a soft cloth until the scratch is no longer visible. Otherwise, avoid the use of wax products to avoid waxy buildup.
Dusting veneers often make this furniture look sharp and clean.
The Last Word About Cleaning Wood Furniture
How to clean wood furniture really depends on the type of wood surface that you’re cleaning.
Cleaning wood doesn’t have to be a chore.
Often, just a soft cloth with water can do the trick.
Of course, you should always check the manufacturer’s instructions to determine if they suggest using a specific wood cleaner.
