5 Tips on Cleaning Wood Furniture

Posted on March 21st, 2018 by susan@greenbauminteriors.com.

You may have heard the phrase screeched across a room, “Put a coaster under that before it leaves a ring!”

And, yes, it’s good practice. However, there are ways to clean wood furniture that help reduce—and in some cases prevent—mishaps like that.

Here’s how:

Tip 1: Ask before you Purchase
Always ask for specific care and cleaning guidelines when purchasing new or old furnishings. It’s the best way to avert a disaster if you know ahead of time what’s the best way to care for the piece.

Tip 2: Dust…frequently
Frequent dusting will remove airborne deposits that build up and form a filmy layer, which can scratch surfaces. A classic, ostrich-feather duster is a tried and true method of removing dust from wood furniture, while a lamb’s-wool duster is effective for dusting carved or turned areas that cloths can’t reach.

Tip 3: Use the right tools and materials
You never want to use all-purpose cleaning sprays unless your furniture has a plastic coating (like a kitchen table). While it’s best to avoid using water on wood furniture, sticky spots may need to be treated with soap and water. Here’s how: dip the cloth in mild soap or detergent dissolved in water, wring the cloth nearly dry, and wipe the area. Rinse and immediately dry with a clean, soft cloth. For more about what might be hiding in your cleaning products, read this post.

Tip 4: Understand the role of furniture oils
Oil polishes, cleaners, and furniture oils protect wood by making the surface more slippery; they do not, however, offer a hard, protective layer.

Tip 5: Homemade recipe for cleaning wood
Some experts recommend reviving grimy wood furniture with a mixture of equal parts olive oil, denatured alcohol, gum turpentine, and strained lemon juice. Apply with a soft cloth and buff with a clean cloth.

Additional Resources

For further tips on how to clean wood furniture, visit this article from Better Homes and Gardens. Then stop by the showroom to see our samples. Or, add your questions and comments on our Facebook page.

Tags: antique furniture, cleaning wood furniture, Greenbaum Interiors, handcrafted furniture, heirloom furniture, maintaining wood furniture

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 21st, 2018 at 3:46 pm and is filed under Blog, Interior Design Tips, Wood Furniture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.