The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Wooden Furniture

Your home’s wood furniture is undoubtedly treasured in your home. It adds a natural warmth to the ambiance while also expressing timelessness and taste. Fine wood furniture is difficult to come by these days, so your furniture might even be a well-kept family heirloom.

Unfortunately, however, the wood itself as well as its finish are subject to damage and even ruin if cleaned improperly. How can you keep your furniture free of dust and germs without exposing it to abrasive materials, excess moisture, and harsh chemicals? This is your ultimate guide to cleaning wooden furniture the right way.

How to Clean Wooden Furniture

Cleaning your wood furniture regularly is one of the best steps that you can take to keep it in great condition in the years to come.

After all, things like dust, oily fingerprints, and more can build up and wear down the finish. What does it take to keep your furniture clean?

Remove the Dust

Dust may be so small and fine that the thought of it damaging your wood never crosses your mind. However, wet dust can act like mild sandpaper against the wood. So, the first step when cleaning wood furniture is to dust with a dry microfiber cloth. Follow the wood grain as you wipe.

If your furniture has ornate grooves and tight corners, clean with the handheld attachment on your vacuum or a soft-bristle toothbrush. It’s best to dust with a clean, dry cloth rather than a moist cloth.

Do a Spot Test

Never apply a new cleaning product to your wood furniture without doing a quick spot test first. Choose a hidden area when doing the test. A spot test will tell you if the cleaning product will discolor or damage the wood before you apply it to the entire piece of furniture.

Choose a Mild Cleaning Product

If you’re dealing with everyday dust and dirt, mix up a mixture of mild dish soap and warm water. If you have an oily buildup or excess grime, make a 2-to-1 mixture with water and white vinegar. Add a drop of mild dish soap.

Clean Gently

To clean your wood furniture, dip a microfiber cloth in your cleaning mixture. Wring it out as much as possible. It should be barely damp. Wipe the cloth along the wood grain.

Dry the Furniture

One of the worst mistakes you can make when cleaning wood furniture is to let moisture stand on the wood.

As soon as you’re done cleaning the wood with a moist cloth, dry the wood with a microfiber cloth to prevent damage. You can also buff the furniture to give the wood to restore its look. Use small, circular motions to gently buff the wood.

How to Remove Common Wood Stains

Despite your best efforts at keeping your wood furniture clean, accidents happen. Thankfully, you don’t have to strip down the wood to remove blemishes and stains.

Moisture Spots

If moisture reaches underneath a sealant layer or topcoat, white rings and moisture spots can develop.

To remove these, apply diluted vinegar or a mild wood cleaner to the spot. After one to two minutes, wipe the cleaner off the spot with a lightly damp cloth. Then, dry it with a microfiber cloth.

Oily Blemishes

Oily fingerprints and smudges aren’t removed with dry wiping or a cloth dampened only with water. Instead, use a diluted vinegar solution or water with a mild dish soap to wipe away the smudges. Then, wipe the area with a water-dampened cloth and dry the wood with a new cloth.

Waxy or Sticky Spots

Discovering wax droplets from a candle or sticky spots from a dried up soda spill can make your heart sink. Your inclination may be to grab a knife and start scraping, but don’t do this. Start by using a mild cleaning product to the area that softens the spot. Then, use a plastic item, such as a plastic scraper or a credit card, to lightly scrape away the substance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you might imagine, a lot can go wrong when cleaning your wood furniture.

Focus on these tips to better care for your furniture:

• Don’t clean with excess water or moisture.
• Don’t use harsh chemical cleaning products.
• Don’t use abrasive cleaning supplies.
• Protect furniture with coasters, placemats, and heat pads.
• Minimize indoor humidity.

Wood is only one of the many materials in your home that have special care requirements. While you expect great results when cleaning your home, a lot can go wrong. Cleanzen maids are experts and know precisely how to safely and effectively clean all of the materials in your home. Keep your home clean without worrying about damage by calling the Cleanzen team today.