10 Tips for Taking Care of Wood Furniture

Posted on Apr 19 2016 - 12:31pm by Housecall
#40

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Quality wood furniture can last a lifetime and is often a treasured heirloom, passed down through multiple generations. Still, even the highest quality wood is susceptible to scratches and abrasions if not properly cared for.

When purchasing furniture, it’s always a good idea to ask for specific cleaning and care instructions. For furnishings already in your home, here are 10 tips to keep the wood looking its best for many generations to come.

1. Don’t Mistreat Furniture

To avoid rings and heat damage, always use coasters when setting glasses or mugs on wood tables, and never place hot food directly on them without the protection of a trivet or potholder. Incorporate decorative placemats or a tablecloth to protect your dining room table from food and drink spills.

2. Avoid Environmental Damage

Sunlight, heat and other environmental factors can wreak havoc on your fine wood. Don’t place valuable furniture in front of uncovered windows, vents or fireplaces, as the light and heat can damage and fade the wood.

3. Dust Often

No one really likes to dust, but the chore is one of the best ways to take care of your furniture. Airborne particles can build a filmy layer on wood that scratches the surface. Frequent dusting keeps this buildup from happening. Always outdoor wooden tableuse soft cloth like cotton T-shirts, cloth diapers or microfiber to avoid damage. Lambswool dusters are great for ornate carvings or hard to reach places because they effectively attract and hold dust.

4. Keep Your Wood Clean

Sometimes dusting isn’t enough and you’ll find it necessary to clean your wood furniture. Never use all-purpose cleaners, which can cause damage to the finish. If you have a spot that is heavily soiled or sticky, dip a cloth in water that contains a mild dish detergent. Wring it out as much as possible and gently wipe the area. Be sure to follow up with a rinse from a damp cloth containing just water, then immediately wipe with a soft dry cloth.

5. Protect Your Wood

Most commercial polishes and sprays contain either petroleum distillates or silicone oil to for a fresh and shiny finish, and to offer some protection for your wood. Make sure not to use too much product, because it can cause buildup that combines with dirt to create a dull, sticky film. Always be sure to buff well when using products to help avoid this buildup, and never use these products with a wax protectant because the combination will result in another gooey mess.

6. Treat Wear and Tear

Even with the best care, wood furniture can sustain injuries. For minor nicks and scratches use a product like Old English Scratch Cover. This liquid polish hides abrasions, restoring the wood’s inherent beauty.

If damage is too extensive to be treated with polishes or touch up sticks and you aren’t quite ready to give up your treasured fixture, you may need to resort to something more drastic. Painting a piece of damaged furniture will breathe new life into it and give it several more good years. Painting also allows you to save time by skipping sanding, something you can’t do if you opt to re-stain.

7. Re-Oil Dry Wood

If furniture has been stored and becomes overly dry, you may need to re-oil it. Begin by cleaning it with Murphy’s Oil Soap or another appropriate cleaner, and then prepare the surface with #0000 steel wool, always working with the grain. Liberally apply your furniture oil and let it soak into the wood for about 15 minutes. It you are going to apply a protective coating, let your furniture set for at least 24 hours before proceeding.

8. Re-Wax as Needed

Depending on the finish, some furniture may have a wax protective coating. As these pieces age it may be necessary to re-wax the surface for continued protection. Always prepare the surface with fine #0000 steel wool then wipe with a soft cloth to remove any residue. Apply a coat of wax and spread it with a Scotch Brite pad, using light pressure and always following the grain. Don’t allow the wax to set for more than 20 minutes. Remove the excess wax with a clean Scotch Brite pad, and buff with a soft cloth until the surface feels smooth to the touch.

9. Keep Wood Smelling Fresh

Sometimes older pieces will develop an unpleasant odor, especially if they’ve been stored. You can sprinkle the surface with baking soda to freshen it up, and place a pan of charcoal inside drawers to absorb smells that emanate from inside. You can even leave the piece outside in a shaded area on a warm, dry day to give relief from a malodorous stench and make your furniture good as new.

10. Remove Tough Stains

Despite your best efforts, sometimes the inevitable happens and your beautiful wood furniture gets stained. No matter what kind of stain you have, be sure to clean it as quickly as possible — the longer it sits, the harder it will be to remove.

  • For white rings from wet glasses, apply a paste of equal amounts white toothpaste and baking soda. Rub it into the stain until it’s gone. Then, wipe off the furniture and buff with a dry cloth.
  • For dark spots from water damage, try gently blotting the stain with a cloth soaked in vinegar.
  • For crayon marks, apply mayonnaise over the area. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before rubbing clean with a damp cloth and buffing with a dry cloth.

Taking proper care of your wood furniture isn’t hard or even that time-consuming, and the reward for your effort will be a home filled with beautiful wood furniture that looks and feels as good as the day you got it — now and for years to come.

Megan Wild is a home improvement specialist who loves fixing up old homes and making them beautiful and functional again. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking in the great outdoors or tweeting house information @Megan_Wild.

Photos courtesy of pexels.com.

40 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Aarsun Woods October 9, 2019 at 7:53 am - Reply

    Room atmosphere is the most important part for wood furniture. We suggest that always keep your furniture dust and moisture free. Thanks for sharing this post. For more details kindly click on our website.

  2. Emily January 8, 2020 at 2:03 am - Reply

    This is very helpful. Thank you for sharing them.

  3. Wood floor installers February 29, 2020 at 1:15 am - Reply

    Absolutely great article and content!

  4. Zoe Campos March 2, 2020 at 10:33 pm - Reply

    Thank you for reminding me to ask for specific care instructions whenever I’m about to buy new furniture. My husband and I are both thinking of purchasing a custom outdoor bar set so we could always enjoy a cold drink under the night sky. Since we’re currently eyeing one made of wood, your tips will be extremely helpful after our purchase.

  5. Alex Mathew March 26, 2020 at 12:03 pm - Reply

    Thanks for sharing this great information with us. These are the best tips for taking care of wood furniture and it will really helpful to everyone. Thanks again!

  6. hammtreeservice.com/ April 22, 2020 at 12:02 pm - Reply

    Great article. Thanks for sharing these tips I’ll definitely apply this to our wood furniture at home. Worth to share this post.

  7. news here May 12, 2020 at 11:11 am - Reply

    Thanks a lot for the tips!

  8. about us May 12, 2020 at 11:13 am - Reply

    I am really meticulous when it comes to furniture care. I am glad I have seen on the tips what I have been doing.

  9. Stamped Concrete May 12, 2020 at 8:17 pm - Reply

    When taken care of, wood furniture can last generations, thanks for the tips!

  10. contact us May 22, 2020 at 5:42 am - Reply

    To clean the finish on your wood furniture just use warm water and mild dish soap. Cleaning furniture with water won’t hurt it — just be careful not to soak it. Use an old toothbrush for hard-to-get areas. Wipe the dirt off the surface with soft cloths or paper towels until they come up fairly clean. Then dry off any residual moisture with a soft cloth.

    2. After a good cleaning, the best way to protect the finish is to use a good-quality soft paste wax. Apply a thin coat as directed on the label. Wait five minutes and buff lightly with a soft (shoe) brush or cloth. Wait another 30 to 60 minutes and buff/brush again with a bit more vigor. You’ll see a beautiful shine return to the finish that will last for many months.

    3. Keep your furniture out of the sun. The temperature of the summer sun coming through a window can go above 140 degrees. It will cook fine finishes, fading and destroying them over time, and dry out and shrink the wood, which will cause cracks.

    4. Don’t place wood furniture near heating units or vents. Dry heat will cause the wood to dry and shrink, leaving cracks. Use a humidifier in the drier months to bring the moisture up to the 40 to 45 percent level.

    5. For a quick-fix touch up, use the appropriate color shoe polish on scratches and chips, especially to make them less visible on the feet of furniture. Carefully using a matching-color felt-tip marker first will hide it even better.

  11. Ksiegowosc June 8, 2020 at 8:26 pm - Reply

    Don’t place wood furniture near heating units or vents. Dry heat will cause the wood to dry and shrink, leaving cracks. Use a humidifier in the drier months to bring the moisture up to the 40 to 45 percent level.

  12. https://walthamstowroofing.co.uk/ June 10, 2020 at 2:17 pm - Reply

    Don’t place wood furniture near heating units or vents. Dry heat will cause the wood to dry and shrink, leaving cracks.

  13. Don’t avoid dusting furniture. Frequent dusting removes airborne deposits that build up in a filmy layer and can scratch the surface.

    Clean, dry, soft cloths or feather dusters will effectively remove dust; however, to avoid scattering the dust into the air, where it floats until landing back on furniture surfaces, dampen the cloth very slightly.

  14. Painting Auckland June 19, 2020 at 2:22 am - Reply

    Now a days everybody using the wood furniture in their houses. Using these are ok but everybody has to take care of those. Proper care needs. Treat them like your valuable assets. Thank you so much for sharing the information regarding wood furniture care. Do visit this hdpaintingservices.co.nz/ For vital information that can be used again by anyone.

  15. AlLanister July 13, 2020 at 8:48 am - Reply

    I love making wood furniture on my own recently. But I am lacking on how should I take care of them. This tips would help me a lot. This is a great helpful tips for beginners like me. Thanks for sharing this article and I learned something new.

  16. landandnest.com/ July 13, 2020 at 10:33 am - Reply

    Also remember to dust it well. A sparkling piece of furniture makes for a sparkling room. And the right amount of dusting helps in doing so. Make sure you use a soft, dry cotton cloth to wipe any dust off. If you could clean your sofas, tables etc. on a bi-monthly basis, then there’s nothing like it.

  17. John July 13, 2020 at 10:40 am - Reply

    Oiling and waxing wood is highly recommended since it gives it a shiny varnish to it. Also, it adds a protective layer, a coating on the surface thereby enlivening its appearance. If you could oil and wax your wooden units once in three months, it’ll be wonderful.

  18. https://affordableseoservice.org July 13, 2020 at 10:43 am - Reply

    You should use warm water and mild dish soap to clean furniture. Be careful not to soak it for longer time periods. Clean it until the dust wears off. The residual moisture can be wiped away with a cloth later.

    These are a few good tips that you can adopt to maintain your wooden furniture. And the biggest tip- do it with love! It’ll show and your furniture will glow!

  19. Peterson July 21, 2020 at 10:03 am - Reply

    I have been wondering how do I take care of my wooden furniture. Thanks to this I can now take care of them so they won’t get rotten. Thanks for sharing such informative post and this would help anybody.

  20. movers July 24, 2020 at 2:56 am - Reply

    I am really meticulous when it comes to furniture care. I am glad I have seen on the tips what I have been doing.

  21. implantytorun August 4, 2020 at 6:24 am - Reply

    I have a lot of wooden things in my home! This is very helpful for me!

  22. https://www.buildingmoversalberta.com/ August 10, 2020 at 9:38 pm - Reply

    Amazing results! We love seeing floors get a proper upgrade.

  23. https://www.omahasidingandguttercompany.com August 13, 2020 at 7:05 pm - Reply

    I have an entire outdoor furniture set at our lake house and this info was very helpful for what we can do to take care of it.

  24. about us August 19, 2020 at 12:05 pm - Reply

    How do you keep wooden furniture from drying out?

  25. Landon Edgington August 27, 2020 at 6:23 pm - Reply

    Thanks for sharing these helpful tips.

  26. Our page August 28, 2020 at 10:51 am - Reply

    Thanks for sharing this great and useful information here.

  27. Vern August 31, 2020 at 12:02 pm - Reply

    Really great topics here to learn from, thanks!

  28. https://realsleep.com/ September 3, 2020 at 10:01 am - Reply

    Sometimes I overlook these small details on our house. Thank you for these informative and helpful tips.

  29. contractors for concrete September 3, 2020 at 11:11 am - Reply

    How do I terminate termites in my furniture without coming back? It’s causing us itchiness and skin redness. So I want to know that. Thanks!

  30. Rencontre coquine September 8, 2020 at 6:26 am - Reply

    Very good article !

  31. Dailybinaryhub September 16, 2020 at 5:21 am - Reply

    Nowadays everybody using the wood furniture in their various houses.have to take care of those woods Properly asin in good care. Treat them like your valuable assets. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful resourceful information regarding wood furniture care. we will keep in touch

  32. stamped concrete spring hill fl September 21, 2020 at 2:17 am - Reply

    Rewaxing is not something I’ve thought about doing to my furniture, but will definitely look at doing that now. Thanks!

  33. Albany Concrete September 26, 2020 at 10:52 am - Reply

    Our lobby is full of wood furniture and I was wondering how to make it look more fresh. This was enlightening.

  34. https://www.electriciansincheyennewy.com November 10, 2020 at 12:57 pm - Reply

    This article is very helpful.

  35. Amanda December 2, 2020 at 5:07 am - Reply

    Nice Post! Thanks for sharing a great post.

  36. Jack December 24, 2020 at 9:27 am - Reply

    Almost all of my home furniture is wooden, and I, like a bad host, didn’t look at it at all. Thanks for the motivation, new year – new attitude to the staff!

  37. https://lamonddesign.com/ February 22, 2021 at 11:31 am - Reply

    Yaaas! Nice data. Love it.

  38. cesspools April 4, 2021 at 8:57 am - Reply

    Don’t place wood furniture near heating units or vents.

  39. Anna Maria April 28, 2021 at 4:18 am - Reply

    Living with fear stops us taking risks, and if you don’t go out on the branch, you’re never going to get the best fruit.

  40. LB Furniture Assembly May 3, 2021 at 9:07 pm - Reply

    What an informational post! The info on removing tough stains will always prove useful.

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