Most homes feature furniture that is made of wood or contains wooden components. The natural appeal of wood furniture enhances any room, offering warmth and a versatile style. However, maintaining the beauty and longevity of wood furniture requires proper cleaning techniques. In this guide, we’ll explore how to clean wood furniture effectively, ensuring it remains a cherished part of your home for years to come.

clean wood furniture

Dust can scratch wood furniture, so remove it carefully to prevent damage. Cleaning might take from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of wood you have. Don’t skip cleaning because dust can hide tiny bugs like dust mites or small spiders.

Feather dusters only move dust from your furniture into the air. To stop dust from spreading while you clean, use a slightly wet cloth instead. Wet a corner of a microfiber cloth with a bit of water for the best effect. This method traps the dust in the cloth and keeps it from floating around.

How often should you clean wood furniture?

Clean up food and drink spills right away. Liquid that sits too long can darken the wood, change its shape, or make the surface look cloudy.

Dust often, like every few days or at least once a week, to prevent a lot of dust from gathering. Dusting gets rid of small bits that can scratch the furniture. Once a month, use your preferred furniture polish or a homemade one to make it shine and fix small scratches or marks.

Using too much polish or wax can make wood furniture appear dull, cloudy, or dark. Over time, depending on how frequently you polish it, your furniture will need a more thorough cleaning. Begin with a milder approach by using a tea solution. If that doesn’t help, move on to a stronger method using mineral spirits.

If you own valuable antique wood furniture, limit handling to weekly dusting and avoid more intense cleaning. Cleaning too aggressively can greatly lower the furniture’s value.

Essential Tools and Materials for Cleaning Wood Furniture

When cleaning wood furniture, it’s essential to choose the right tools and materials to avoid damage.

Tools:

  • Microfiber cloths
  • Dust mask
  • Duster (electrostatic or feather)
  • Cotton cloths or paper towels (if needed)
  • Bucket (if needed)
  • Sponge (if needed)
  • Rubber gloves (if needed)
  • Cloth rags (if needed)
  • Cotton balls and swabs (if needed)

Materials:

  • Water (if needed)
  • Dish soap (if needed)
  • Tea bags (if needed)
  • Mineral spirits (if needed)

Daily Care Tips for Your Wood Furniture

Immediate Actions to Protect Wood from Spills

Quickly use a paper towel or a soft cloth to soak up any spilled liquids and drink condensation. For sticky spills, wet a cloth with water and squeeze it out until it’s just damp. Clean the spill, then immediately dry and polish the wood with a dry microfiber cloth.

Effective Dusting Strategies for Wood Furniture

To remove dust, use a microfiber cloth, feather duster, or an electrostatic duster such as Swiffer. If dust affects you, wear a dust mask and try using a damp cloth instead of a duster. After you’ve dusted, polish the surfaces with a soft cotton cloth to get rid of any smudges and make it shiny. Make sure to also clean the legs, arms, and any smaller parts of the furniture.

Clean Off a Lot of Dirt

If the wood has been in storage or has been neglected, mix one teaspoon of dish soap solution with two quarts of water in a bucket or container. Dip a sponge or soft cloth into the solution and wring until it is slightly damp.

Deep Cleaning Techniques for Preserving Wooden Surfaces

Using Black Tea for Enhanced Wood Shine

The natural substances in tea, called tannins, can remove wax build-up on wood. Make the mixture by steeping two black tea bags in two cups of hot water. Once the tea cools down, soak a soft cloth, cotton balls, or cotton swabs in it and squeeze them until they are slightly wet. Begin cleaning at the top and gently rub along the wood’s pattern.

Rinse the cloth in plain water to remove the grime. Wring and rewet with the tea solution, wring, and continue wiping. Finish by drying each cleaned section with a soft cloth and buffing it to a shine.

Safe Use of Mineral Spirits for Stubborn Stains

Mineral spirits is a type of cleaner made from petroleum that helps thin oil-based paints and clean off stains, varnishes, and wax. Always use protective gloves and gear, and make sure you’re in a place with lots of air flow when using it.

Put a little bit of the solution on an old rag and rub the furniture in the direction of the wood pattern. Change to a clean part of the rag as it picks up dirt. Then, polish the wood with a soft, dry cloth to finish.

Advice for Keeping Wooden Furniture Clean for More Time

Manufacturers add varnish, polyurethane, or shellac to protect a furniture’s wood surface. You can apply wax or polish to protect the manufacturer’s original finish, which helps to reduce surface scratches.

Furniture wax, in paste or liquid form, provides a tough finish and long-lasting shield for wood pieces. Wax doesn’t smear and lasts longer than spray or liquid polishes. If you regularly dust and take care of your furniture, a paste wax finish can last up to two years. Liquid wax is simpler to apply but creates a lighter layer, so you might have to use it more often than paste wax.

Furniture polish can make wooden furniture shiny, but its effect doesn’t last as long as wax. Liquid polishes, like oil polish or cleaners that mix with water, are safe for wood finishes and leave a nice shine, but this shine disappears soon after the polish dries. Some spray polishes have a downside too: they have silicone oil and other chemicals that can damage the varnish.

Getting Rid of Various Stains on Wooden Furniture

Water Marks

Water rings or stains from wet glasses and cups often happen on wooden tables or surfaces. It’s best to deal with them quickly. There are two ways to fix this issue before you think about refinishing the whole item.

Apply some olive oil or mayonnaise to the white spots on the wood. Leave it for an hour, then polish it off.

Put a bit of non-gel toothpaste on a soft cloth and gently rub the water mark until it’s gone. Clean off any leftover toothpaste with a wet cloth, then dry and shine the wood with a soft, dry cloth.

Ink Stains

Wet a soft cloth, dip it in dry baking soda, and lightly scrub the ink stain until it’s gone. Then, use a clean, damp cloth to remove any leftover baking soda and dry it with a soft cloth.

Baking soda might make the finish a bit dull, so apply some wood polish afterward to restore the shine.

Sticky Residue from Stickers or Glue

Gently scrape off as much of the sticky stuff as you can with the edge of a credit card or a plastic scraper. Then, put a little olive oil or mineral oil on a soft cloth and rub it on the sticky area. Switch to a clean part of the cloth as you pick up the residue, and add more oil if necessary.

End the process by applying some wood polish to make the whole wood surface evenly shiny.

Mold or Mildew Stains

If you can, clean wooden furniture with mold outside to stop spores from spreading inside your house. If you can’t take it outside and the mildew is dry, use the dusting or upholstery tool on your vacuum to remove the mold.

Use the deep cleaning techniques mentioned earlier to help remove any leftover spores and bring back the wood’s finish.

When to Get Help from an Expert

If you think your wooden furniture is an antique or made by a famous craftsman, get it checked by a professional appraiser before polishing or deeply cleaning it. The cost for an appraisal can range from $25 to $300 per hour, depending on where you are and what needs to be appraised.

Solid wood furniture can last a long time. Even if it starts to get loose or scratched, fixing it is usually much cheaper than buying new. It’s also better for the environment to repair or repurpose furniture rather than throw it away.

A furniture repair expert can make wooden furniture look as good as new. They can smooth out deep scratches, dents, or cracks, and even change the color to match your home’s other wood tones if you want. The cost for these services is about $30 per hour, and fixing a small item might average between $150 and $300. Since new furniture can be very expensive, repairing or refurbishing your pieces can save money and be more sustainable.