How To Clean and Polish Wood Furniture Inexpensively

Wooden furniture is beautiful and adds character to any space. Whether painted, stained, varnished or left untreated, wood furniture is a great addition to any room. Maintaining it is easy and need not be expensive. You can make your own cleaning product and save! You’ll have clean and polished furniture using a few simple ingredients already found in your home. Commercially prepared polishes contain chemicals that may be harmful to your health.

Here’s how to clean and polish wood furniture inexpensively.

1. Clear the surface of any obstructions to be able to wipe down the furniture. If cleaning a table, put away any decorations or dishes that are on it. Wipe down your wood furniture with a clean dry cloth. A microfiber cloth works well. You may also use a feather duster as well.
2. Prepare your ingredients to make your own cleaning and polishing solution. It’s easy! Mix one cup of olive oil with half a cup of lemon juice. Do not use any other vegetable oil since these won’t provide the same luster for your wood. You will not get the same results. You may buy the cheapest olive oil you can find. It doesn’t have to be extra virgin olive oil since it won’t be used for cooking. As for the lemons, using fresh lemons gives the best results. Lemons are a natural wood cleaner and prevent wax build up. The acid in the lemon will lift the dirt off the grain of the wood. However, if you don’t have any on hand, you may use bottled lemon juice. The ratio for your cleaning solution is two parts oil to one part lemon.
3. If you don’t have lemons, you may use white vinegar instead. The ratio when using vinegar will be four parts olive oil to one part vinegar. The vinegar is more concentrated so you need to use less of it compared to the lemons. However, using lemons is preferred since it smells nicer.
4. Mix your solution in a spray bottle and shake well. The solution is now ready to be used!
5. Spray some of your homemade solution onto your soft cloth. Don’t saturate the cloth. Then wipe down the surface of your wood furniture in a circular motion. You will immediately see the dirt transfer onto the cloth, leaving dark marks on your cloth. At the same time, your wood will start to shine! The scent of lemons will be dispersed in the air as well.
6. For stubborn dirt, apply a little of the mixture directly onto the surface of the wood. Do not saturate the surface. Rub the surface immediately using circular motions.
7. Finally, buff down the wood by wiping it with a piece of soft dry cloth.
8. Store any excess solution in a cool dry place. Ideally, you should make a fresh batch every time you want to polish your furniture.

There you have it! It’s quick, simple and inexpensive. Treating your wood furniture at least once a month will keep it looking nice and clean for years to enjoy.