Restoring the natural luster to wood furniture is easier than you think.
It’s normal for wooden furniture to get dirty through everyday use.
How Often to Clean Wood Furniture
Make it a goal to clean wood furniture weekly.
Sarah Crowley
Spills and stains should be cleaned as soon as they happen (or are seen).
Any built-up residue that requires a deeper cleaning should be cleaned as soon as possible.
If cleaning your wood furniture regularly, these spots and residue will be hard to miss.
Getty Images/Simone Madeo
Awell-designed dustercan make this routine easier.
Keeping up with regular dusting and wiping can go a long way to preserving your wooden furniture.
When purchasing wood furniture, always ask the vendor for tips on how to care for the piece.
Getty Images/Katarzyna Bialasiewicz
Also, test new cleansers or products in an inconspicuous spot before wiping down an entire table or chair.
Sealed vs.
Wipe the piece down with a damp cloth and gentle soap solution.
Getty Images/Luis Alvarez
Even though it is sealed, dry the surface after cleaning to prevent any water damage.
Wooden furniture that lacks a protective finish requires more care.
Covering the surface of wood furniture can help shield the wood from stains, moisture, and heat.
Sarah Crowley
Use cloth tablecloths, placemats, and coasters on tables.
Avoid plastic, as it can scratch the surface.
When moving wood furniture, remove items so they don’t slide and scratch the surface.
Light can cause discoloration, and heat and moisture can warp or damage the wood.
Lastly, use blinds orwindow curtainsto limit sun exposure.
(What you’re smelling is likelymildewand dust accumulation.)
Then, air the wood furniture out on a dry, sunny day.
see to it all the drawers and cabinets are open so the air can ventilate through every crevice.
Once the odor has dissipated, proceed to polishing.
Unfortunately, hot or cold drinks placed on a wooden surface can leave a ring or mark.
Here’s how to remove these common stains from your wooden furniture.
You should also dilute the vinegar with water before using it on wood.
In general, you should not use glass cleaners on your wooden furniture.
It can damage the finish or the wood and can leave behind spots.
It’s best to avoid it.
With most wooden furniture, it’s OK to use disinfecting wipes.
However, the majority ofpainted woodor finished wood furniture will be able to handle these wipes.