Wooden furniture adds a touch of elegance to any room it is placed in. However, regular cleaning is essential to ensure its beauty and durability in the long run. Wooden furniture, in particular, requires some extra care and attention to maintain its natural shine.
However, cleaning wooden furniture does not have to be complicated. To make things easier, we will share some tips and tricks with you for cleaning, polishing, and maintaining your furniture. From basic cleaning tips to protective measures that will keep your furniture looking stunning, we have everything you need to know.
Basic Steps to Cleaning Wooden Furniture
Cleaning your wooden furniture is much easier than you might think. There are three easy processes that you can choose to follow:
Dusting
For regular dusting, opting for a clean, lint-free, or microfibre cloth is the way to go. Lightly dampen the cloth you choose with warm, soapy water and clean the wooden furniture. Using warm water is key here. After cleaning, ensure to completely dry the cleaned surface to avoid the risk of any water staining or spotting.
Specialist Cleaner
Specialist wood cleaners can also be used instead of water. These cleaning solutions are specifically made to clean wooden surfaces while causing them no harm. However, in the case of these cleaners, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the back of the bottle and dilute accordingly. Do a quick patch test on any small area and then proceed with cleaning the rest of the furniture.
Natural Cleaner
For more persistent stains, such as oil spillage or dirt marks, your cleaning materials need an extra boost. If cleaning your wooden furniture with warm water or specialist wood cleaners does not do the job, using a mild vinegar solution certainly will. Using natural cleaning solutions will clean your furniture while ensuring zero damage.
How to Clean Wooden Furniture With Vinegar?
Using vinegar to clean your wooden furniture is easy but a little tricky. Vinegar, being an acidic solution, needs to be used a specific amount with water to ensure its right usage. You can do it by following these steps:
- In a bowl of 250ml warm water, add two teaspoons of white vinegar. For more persistent stains, adding a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to the mixture will facilitate your cleaning process.
- After making the mixture, soak in a clean microfibre cloth in the vinegar solution. Next, wring out the cloth to ensure that it is not wet but lightly damp.
- Taking the damp cloth, do a patch test in a small area.
- After a successful patch test, wipe your entire wooden furniture with the cloth. Make sure you are going along with grain during the process.
- Next, soak the cloth in clean water, wring it out, and wipe over your furniture to make sure that the stain, as well as the vinegar solution, is cleaned.
- Now, with another dry microfiber cloth wipe over your damp furniture to ensure its dryness.
- Lastly, polish your wooden furniture for that extra shine.
Word of advice, always make sure that you are using a mild vinegar solution to clean your furniture. Additionally, wipe off the solution with a damp cloth to ensure your furniture is not exposed to vinegar for a long period of time. This is because, while vinegar is a natural cleaning solution with zero risk of damage, long exposure may degrade your wooden furniture.
How to Polish Your Wooden Furniture?
Polishing your wooden furniture is key to maintaining its top-notch appearance in the long run. This should be done either every six weeks or after you have deeply cleaned your wooden furniture. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Use a Spray
If you are using a store-bought furniture polish, we highly recommend using a spray. This allows you to have more control in terms of how much amount you want to use and in which areas. After spraying the polish on your desired area, gently wipe your wooden furniture with a microfibre cloth.
Make Furniture Polish at Home
If you want to opt for a natural furniture polish, you can make it from ingredients readily available at home. Make a mixture of equal amounts of vinegar and olive oil with some sprinkles of lemon juice. Here, the vinegar and lemon juice will act as cleaners, and olive oil will serve as a polish.
Avoid Silicone
For the betterment of your wooden furniture, opt for polishes that do not contain silicone to avoid any trace of residue after usage.
Conduct Patch Tests
Similar to cleaning your wooden furniture, make sure to do a patch test first. After polishing, also ensure that you clean any excess liquid with a clean and dry cloth.
How to Maintain Your Wooden Furniture for the Long Run?
Besides cleaning and polishing, there are other things that you should take into account to ensure the upkeep of your wooden furniture for years. Keeping these in mind will not only make the cleaning process easier for you but also make your furniture look amazing without much effort. Here is what you should consider:
Avoid Exposure to Moisture and Sunlight
In case of any spillage, immediately wipe the surface with a dry cloth. Long exposure to moisture will damage the wood and possibly leave a stain.
Steer clear of exposing your furniture to sunlight as well. Leaving them unprotected under ultraviolet (UV) rays will cause the wood, fabric, color, and finishes to degrade. Maintaining the lifespan of quality leather, fabric, and wood furniture requires vigilant management of temperature and humidity levels.
Do Not Directly Place Items on Your Furniture
Items with solvents, such as perfume, nail polish remover, hairspray, and even potpourri, can harm wood surfaces. Avoid setting these items directly on wood surfaces.
Gadgets such as clocks and electronic devices with rubber or plastic exteriors should be placed carefully on varnished surfaces. This is because wooden finishes can be harmed by rubber and plastic items as they react with the lacquer layer.
Avoid placing objects that generate extreme temperatures or moisture, such as a laptop, computer, microwave, etc., directly onto your wooden furniture. To prevent from harming the varnish, place a protective layer underneath.
Read Instructions
Lastly, always make sure to closely adhere to the manufacturer’s directions before using any product on the surfaces of your furniture.
Conclusion
To sum up, not a lot goes into cleaning wooden furniture. Regular maintenance in small dosages will aid your cleaning process when you are later in the mood for a deep clean. Steps such as using coasters, placemats, and tablecloths will serve your wooden furniture well in the long run. All of these, combined with routine cleaning and polishing, will maintain the appearance and quality of your wooden furniture.
