Cleaning Tips for Wood Furniture

Oiled Wood

• When cleaning oiled wood furniture, avoid using wax and do not use furniture polish. Instead, use 1 cup of boiled linseed oil combined with 1 cup of turpentine and 1/3 cup of white vinegar. Turpentine is a flammable liquid, so do not use it near any potential flame source. Do not allow it to get on your skin, and use it in a well-ventilated area so you do not inhale the fumes. Dip a soft cotton cloth in the solution and wipe the wood surface with, not against, the wood grain. Do not pour the cleaning solution directly onto the wood surface. Allow the solution to stand for only a few minutes so that the soil loosens before you wipe away the cleaner. Remove all excess oil to keep dust from sticking and wipe again with a clean, soft, dry cotton cloth. Allow any oily cloths to air dry before you dispose of the cloths.

  On an annual basis, apply oil to the wood. Follow manufacturer's recommendations or, if none are available, use tung oil or boiled linseed oil.

  Linseed oil and tung oil are used for their ability to harden with exposure to the air. In effect, they help seal the wood. Other oils such as mineral oil do not dry and do not seal the wood. Oil dressings used frequently and too liberally can cause a build up of hardened oil. The sparing use of mineral spirits on a cloth can help dissolve oil-hardened residue from wood furniture.

Painted Wood

• If the wood furniture is painted in a flat, nonglossy finish, you may be able to purchase a cleaner for painted wood at a hardware or home improvement store. To make your own cleaner for flat painted wood surfaces, dissolve white soap flakes, about 3 tbs. worth, in a single cup of boiling water. To enhance the solution's ability to clean, add 1 tsp. of household ammonia or 2 tsp. of powdered borax.

  If the wood furniture has a glossy painted finish, use a hot-water-soaked cloth that has been wrung damp dry. Add washing soda for enhanced cleaning power at a ratio of 1 tsp. of soda to one gallon of water. Do not scour. Simply rub with a gentle motion. You can use a mild detergent, but avoid using soaps as they can leave a lingering film on the glossy surface.

Sealed Wood

• If your wood furniture has a varnished or otherwise sealed finish, you can use commercially made furniture polish or lemon oil. You can also make your own furniture polish by mixing one quart of mineral oil with 1 tbs. of lemon extract. The mixture can be stored in a plastic bottle at room temperature.