How to Clean and Polish Dirty Wood

Durable and beautiful, wood furnishings, floors, trim and accessories will still attract their share of dirt and dust. How you remove those intruders will vary depending on whether your wood is bare, varnished or painted. Avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning and polishing your wood. Keep felt-bottomed coasters and place mats on your tables to discourage spills and dirty marks. Dust frequently to prevent buildup, polish every few weeks and wax in spring and autumn to keep your wood burnished and glowing.

Clean, soft cloths
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Small bowl
Lemon oil
Small spray bottle
Washing soda
Wood paste wax

Instructions

- 1
  Remove dust from wood with a clean, soft cloth. Clean the surface, turn the cloth over to expose a clean side, and then run the cloth over a new surface.
- 2
  Mix two parts olive oil to two parts lemon juice in a small bowl. Dip a small cloth into the mixture, saturate the cloth and wring it out.
- 3
  Wrap a new clean, dry cloth around the saturated cloth, rolling it into a ball to spread the liquid around the outer cloth. Remove the inner cloth. The outer cloth should be barely damp.
- 4
  Polish unvarnished and bare wood with the outer cloth. Take care to cover the wood completely to avoid streaking.
- 5
  Mix three drops of lemon oil into ½ cup warm water. Empty the mixture into a small spray bottle. Spray the lemon oil and water mixture lightly onto a soft, clean cloth to polish varnished wood.
- 6
  Dissolve 1 tsp. washing soda into 1 gallon of warm water. Dip a clean, soft cloth into the water and wring out until the cloth is damp. Apply to painted wood surfaces to remove dirt.
- 7
  Apply a paste wax to your wood in spring and fall. Gently cover the wood with a coating of wax, using a soft, clean cloth. Allow the wax to dry, then buff clean and clear with a fresh clean cloth.

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