Clean Antique Oak Furniture

Whether or not repairs are necessary you should always begin a restoration project by cleaning the piece of furniture.

Clean antique oak furniture.

When doing routine dusting in your home take a rag and dust off any debris built up on antique furniture. This is a common mistake. Do not clean good furniture with water soap or oils. Check for wax by running your fingernail along the wood.

Stay away from spots where the finish is chipped off or cracked to avoid wetting the wood and causing it to swell. Wipe the wooden furniture clean with the soap and water. A weak solution of vinegar diluted in water can be used to clean more thoroughly but only on polished undamaged wood. Dip a soft cloth in the solution and wring it out to remove excess water.

Clean your furniture with a little white spirit turps to remove the vegetable oil. The tannic acid from the tea is wonderful for maintaining wood. If you re using dusting sprays go for a mild spray or no spray at all on antiques. Rub the cloth lightly over the surface of the wood in a circular motion.

Instead brush the sponge lightly over the. Quickly dry the area with a soft clean cloth. 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 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. Dust antique furniture regularly. Follow with a good wax polish. To prevent the buildup of grime dust your furniture regularly.

Do not soak the wood. 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. Rotate the cloth frequently to avoid spreading the dirt it absorbs. If the mild soapy solution doesn t work you can use a stronger cleaning solution.

Knowing how to clean old wood furniture that has decades old buildup of polish will help you revitalize an antique. Steep two tea bags in boiling water. A mixture of dish soap and water is usually all you need for this procedure. Let it dry preferably over night then buff with a soft cloth.