Clean Antique Oak Furniture

To prevent the buildup of grime dust your furniture regularly.

Clean antique oak furniture.

Wipe down the entire piece of furniture making sure you get into the nooks and crannies. Stay away from spots where the finish is chipped off or cracked to avoid wetting the wood and causing it to swell. Quickly dry the area with a soft clean cloth. Do not soak the wood.

A weak solution of vinegar diluted in water can be used to clean more thoroughly but only on polished undamaged wood. Whether or not repairs are necessary you should always begin a restoration project by cleaning the piece of furniture. Wipe the wooden furniture clean with the soap and water. Knowing how to clean old wood furniture that has decades old buildup of polish will help you revitalize an antique.

The tannic acid from the tea is wonderful for maintaining wood. 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. Clean your furniture with a little white spirit turps to remove the vegetable oil. Rotate the cloth frequently to avoid spreading the dirt it absorbs.

If you re using dusting sprays go for a mild spray or no spray at all on antiques. Follow with a good wax polish. When doing routine dusting in your home take a rag and dust off any debris built up on antique furniture. If cleaning is necessary for example on a dining room table use a soft damp cloth or a clean chamois leather well wrung out.

Mix water and dish soap in a bucket and use this solution to sponge down the entire piece of furniture. Check for wax by running your fingernail along the wood. Aim to get about 95 clean this way then switch over to using the furniture polish to get the rest of the dirt off. 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.

This is a common mistake. If the mild soapy solution doesn t work you can use a stronger cleaning solution. Steep two tea bags in boiling water. Dust antique furniture regularly.

Instead brush the sponge lightly over the. Wash off grime and scuff marks with a sponge and then dry the wood with a rag. 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.