Home Decor

How to keep your wood furniture shiny

“Measure twice, cut once, and then force it to fit”

Furniture is considered the most important thing in the house or any other living space. We need furniture for our daily usages like sitting, sleeping, and relaxation. Without furniture, we can’t imagine a comfortable life. We buy a sofa for sitting, bed for sleeping, tables for dining, etc. These are the main things in every house. If any of these are skipping, it disturbed our lives for real. But we should not buy furniture without planning. It would affect the home or office decoration and take up most of the space of the room.

Essential items of furniture for your home

  • A Couch or sofa set
  • A bed
  • A cupboard
  • Dining table
  • Chairs
  • Coffee Table
  • A dresser
  • Cabinets

Characteristics of Wooden furniture

Most of our furniture is made of wood. We use wooden furniture in our daily life. Wooden furniture also stores carbon just like a tree does before the cut-down. You are not only buying wooden furniture for your home but you are helping with climate change. Wooden furniture is also reasonable in cost. The furniture that made out of wood and is durable and strong. The durability makes the maintenance easy and efficient.

Maintenance of the wooden furniture 

To keep the wood furniture shiny you should polish your furniture once a year. There are different types of solutions for this purpose. Some are industrially made and some are homemade. 

  • Use high-quality varnish polish or spray paint to make the furniture shiny. It is a quick and easy way to polish the furniture. 
  • If you want a low-budget polish, some homemade solutions are also great for the furniture. 

You can make your wooden furniture even more attractive by adding some awesome faux flowers and plants, you can find out about all of it in this article How I achieve a traditional accent with faux traditional plants

Dusting the furniture frequently.

You need to dust the furniture every day to maintain the quality and shine of the furniture. Use a dry cloth for dusting the furniture. You can also use a damp cloth for the stubborn dust. Frequent dusting is essential for the furniture. If you are a busy person, a weekly or monthly deep dusting is a great way to keep the furniture healthy. Use a soft duster like a feather duster or dusting brush. They can collect dust easily and do not create scratches on the surface of the furniture.

Dusting tools

There are different types of dusting tools and materials such as microfiber dusters, feather dusters, disposable sisters, vacuum dusters, etc.

Classic feather duster

The feather duster is used for cleaning and dusting. It is made from ostrich feathers that are wound with a wire to the wooden handle. This feather duster is used for easy and efficient dusting. These feathers can reach the smaller areas and collect dust without moving any object.

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Dusting/cleaning cloths

These clothes are made of soft and absorbent material. They can be used for damp dusting or cleaning. You can also use them for shelves and countertop cleaning.

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Lambswool duster

Lambswool is a soft duster made with fibers and lanolin. It creates static electricity to collect dust. It is a delicate dusting tool that collects dust from any narrow space.

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Microfiber cleaning cloth

Microfiber cloth is a lightweight fabric. It is very absorbent and strong than other fabrics. It can clean any surface so easily. It can remove any stain or dust.

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What are the ways to remove water stains and difficult marks from the wood furniture?

The luster of wood often gets ruined by watermarks. These marks are generally caused by wet glasses, hot dishes, and spills. But these stains are not permanent. You can get rid of them easily. Use some ready-made polish for the stains. Homemade solutions are also best for removing stains. 

  • You have to add olive oil and vinegar in equal parts. Use this mixture on the stains with a clean cloth. 

Aside from cleaning the furniture, you can also get some insights about how to get rid of the flies on your patio with this easy-to-follow article How To Get Rid Of Flies On My Patio. DIY Tips And Other Options.

  • Different methods can be used to remove stains from the wood furniture. Some stains are easy to remove but some are very tough to get rid of. 

White vinegar is the best and economical way to remove stains from wood furniture

Put some layers of vinegar-soaked paper towels on the stain. Let them sit for 30 minutes to infiltrate the stain. Use a clean wet cloth to wipe away the stain from the surface and let it dry.

What are the ways to clean mold off from the wood furniture

Molded wood furniture looks so ugly and nasty. It is very important to keep the mold away from the furniture.

To keep the furniture mold-free and prolong shelf-life make a simple solution of dishwashing soap and warm water to clean the mold. 

Spray the area which is affected by mold. Use a soft brush to scrub off the mold from the wood, clean the excess liquid from the surface. Now you get clean wood furniture.

Ways to polish the wood furniture

The benefits of polishing the wood furniture keep the wood furniture shiny.

  • It heals the scratches on the wood. 
  • It adds a scent to the room. 
  • Polish the furniture frequently to avoid extra damage. 
  • It saves your time and extra money. 

Wooden furniture can be perfect accent pieces in your home, and if you want some useful tips on what to look for while buying accent furniture, this article would surely help. Tips For How To Pick The Perfect Accent furniture

There are different ways to polish wood furniture.

Natural ways vs artificial ways

White vinegar and olive oil mixture is the best way to polish the furniture naturally. Vinegar helps to remove oily fingerprints and stains. Olive Oil work as a polish. It makes the furniture shiny.

Artificial way to polish the wood furniture

Varnish is the most common product to polish the furniture. It is a transparent liquid that makes the furniture shiny.

Natural way

Lemon and olive oil mix

A homemade mixture of lemon and olive oil is a natural way to polish wooden furniture. It is a chemical-free healthy polish that shines furniture. Its lemony fragrance makes the room fresh.

Beeswax and olive oil

To make a polish mixture with beeswax and olive oil, melt the beeswax in the microwave or double boiler. Add olive oil to the melted beeswax and mix it well. To polish the furniture,  take some mixture and use a clean cloth. Rub in a circular motion on the surface and that’s it. Your furniture is now shiny again.

White vinegar and olive oil polish

You need to mix half a cup of white vinegar and half a cup of olive oil to make a polishing mixture. You can either use it with a clean cloth or you can put this in a spray bottle. Shake it, spray it and rub it with a lint-free cloth.

Oil mix: coconut oil

Coconut Oil does a great job of polishing the wood furniture. 

  • It makes the wood shiny. 
  • It is a simple polishing oil. 
  • Just take a half teaspoon of coconut oil, a dry cloth is useful to polish the surface. 

Aside from cleaning, coconut and other oils are used for therapeutic purposes with oil warmers, catch some awesome pointers for oil warmers and their advantages in this article, Essential oil warmers to add peace and elegance in your home.

Artificial product (wood furniture)

Artificial products are helpful when you cannot find natural alternatives, although artificial products can be damaging if used too frequently or in more than recommended amounts. Artificial procedures can be however faster and more effective than natural ways. 

Varnish

It is a durable topcoat that heals the scratches and has resistance against water. Varnish is a solution of resins and oils. It keeps the wood furniture shiny and beautiful. It stays longer than other polishing products.

Wax polish

To prevent the wood furniture from fading and drying out, wax polish is designed for this purpose. Its coating provides excellent protection.

Spray wood polish

Spray polish is a convenient way to make the furniture shiny. It gives an even coat on the furniture. You can apply it quickly. it is a quick-drying solution. It prevents the dirt and moisture from the fur

Polish wipes for wood

To polish and remove dust from your furniture, furniture wipes are the best thing to do this job easily. It hides the imperfections of the wood. They are also antibacterial that keep your furniture germs free. 

Oil polish

This product keeps the wood furniture clean, shiny, and beautiful. The oil prevents the wood from cracking and drying. It can be used on all surfaces of the wood. Stick to an oil polish for your furniture if your furniture is already oil polished.

Scratch remover for wood furniture

This product removes scratches from the furniture. Makes it shiny and renews its natural gloss. It removes the water stains and other marks from the surface.

Process for polishing

Work in a well-ventilated area

You should polish the furniture in an open area that is well ventilated.

The air helps the polish to dry quickly

Wet furniture often gets dust from the air and the shine fades away. Sunny days are ideal to do this job. Sunlight dries the polish quickly. It is good to put the furniture in the sunlight once a year.

Clear the area of any obstacle

Work in a large open space. It would help you to complete the work efficiently and easily. 

  • You better make the working space obstacles free first.
  • Gather all the material you are going to use for polishing. 
  • Place the furniture in the right direction for easy work.

Clean the wood thoroughly before applying polish

Before any project, you have to prepare the subject. Just like that, before polishing the furniture you should clean the wooden surface properly for a better finish. If you polish the dirty surface, you won’t get a glossy finish and the pigment will also fade away.

Test your polish on an inconspicuous spot

Before applying the polish to the entire furniture, you should test the quality and pigment of the polish on a small area of the wood. It will save the furniture to get ruined if the polish is bad and expired.

How to protect the wood furniture

To keep the wood furniture healthy and shiny, dust it regularly. 

  • Use a soft and lightweight duster to remove dust and avoid scratches. 
  • Use a damp microfiber cloth to clean the stubborn dust. 
  • Polish your furniture more often or twice a year to keep the shine last longer. 
  • Do not spill water or any liquids on the furniture. 

To avoid water stains, use coasters and pads under the glasses or pots. Keep the furniture far away from heat and moisture.

Use felt pads

Felt pads are used to protect the floor from getting scratches and noise made by furniture and doors. It is made with heavy-duty durable adhesive pads. You can either use it for plastic or metal. 

Aside from general wooden furniture, you can take care of your outdoor furniture specifically with this detailed article. Useful tips to take care of your outdoor furniture 

Placemats and coasters

Mats are made to protect the dining table from damage that is caused by heat and water. They are also used for table decoration. Different types of placemats are available to protect it from and for decoration purposes.

  • A coaster is used to prolong the life of the furniture by catching the spills of water and heat. 
  • It protects the table from water stains and food mess.

Different materials are used to make table coasters. Some are made with different materials 

  • Wood
  • Plastic sandstone
  • Thirsty stone. 

Sandstone and thirsty stone coasters are great to absorb the excess liquid from your beverage and cold glasses.

Catch spills as soon as possible

Water, heat, food stains, and candle wax can damage the dining table. You should have to be very careful with the cleanliness of the table. Watermarks and food stains are the main cause that ruins the table polish and makes it dull and nasty. 

  • Coasters and placemats are a great way to protect the furniture and prolong its life. 
  • Coasters and mats catch spills and absorb heat from the pots. 
  • You should not put the hot things on the table directly. 
  • Use some silicon mats under the pot.

Keep your furniture at an appropriate spot, Avoid fireplace and radiators

You should arrange your furniture away from the fireplace as far as possible. If your fireplace is functional, the heat will damage your furniture. That’s why it is better to keep the furniture away from direct heat.

  • You should put the furniture like couches, chairs and any other item 1 foot away from the radiators.
  • Leather and wooden items need extra care in this regard. 
  • The sofa in front of the radiator will disturb the heat distribution. 
  • It also damages the furniture if it is very close to the heat. 

Experts’ Advice 

Wooden furniture gives out traditional, historical, yet chic and modernistic touch to a home. They are the best accent pieces and the best gift items as well. Buying wooden furniture with good quality wood can cost you a fortune so it is important to take care of it in the best way possible. Wooden furniture can be used indoors and outdoors with proper care and a single item of well-kept wooden furniture can be passed down to many generations. So let’s take care of wooden furniture to increase its life and enhance its appearance. 

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