Guide to cleaning wooden furniture - By: Kathryn Dawson

Wood furniture is an elegant and beautiful way to furnish your home. Just like everything else in the house however it will need cleaning and regular care to ensure it stays in tip top shape. When cared for correctly, wooden furniture can easily outlast its owners and because of this it is quite often passed down between generations. It is common for furniture to become heirlooms in families in fact. How many wooden items are furniture can be found in antiques shops across the world? Wood stays looking good for decades, so long as the right know how is applied to caring for it.

It is by no means laborious caring for wooden furniture, but there are one of two steps that should be taken on a regular basis. It can be something that is fitted in to your normal cleaning schedule. From pine to mahogany, the rules are similar so no matter what you are looking after, read on to discover how to care for it properly.

First of all, only very soft and clean cloths should be used on all the wooden furniture. This is important because it will prevent small scratches occurring from rough materials and will stop dirt and grime becoming lodged into crevices in the furniture. Dusting regularly with a cloth is important to keep the wood looking its best so make sure you don't forget to include this chore as you clean the rest of the room.

If possible it is best to avoid all commercial products when cleaning your wooden furniture. They are generally loaded with chemicals and will do no good to the furniture in the long term. Instead, look for non-toxic or natural products to treat your wood with. This is better and kinder on the environment too. Beeswax is a great way to treat older wood. Being totally natural it will not harm the wood in any way, and waxing wood regularly helps build up a seal that protects it against sunlight, termites and other bugs making the wood their home. It will also help prevent the wood getting scratched and marked and even stops spillages leaving a mark. These days most wooden furniture is sealed with a product when it is made which helps protect it against spills and scrapes, but older furniture will not have been treated this way. That is why regular waxing of antique furniture is so important. Apart from the practical help, it also makes it gleam and keep its natural shine.

Oils are another natural way to treat wood. Many people use regular olive oil as a treatment for their furniture including kitchen counter tops and tables. It soaks into the wood easily and brings out the grain. It prevents the wood from drying and cracking a bit like moisturizer does for skin. Teak in particular benefits from the application of oil as it can crack otherwise. Ideally you should rub a generous amount of oil into the wood and leave it to soak overnight. In the morning you can wipe any residue away with a damp cloth.

Wood has a tendency to fade if left in sunlight every day. For that reason, try and keep all wooden furniture out of direct heat. Use coasters underneath glasses and mugs too as ring stains can be troublesome to remove. Heat, water and sunlight are not really friends of wood, so try and keep them apart wherever possible.

Although there isn't a lot of work to be done in order to keep your wooden furniture looking good, there are one of two tasks to be done. Whether it is pine living room furniture you would like to preserve or some antique or rustic dining room furniture, following the above tips will ensure the wood stays in excellent condition.

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson writes for Your Furniture Online, an online retailer of high quality wooden furniture in the UK. Your Furniture Online provides pine living room furniture and rustic dining room furniture to suite every styles, décor and colour themes.

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