How to Safely Clean Old Wood Furniture

Wipe dust and surface debris off the old furniture with a lint-free cloth. Repeat this step once a week.

Vinegar does not contain harsh chemicals and is safe to use on old wood furniture. Mix equal parts cool water and white vinegar in a bucket. Submerge a clean cloth in the mixture. Hold the cloth over the bucket and wring out the excess liquid so the cloth is damp but not dripping wet. Wipe mold and mildew off the old wood furniture. Vinegar is an all-natural deodorizer and cleaner that kills mold and mildew. Rinse the mixture off the wood furniture with a damp cloth. Dry with a towel.

Use a lint-free cloth dampened with solvent-based cleaning wax to wipe the old wood furniture clean. Make sure the label states that the liquid is a solvent-based cleaning wax before you use it on the old wood furniture. Begin at the bottom of the furniture and work your way up. Immediately wipe the wax off the old furniture with a clean and dry lint-free cloth.

Rub Carnauba paste wax onto the old wood furniture with a soft cloth. Rub the wax in the same direction as the wood grain. Buff the furniture with a clean, lint-free cloth. Flip the cloth over several times during the process and continue buffing until the wax has hardened.