Wood furniture is beautiful, but can become
easily scratched, soiled, chipped, or smudged. The best way to keeping your
furniture lustrous, spotless and shining depends on the type of
wood and finish. Always make sure to use the appropriate
products for your piece, and call wood furniture retailer or antiques dealer if
you have any doubts.
Cleaning the wood
- Dusting. Keeping your wood clean starts with frequently
removing the dust and debris that collects on the surface. Deposits and filmy
build-up can make your wood look dirty, dull, and eventually cause scratches to
form. Use a clean, dry cloth to gently wipe dust off of your wood furniture
regularly.
- Cleaning spots or stains. Wood finish is sensitive, and
cannot be cleaned with just any product. All-purpose cleaners should be avoided,
because they can ruin the finish and make your wood appear dull, or leave behind
a sticky film. While you want to avoid using water on the wood, if something
spills or there's residue on the surface, wipe the area clean with a soft cloth
dampened with a mild soap and water mixture. Follow-up up with a second damp
cloth to rinse and dry immediately with a third, dry cloth.
- A deep clean. If you are restoring an old garage store
find, or repurposing a forgotten table left in your basement, you may need
something a little stronger to cut through years of caked-on grime. Concoct a
mixture using oil soap and water, then rinse and dry well. If the wood still
appears unclean, gently scrub with an extra-fine steel wool dipped with a
wood-safe cleaning product. Avoid mixtures containing linseed oil, turpentine,
or white vinegar. End with a coat of clear paste wax for protection.
Waxing and polishing the wood
Most wood furniture is covered
with varnish, polyurethane, or shellac finish to protect the surface from
scratches or chips. Periodically applying furniture wax or polish will help
maintain the finish, protect your wood and restore its lustrous shine.
- Wax. Applying wax to your wood furniture is ideal because
it provides a hard finish, better protection and won't smudge or smear like
furniture polish. It's longer-lasting, too--paste or liquid wax made
specifically for furniture can last as long as two years. While liquid wax is
easier to apply, it is thinner and may need to be applied more often than paste
wax.
Apply wax in light coats, rubbing it gently into the wood and moving
with the grain to prevent streaks, smudges or cloudiness. After the wax dries,
buff gently with a soft cloth to create a bold shine.
- Oils and polish. While oil and polish can help protect wood
by making the surface slick and reducing scratches, they will not create a hard,
protective finish as wax will. Also, if you use a product that is too
concentrated or oily (such as pure olive oil), the surface may smear, show
fingerprints, or attract dust. Opt for a commercial, furniture spray or liquid
polishes containing silicone oil, which will provide some protection.
Repairing scratches
Unsightly scratches, chips, or gouges in
your wood furniture can ruin its appearance. For light surface scratches, you
may be able to treat the problem with paste wax or a felt-tip pen in a similar
color. Cutting a walnut in half and rubbing the oils over the scratch is also a
common tactic used to reduce the offensive mark's appearance.
For deeper
gouges, cracks, or chips, you will need to use wood filler or a wax stick
purchased at home goods retailer. Make sure to match the filler or the stick as
closely as possible to your wood-they are available in a variety of colors to
match almost any type of wood or stain. Apply the stick by pressing the tip into
the defect and drawing over the area, or apply the filler using a putty knife.
Wipe away excess of either materials with the putty knife and sand down until
smooth.
Maintenance by wood type
Caring for your furniture will also
depend on the type of wood from which it's made.
- Oiled wood
- You should never wax furniture with an oil finish. It can turn it dry and
brittle.
- To remove water rings and stain, rub a little toothpaste on the area with a
clean, dry cloth. You can also try using an abrasive such as baking soda, salt,
pumice and then following with olive oil or petroleum jelly.
- Painted wood
- Avoid using polish and wax on painted wood-it can cause discoloration.
- To clean, dust the furniture and wipe periodically with a damp sponge to
remove fingerprints and other smudges.
- Polished wood
Polished wood is any furniture treated
with wax, lacquer, or varnish to protect its surface. When polishing your wood,
always choose a product appropriate for the type of finish.
Sprinkle cornstarch on your newly-polished wood
furniture's surface and gently rub to absorb excess oil and leaves a beautiful,
smudge-free gloss.
- To eliminate water rings on polished furniture, wipe a little mayonnaise to
the white rings or on the area, leave on about an hour, then wipe clean with
another cloth. Finish with polish.
- Specialty wood. These include wicker, rattan, cane, and
bamboo. They usually have a simple natural finish, but some may be coated with
varnish or shellac.
- Clean specialty wood by frequently dusting or vacuum using a brush
attachment.
- Rinse specialty woods occasionally with water to restore moisture to the
fibers.