Wooden furniture is a great way to add class and sophistication to your home decor. This material packs a punch with its natural grains and knots and is just the thing you need to give a unique flavour to your home decor.
However, like all good things, it needs maintenance. Without proper care, you will have coffee cup rings, dull, faded polish, and a lacklustre look that can be very distressing.
But don’t let it put a damper on your mood. Your natural wooden furniture will look as good as new with elbow grease and some cleaning material.
Interested in checking out home cleaning hacks for wooden furniture? Let’s dive in.
Why Natural Wood?
Wooden furniture has amazing lasting power. The old chest in your dad’s house probably belonged to his grandfather. And maybe his father before him. These timeless furniture pieces infuse history and charm in your decor. As for the cleaning, well, good things come at a price. And a bit of hard work never killed anyone.
A tip: before you make your purchase, ask the vendor for tips on how to clean wooden furniture to make it look new again, as the type of wood and polish may differ from what you are generally accustomed to.
So, how do you keep your wood furniture pristine? Let’s find out.
Tips on Dusting Your Wooden Furniture
Wood furniture requires regular dusting. Accumulated dust particles and grime can tarnish the surface leading to scratches. And by dusting, we don’t mean dislodging the settled dust with a swipe of your rag. The dust will float in the air and probably settle on the surface once your back is turned.
Use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe down the surface. You can use a dry terry napkin to wipe off the moisture once you are done. The aim is to use a fabric that will attract dust.
How to Clean Your Wood Furniture?
Like with everything else, tools matter. Harsh chemicals and rough cloth can damage the surface of your wood furniture. How do you clean different types of wooden furniture at home? To get it right, here’s what you will need in your cleaning caddy:
- Microfibre cloth
- Mild soap
- Baking soda
- Toothpaste
- Hard wax
- Lint-free cloth
Method:
- Remove dust from the furniture using a damp microfibre cloth. Wipe the surface with a lint-free cloth.
- For sticky residue, put a few drops of mild soap on a microfibre cloth. Do a patch test on one corner of your furniture to ensure the polish is strong enough to withstand the soap.
- DIY tips to clean wooden furniture? Mix a few drops of mild soap to a cup of water and gently work on the sticky residue. Once the surface is clean, wipe off moisture with a lint-free cloth.
How to Remove Stains from Your Furniture?
You may need a stronger cleaning agent such as baking soda for stubborn stains.
Method:
- Mix a cup of water with a cup of baking soda and make a paste. Since baking soda is alkaline, it will lift off the stains and grime from your furniture surface.
- Spread the paste on the stain and let it rest for five minutes.
- Wipe off the paste using a lint-free cloth.
- Another method to get rid of stubborn stains from your furniture is using a damp microfibre cloth and a dollop of non-gel toothpaste. Since most non-gel toothpaste contains baking soda, this is a quick-fix method to tackle those stubborn stains. Use a circular motion to work the paste into your furniture stain. Wipe off the residue with a clean cloth once the stains disappear.
- Air-dry the furniture.
How to Deep Clean Your Wooden Furniture?
Excess wax or polish often results in dark or cloudy-looking furniture. To deep clean wooden furniture, you can start by using gentle methods before you move on to stronger ones:
Cutaway waxy build-up with black tea- Tea contains tannins that can effectively cut through the buildup of wax on wood.
- Add two black tea bags to two cups of hot water and let it brew. When the tea cools down, dip a soft cloth in it and squeeze out excess tea before wiping the surface in the direction of the grain.
- Rinse the cloth clean. Squeeze out excess water and repeat the process with the tea. Dry the surface and buff it to give it a shine.
Mineral spirits for stubborn stains – You don’t want to damage the finish of your wood furniture. So, test a corner of the furniture before you start cleaning. Rub the mineral spirit into the sticky area. If this doesn’t work, you may opt for professional repolishing.
Apply wax for better protection – Depending on your furniture and the polish used, you can use a cheesecloth to apply semi-solid wax to your furniture. Let the wax rest on your furniture for a few minutes before you polish it clean using a microfibre cloth.
Polished older furniture can do with a bit of wax polish too.
How to Get Rid of Mould from Your Furniture?
Use a vacuum cleaner to pick up any loose spores. Use mild soap to wipe off the surface. Immediately dry the furniture using a soft, lint-free cloth.
It doesn’t take much to breathe life into your old wooden furniture. The best part is that you get to enjoy seemingly brand new furniture with a few tricks and tips. Looking for great wooden furniture? Check out HomeLane.
