How should you care for your beloved wood furniture pieces? Is dusting best dry? Should you use furniture polish or wax? And how do you remove the inevitable water marks or other stains? Today I have the ultimate guide to help you. After reading the following information, you should feel much more knowledgeable about caring for wood furniture!
Regular dusting is one of the best {and the most basic} things you can do to care for your wood furniture. It is important because it removes airborne dust and deposits that accumulate on the surface. These deposits can actually scratch the wood surface if they aren’t removed. Clean and dry soft cloths are best for removing dust. If you slightly dampen the cloth first, it will help to prevent the dust from scattering. Microfiber cloths in particular are excellent at “grabbing” onto dust particles.
For cleaning, general-use cleaning sprays are NOT recommended for wood furniture, unless it has a hard plastic coating. Water is not for regular use in cleaning wood, unless you’ve got a sticky spill that could benefit from a little soap and water. In that case, dip a soft cloth in warm, soapy water and then be sure to wring it out until it is just damp–you definitely don’t want it dripping wet. After you wipe away the spill, thoroughly dry the wood immediately using a dry cloth.
Furniture oils offer protection by making the wood more slippery on the surface, but beware of using pure oil of any type because it just attracts more dust.
Commercial polishes may contain silicone, which helps protect the wood from drying but can leave residue behind. Residues may be a problem if you plan to refinish the wood in the future. Look for a polish that is silicone-free, such as Guardsman Anytime Clean & Polish.
For repair of light scratches, apply paste wax or use felt-tip touch-up pen. Choose a shade that matches the wood stain. Deeper scratches need to be repaired with wood filler. Another great option is to use filler sticks from your local home improvement store.
Thank you for posting. Never spray furniture directly, as overspray can leave a difficult-to-remove film. Follow the grain of the wood as you dust to avoid cross-grain scratches.