How to Best Clean, Polish, & Restore Gorgeous Solid Wood Furniture
Say goodbye to water stains, ink marks and polish buildup on your solid wood furniture by following these simple cleaning tips and tricks.
Surprisingly, you may dust and shine your solid wood furniture regularly, but over time those polishes and dust combine to leave a dark film on tables, chairs and shelves. Therefore, to keep your furniture looking its best, you need to do a periodic deep cleaning. Let’s dive in on how to clean, polish, & restore furniture.
Here’s how to clean solid wood furniture without damaging its finish:
- First, dust the furniture to remove surface dirt. Now you’re ready to remove light soiling.
- Start with the gentlest cleaner and move up to stronger ones as needed. Try mixing a weak solution of water and dishwashing soap.
- Dip a soft cloth in the solution, wring it out and wipe the entire piece. You want a damp cloth, not a wet one.
- Don’t saturate the wood, and rinse your cloth often.
- Lastly, Take a second, clean cloth and dry the piece thoroughly.
Here’s how to clean wood furniture that’s stained or has other problems.
How to Remove Old Polish
Furthermore, knowing how to clean old wood furniture that has a decades’ old buildup of polish will help you revitalize an antique.
- Steep two tea bags in boiling water.
- Let the tea cool to room temperature.
- Take a soft cloth, wring it out in the tea until it’s damp and wash the wood.
The tannic acid from the tea is wonderful for maintaining wood. You’ll be surprised at how the wood will shine.
Remove Water Stains From Solid Wood Furniture
Interestingly, here’s how to remove water rings from wood where someone has put a hot or cold drink directly on a table.
- Put some non-gel toothpaste on the spot and rub with a soft cloth till the stain is lifted.
- Always, for stubborn stains, mix equal parts baking soda and toothpaste.
- Wipe the toothpaste off with a clean damp cloth and dry thoroughly.
Erase Difficult Marks From Solid Wood Furniture
Thankfully, to remove an ink mark we can:
- First, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water into a thin paste.
- Apply to the stain and rub gently with a soft cloth until the stain disappears.
- Lastly, wipe the toothpaste off with a clean damp cloth and dry thoroughly.
Once your furniture is clean, wipe a layer of wood polish on it to preserve the finish and add shine.
Homemade Furniture Polish for Solid Wood Furniture
Finally, you can use commercially prepared lemon oil. However, you can also make a simple polish by mixing 1 cup of olive oil with 1/4 cup white vinegar. Pour it on a soft cloth and work it into the wood, wiping with the grain. Buff till shiny.
Knowing how to clean wood furniture will help you keep your possessions looking lovely, longer.
Here’s an incredible collection of heirloom quality, solid wood furniture that will last generations using the methods above.
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