Clean Antique Oak Furniture

The tannic acid from the tea is wonderful for maintaining wood.

Clean antique oak furniture.

Clean your furniture with a little white spirit turps to remove the vegetable oil. Mix a little bit of murphy s 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. Dust antique furniture regularly. Do not clean good furniture with water soap or oils.

Wash off grime and scuff marks with a sponge and then dry the wood with a rag. Follow with a good wax polish. Let it dry preferably over night then buff with a soft cloth. Rub the cloth lightly over the surface of the wood in a circular motion.

Dip a soft cloth in the solution and wring it out to remove excess water. A mixture of dish soap and water is usually all you need for this procedure. Wipe down the entire piece of furniture making sure you get into the nooks and crannies. Let the tea cool to room temperature take a soft cloth wring it out in the tea until it s damp and wash the wood.

If the mild soapy solution doesn t work you can use a stronger cleaning solution. To prevent the buildup of grime dust your furniture regularly. Steep two tea bags in boiling water. A weak solution of vinegar diluted in water can be used to clean more thoroughly but only on polished undamaged wood.

Check for wax by running your fingernail along the wood. If you re using dusting sprays go for a mild spray or no spray at all on antiques. Quickly dry the area with a soft clean cloth. Aim to get about 95 clean this way then switch over to using the furniture polish to get the rest of the dirt off.

Stay away from spots where the finish is chipped off or cracked to avoid wetting the wood and causing it to swell. Rotate the cloth frequently to avoid spreading the dirt it absorbs. Knowing how to clean old wood furniture that has decades old buildup of polish will help you revitalize an antique. Wipe the wooden furniture clean with the soap and water.

Whether or not repairs are necessary you should always begin a restoration project by cleaning the piece of furniture. Do not soak the wood. This is a common mistake. Mix water and dish soap in a bucket and use this solution to sponge down the entire piece of furniture.