How to Keep Maple Inlay With a Dark-Stained Border Clean

Dust the furniture frequently, as often as you see dust on the surface. Dust buildup way get embedded in the finish or in the cracks between the maple inlay and the stained border. The best dusting tool is an old, soft cotton T-shirt although any soft, lint-free cloth will do. Dry-dust the piece.

Damp-dust to remove a heavy dust cover, if a lot of dust kicks up and resettles, or if partially embedded dust can't be wiped off of the finish. Barely dampen your dusting cloth with water (distilled water is best) or commercial furniture cleaner before dusting. If there is moisture on the table after you finish dusting, the cloth is too moist.

Clean gummy or sticky spots on the furniture with a mild soap solution (roughly 1/4 teaspoon per quart of water). Dip a dusting cloth in the solution and wring it out until it's almost dry. Wipe the area in the direction of the wood. Once the spot is removed, wipe the spot with a cloth slightly moistened with water to remove any soap residue, then wipe the spot dry.

Blot liquid spills immediately with a clean dusting cloth. Do not rub them; you may work them into the finish.

Deep-clean the furniture piece once monthly to condition the piece and remove dirt, grime and dust that may be embedded in the furniture polish. Mix an oil soap with water according to the manufacturer's instructions. Soak a dusting cloth in the solution and wring it out. Clean the piece, then follow with a water-dampened cloth to remove the soap solution residue. Wipe the cloth dry when you're finished. If the piece still looks dirty, wipe it lightly with 0000-grade steel wool dipped into wood cleaner and squeezed until just damp. Follow with a water-damp cloth wipe to remove the soap solution residue. Wipe the cloth dry when you're finished.

Wax or polish the surface once monthly, after a deep clean. Whether you use wax or polish is largely up to you. Wax provides a hard, durable finish and is ideal for heavily used pieces. Polish is less durable, but may be applied more frequently and easily. Use a commercial wax or furniture polish. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for application rates and amounts. Most polishes are spray or wipe on. Use a soft cloth when rubbing wax into the finish.