While other furniture and design trends come and go, wooden furniture is a timeless classic that looks fantastic in every home. However, if you don’t take care of your wooden furniture, it may end up looking less timeless and more warped by time. Here are some simple tips you can follow to polish your wooden furniture and keep it looking amazing for years to come.
Keep It Simple
If you want guaranteed results and don’t mind paying a little bit more money, there are several high-quality wood polishes on the market. Ask one of our experienced staff members at Bel Furniture for recommendations on what polishes work best for your specific piece. Simply follow the directions on the cleaner’s label and enjoy the results!
DIY Style
If you would like to save some money, you can create your own wood polishes at home. Here are some tips on how to make the best polish for your wooden furnishings.
Oil And Wax Are Not A Match
If you have a furniture with a wax finish, DO NOT use an oil-based polish, or you will get the opposite of the desired effect. When mixed, a chemical reaction occurs that causes the breakdown of both materials. The wax will lose its sheen and attract dirt, dust, and other small particles that will ruin the look of your piece.
Not All Oil Is Created Equally
So now you’ve determined that your furniture doesn’t have a wax coating and you want to create your own polish. While many websites recommend using olive oil to polish furniture, we recommend using mineral oil instead. Olive oil can oxidize and leave a foul smell on your wooden furnishings that is hard to remove.
So What Goes Into A Homemade Polish?
As mentioned above, mineral oil is the key to a clean, beautiful shine. It re-hydrates wood and protects it from future spills and stains. Combine it with cleansing vinegar and fresh lemon extract for the ultimate polish. Here is the breakdown of ingredients:
- One cup of mineral oil
- One fourth cup of white distilled vinegar
- One tablespoon of lemon extract
The Polishing Process
Now you are ready to polish! Apply your mixture to a clean cotton rag and begin wiping along the grain of the wood. If there are small crevices and details, you may want to take a brush with soft bristles and gently brush the polish into the intricacies of the piece using small, circular motions. Wait for the polish to fully saturate the wood. If it needs another layer, repeat the above motions. Voila! Beautiful wooden furniture!
At Bel Furniture, we sell a variety of wooden furniture to make your home beautiful. Stop in to your nearest store to see our full selection of furniture at unbeataBEL prices!
