CLEANING AND POLISHING TIPS FOR ALL TYPES OF WOOD
Even if your home isn’t crammed with antiques and family heirlooms, you still need to take care of your modern wooden furniture (they could become antiques in 100 years’ time !!).
Whether it’s a teak table from Bali, a recliner from Scandinavia, a coffee table from Brazil or a painted desk from the shop on the corner, it all needs some TLC. With proper care, you’ll maintain the value of the furniture as well as keep it functioning optimally and looking great .
Knowing a little about what the different wood finishes are and how they should be cleaned and cared for is invaluable.
A list of the various common wood finishes continues below, and there are cleaning tips for each type (including leather, cane, bamboo etc. One tip – if you’re in a hurry or can’t remember what to do, a regular wipe to remove abrasive dust is a must and a quick rub-down with wax polish will be a tonic for wood of any type or finish.
GENERAL CARE
When dusting or cleaning, always use a soft, damp (not wet) lint-free cloth, and rub in the direction of the grain of the wood. Many of the shop-bought furniture sprays contain silicon which can penetrate and damage the natural surface of the wood, so it’s advisable to look for products that are less harsh. Dust can also scratch the wood’s surface, so it’s best to keep furniture free of grit and grime. And while regular dusting and cleaning is vital, for optimum furniture care and to change the actual condition of the wood, you’ll have to put a little extra effort in. For optimum wood care, a regular dose of furniture polish or wax polish is necessary.
PAINTED FURNITURE
It’s important to remember that painted furniture is still wood, and even if it has a paint technique on it, it still benefits from a regular wipe-down with a damp cloth – but be careful not to leave water spots as they will mark. A very light layer of wood oil can be applied onto the surface every now and then.
CARING FOR POLISHED WOOD
For polished (and unpolished) surfaces, orange oil is a good choice as it has excellent cleaning properties and restores the patina by breaking down dirt and wax build-up.
OILED WOOD
These only need the occasional application of furniture oil to maintain their warm, natural, soft glow. Orange oil is an excellent choice as it has great cleaning properties, is non-toxic and doesn’t contain silicon. Simply apply with a soft cloth and then buff. It’s best not to use a wax furniture polish on oiled surfaces as this can have an effect on the porosity.
FURNITURE THAT HAS BEEN FRENCH-POLISHED, LACQUER OR SHELLAC
These high-gloss surfaces are not very strong and are prone to chipping and damage. Astringent solvents in many commercial furniture polishes and sprays can also damage the suface . Woods that have a lacquered finish will not absorb oil, so the best way of giving them a light, protective coating is to use a natural wax polish such as beeswax .
VENEERS
Extra care should be taken when cleaning veneers as the veneer could buckle, warp, lift or split if water or polish gets beneath the surface.
LEATHER CARE, WICKER, CANE AND VINYL
Orange oil is a good choice for cane and wicker furniture and for feeding unpolished surfaces such as the insides of draws and the undersides of tables.
Furniture creams and restoring polishes can be used on leather furniture and vinyl. Clean first with a damp sponge or soft cloth and keep it dust-free. Orange oil and beeswax are good options for leather, as they are easy to use and nourishing, leaving leather supple and resistant to dirt and water.
People should think of wood furniture as being human, says a long-established supplier of quality products and waxes for various furniture finishes, Australian Gilly Stephenson. ”Both furniture and people look and feel wonderful when treated with a little ‘TLC’”! Their products are made from a time-tested recipe for wood finishing, restoration and care using the finest West Australian beeswax combined with carnauba wax and other natural ingredients – with no silicone or toluene.
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