How To Clean Old Wood Furniture
Using a cheesecloth apply a semi-solid wax without silicone to the wood furniture.
How to clean old wood furniture. Tougher cleaning problems will require more elbow grease. Dilute a household detergent or better yet a conservation-grade furniture detergent with water in a ratio of about 1 teaspoon of detergent per pint of water. Before you clean your old wooden furniture with dishwashing soap you need to test it out to make sure it wont damage the wood or the finish.
If the detergent strips or ruins the finish do not use it. This will make the finish glow and give the furniture a nice look. Rotate the cloth frequently to avoid spreading the dirt it absorbs.
Let the wax paste sit on the wooden surface for a few minutes before buffing it in with a clean microfiber cloth. Once youve rubbed plenty of beeswax polish into the furniture leave it for at least two hours to soak into the wood. Use only enough soapy water to wet the surface without flooding it.
Always dust wood furniture with soft lint-free. Quickly dry the area with a soft clean cloth. Polish the furniture when finished.
Knowing how to clean old wood furniture that has decades old buildup of polish will help you revitalize an antique. If grime has hardened apply a cleaning product for wood cleaning while carefully using extra fine 0000 steel wool to break up each layer. Apply the wax liberally with a cheesecloth always being sure to rub in the direction of the wood grain.
Varnished or lacquered wood is able to withstand mild cleaning products provided that you use minimal water. Mix a little bit of Murphys Oil Soap into some warm water according to the package directions lightly dampen a soft cloth in the solution then gently begin to wipe away the stuck-on dust and dirt. Vinegar is a great natural cleaner and will do the trick just fine.