Most people have some type of wood furniture in their home, whether it is a newer wood piece or an antique wood. One of the most common questions people ask about wood furniture is how they should clean it for the best results.
You will need to use gentle materials, such as microfiber cloths, and mild cleaning solutions like dish soap with water to clean wood for the best results. You will also need to establish a plan to clean your wood to regularly keep it in tip-top shape.
Knowing how to care for your wood furniture will depend entirely on your wood type and how old it is. Let’s look at some of the best ways to clean your wood furniture.
What are the Most Effective Methods for Cleaning Wood?
Like many surfaces, wood requires specific types of cleaning methods depending on the condition it is currently in. What most people do not realize is that the way you clean your wood furniture can directly affect its lifespan.
Keep reading to learn more about the most effective methods for cleaning wood.
Dust Regularly
Regular dusting is vital when taking care of your wood furniture since dust particles can cause scratches on the surface. This is especially important if you live in an area where the wind blows in dust and covers everything in its path.
Most experts recommend that you take the time to dust your wood furniture at least once a week to prevent buildup. Keep in mind that it is not important to use a solution of any kind when dusting, just a good quality duster.
While many people differ in their opinions on what material to use for dusting, most suggest using a microfiber cloth or a duster that holds the particles in. Using these materials will prevent dust from flying around the air, which can cause allergies in humans.
Use Water and a Microfiber Cloth for Spills
In addition to regular maintenance for your wood surfaces, you may also have to clean up any spills that occur along the way. If a spill happens on your wood surface, you should clean it up immediately to prevent stains.
A microfiber cloth should be sufficient to clean liquid if you find something spilled on your wood furniture. In most cases, the liquid is absorbed into the fabric without damaging the surface.
If the spill happens to be sticky, you can add a little water to the cloth to remove the sticky mess from your wood surface. If you are using a microfiber cloth (on Amazon), you can apply as much pressure to the sticky mess as you need to remove the spill. Remember that the water will work sufficiently to remove the sticky residue.
Dish Soap Solution for Tough Grime
When it comes to tough grime that happens to wood, whether through a spill or other incident, you may need something a bit stronger to clean it. If this is the case, you can use a simple dish soap and water solution to clean the surface.
A dish soap solution would also be appropriate if a piece of furniture has been in storage for quite some time or hasn’t been taken care of properly. Taking the time to clean this way can make the wood last longer overall.
To use this method, mix about a teaspoon of your favorite dish soap with two quarts of water. Once you have the mixture, use a microfiber cloth to clean and buff the surface to remove any grime that may have collected on the surface.
Use a Black Tea Solution for Deep Cleaning
Another effective method to clean your wood surfaces is using black tea to create a deep cleaning solution. Over time, various polishes, waxes, and other substances can build up on the surface of the wood. When this happens, you need more than just soap and water to clean it thoroughly.
The tannins in black tea can cut through any wax, polish, or other buildups on the wood surface. Therefore, deep cleaning should be done at least a few times a year to ensure that your wood stays in the best condition possible.
To create this solution:
- Boil your tea as you usually would and then allow it to cool down.
- Once it is cooled completely, you can dip a microfiber or other soft cloth in the solution and then wring it out before applying it to the surface.
- After cleaning a small area, ensure you rinse the cloth with plain warm water to remove any excess tea or grime. This will ensure that you are not transferring the grime to other parts of the wood surface.
- Once you have completed the entire process, you can take a dry microfiber cloth to dry and buff the surface to make it shiny.
Stain Removal Methods
There may be times that something has been left on a wood surface for too long and what you are left with is an unseemly stain. Using various methods, you can easily remove the stain without causing further damage to your wood.
Here are the most common types of stains and what you can do to remove them:
Liquid Rings
Liquid rings are often caused by someone placing a glass or cup on the surface of the wood without using a coaster. You can easily remove the rings using non-gel toothpaste and a little elbow grease when this happens.
Stickers
Stickers or other sticky residues can find their way onto the surface of your wood, especially if you have children. Removing the stickiness is quite simple to do with a bit of olive or mineral oil and a soft cloth.
Ink Stains
Ink stains can seem like a nightmare if they make their way to your wood surfaces. However, they can easily be cleaned as well. Using dry baking soda and a soft cloth can work wonders when removing ink stains. Remember that you may have to repolish the surface to bring back the shine afterward.
What Material is Best for Cleaning Wood?
The condition of your wood surface will determine what material is best for cleaning it. This is because while harsher materials such as steel wool can be effective for more intensive cleaning, you may only need a microfiber cloth for routine cleaning.
Here are some of the best materials that can be used to clean your wood surfaces:
Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths are made of materials that glide over the surface of the wood without any abrasiveness. This means your surface will stay free of scratches and nicks that harsher materials can cause.
Feather Dusters
Feather dusters (on Amazon) have been used for many years for dusting various surfaces and can effectively remove any dust and dirt from your wood furniture. You can find feather dusters in most stores, and they are mostly inexpensive.
Pre-Treated Cloths
Pre-treated cloths (on Amazon) are said to be much better than the solution you spray on to clean your wood surfaces. This is because they work effectively to pick up any dirt and grime that collects on the wood without scratching the surface.
Steel Wool
Steel wool is great for when you are resurfacing your wood furniture. However, steel wool should only be used for furniture you intend to rehabilitate since the wool will scratch the surface.
What Supplies Will I Need?
Depending on your chosen method for cleaning your wood surfaces, you may need to collect a variety of supplies to accomplish the task. Most methods only require that you have a few things on hand. However, you should prepare for other contingencies as well.
Here are some of the supplies you may need for some of the most common cleaning tasks:
- Microfiber cloths
- Feather duster
- Pre-treated cloths
- Steel wool
- Water
- Olive or mineral oil
- Non-gel toothpaste
- Dishwashing soap
- Black Tea bags
While you may not need all of the listed items, it does not hurt to have them on hand just in case your chosen method fails.
What are the Top Wood-Cleaning Solutions?
Choosing the right wood-cleaning solution depends entirely on what you are trying to achieve with your wood surface. While you may be doing routine cleaning in some cases, in other cases, you may need something a little more intensive.
Some of the top wood-cleaning solutions can be created with many household items you already have. Many have used these for several years and successfully kept their wood surfaces clean.
Here are the top DIY wood-cleaning solutions:
- Dishwashing soap and water
- Baking soda and water
- Non-gel toothpaste
If you want to purchase a wood-cleaning solution, many choices are available, such as:
- Murphy’s Oil Soap Wood Cleaner (on Amazon)
- Orange Glo Furniture Polish (on Amazon)
- Old English Furniture Polish (on Amazon)
Care Tips for Cleaning Wood Furniture
Taking care of your wood furniture can seem overwhelming if you are not quite sure what you should be doing regularly. However, you can keep your wood surfaces clean and in good condition for many years to come with a few expert tips:
- Dust your furniture regularly.
- Clean up spills right away.
- Use wax to protect the surface of the wood.
- Remove the wax occasionally for a deep clean.
- Always use a soft cloth that is non-abrasive when cleaning.
Final Thoughts on How to Clean Wood
The bottom line when it comes to cleaning wood for best results is that before you begin to clean, you need to determine which method will work best. Remember that wood can last for many years as long as you clean and wax it regularly.