How to replace furniture polish?

Wooden furniture requires constant care. You can make your own homemade furniture polish at home from vinegar or beeswax.

We can buy a lot of products in stores, but they are all filled with chemical components that are harmful to health and also cost a lot. So why don’t you try making your own polish at home, it’s very simple. By preparing a natural furniture polish, you will save money. Plus, you'll have complete peace of mind that you're not inhaling harmful chemicals while caring for your home.

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Every home has wooden furniture. This is a sign of good taste of the owner of a private cottage or apartment, and also a specific comfort, color and good quality of the environment. After reading our article, you will learn how to choose the right care products for such interior items, and you will also be able to easily make furniture polish with your own hands, so that caring for it becomes even easier, and the appearance remains unchanged. But first things first.

Review of popular models

In departments where they sell household goods, you can find a large selection of different polishes. Let's look at the most famous of them.

“Pronto” polish is available in two forms – spray and cream. The surfaces it treats do not collect dust for a long time, since it contains an antistatic agent. This is a universal product, it is suitable for polishing various surfaces. In addition, it can be used to treat laminate flooring. This polish does not form streaks and creates a protective layer on the surface of the furniture.

“Chirton” is an aerosol that contains wax. This brand of polish adds shine to furniture and removes all dirt from it. Suitable for various surfaces - wood, plastic, ceramic, etc. Has a pleasant aroma.

Emsal polish is designed only for wood. It moisturizes and masks minor imperfections. Contains no wax or silicone. Contains antistatic agent.

“Cinderella” is a product intended for wooden, painted, plastic and ceramic surfaces, as well as leather goods. Removes dirt and has an antistatic effect.

“Mebelux” adds shine and cleans surfaces made of a wide variety of materials (wood, glass, plastic, marble and ceramics).

If you regularly care for your furniture using polish, even several years after purchase it will look like new.

Source: odomah.org

Industrial polishes - are they worth buying?

Industrial polishes contain special substances that fill microcracks in the furniture surface, as a result of which the structure of the material becomes even and smooth - polished.

Today, store shelves are filled with a variety of products from different manufacturers. They, to one degree or another, make care easier, but how safe and effective they are is always up to the consumer to evaluate after purchase. This is a matter of personal choice.

Important! It is not uncommon for a manufacturer to promise water-repellent, shockproof and antistatic effects. But in the end you only get disappointment and an unpleasant aftertaste in your soul. Although, for the sake of fairness, it is worth noting that expensive means will indeed provide such a result, but cheap analogues are a game of “believe it or not.”

Furniture wax is a good alternative

You can find furniture wax on the shelves of hardware stores. This substance has been used to coat furniture for centuries. And today it ranks first in wood processing and care.

What are the advantages of using wax:

furniture can withstand long-term loads;
wood does not lose its texture, retaining natural warmth;
the velvety properties of the material are preserved;
after coating, the color of the product becomes more expressive;
the ability to choose any tone during restoration;
The thick consistency fits well on the surface of the wood, filling all cracks and scratches.

furniture wax should be applied to clean, open-pore furniture (so that there are no paint coatings);
a labor-intensive process when the surface is varnished (needs to be thoroughly cleaned).

Important! Furniture wax is in most cases used on freshly made furniture, or for thorough restoration of furniture products. When you need to remove a few small scratches or slightly refresh the color, it is better to use a polish with wax or silicone additives.

Wax furniture polish AMWAY™

This is the option when you can trust the manufacturer, because more than one housewife has already noted the effectiveness of this brand’s products for various purposes.

An excellent Amway polish, which has established itself as an ideal assistant for the care of wooden and lacquered furniture.

Important! The creamy aerosol spray consists of a mixture of wax and silicones. After use, the darkened wooden surface acquires its original shine and gloss, and scratches disappear.

creamy structure - does not flow, does not drip;
fresh lemon aroma - non-toxic;
convenient aerosol can;
easy to use.

What does the polish contain?

Regardless of the consistency (cream or aerosol) of the polish, the main components are approximately the same:

The wax in the polish can be either natural or synthetic. The second option will cost less. It is thanks to wax that the surface is leveled and all minor defects are filled. After applying the polish with wax, the furniture begins to shine. Well suited for wooden interior items.
Silicone is needed so that the surface treated with polish dries faster. In addition, it is able to mask microcracks and add brightness to furniture.
Antistatic agents in the polish are needed to remove static electricity from the surface, thereby preventing the rapid settling of dust.
Various oils moisturize wooden surfaces and prevent them from drying out.
If the polish contains surfactants, such a product will not only polish the surface, but also clean it of dirt. You should wear gloves when working with this type of polish.

In addition to the above components, the polish may contain various fragrances to impart a light aroma to the surface being treated and a coloring pigment that maintains the brightness of the color of the furniture and masks minor imperfections.

Homemade polish - make it yourself

The advantage of homemade polishes is that you know what ingredients the product consists of. It will not harm your health or your furniture.

Important! For polishing, you need a soft, clean rag made of natural fabric - velvet, wool (you can take a clean, no longer needed wool sock), fleece.

Let's look at several recipes for making polish at home

Recipe 1

This DIY furniture polish recipe is great for items that have been exposed with varnish.

Important! This product will help you clean the surface from dirt. Gives a mirror shine.

Take 1 cup of olive oil and a quarter cup of lemon juice. You can add a few drops of essential oil to suit your taste.
Mix well and pour into any container with a lid.
Apply a few drops to a clean, soft cloth and wipe down the furniture. Remove any remaining grease with a clean, dry cloth.

Important! Store in a cool, dark place. Storage time is not limited.

Recipe 2

By preparing a product for caring for a wooden piece of furniture using this method, you can remove minor damage and microcracks on furniture made from wood that is not varnished.

You will need the following ingredients:

Vaseline oil - can be replaced with flaxseed oil;
wax - any wax you can buy (beeswax, soy wax);
Any essential oil of your choice - you can do without it.

Step-by-step cooking instructions:

Prepare a water bath - take a saucepan larger in diameter so that a heat-resistant bowl or mug can fit in it. We put a pan of water on the fire and put a bowl or mug in there.
Melt the butter and wax in a bathhouse, stirring and bringing to a homogeneous consistency.
Cool slightly and add essential oil, stir.
Pour into a wide-necked jar, as the mixture hardens after cooling.

Important! When using, apply a thin layer to the wood surface. Rub in circular motions using a cloth.

Recipe 3

This DIY furniture polish removes dust and dirt very well, refreshes the color, and moisturizes the wood. It is prepared like this:

Take 1 glass of alcohol (medicinal grade) 1 glass of vegetable oil (any you have at home).
Pour into the bottle and shake well.
Wet a dry, clean cloth and wipe the surface of the furniture.

Recipe 4

This kitchen appliance care product will help remove greasy stains:

Prepare a water bath as described above.
Take 1 glass of beer and 50 grams of beeswax - melt it all, stirring.
Cool, pour into a jar.

Important! Use chilled:

Apply a thin layer of product to a clean sponge.
Wipe the grease stain very well.

Recipe 5

This furniture polish is also easy to make at home. It can be used on wood surfaces that are not varnished.

Prepare for him:

75 grams - jojoba oil;
45 grams - coconut oil;
30 grams - beeswax;
30 grams - carnauba wax (can be purchased by ordering in the online store);
120 grams - distilled water.

Cooking instructions:

Melt the oil and wax in a water bath.
Remove from heat. Pour in water in a thin stream, whisking with a mixer until smooth.
Apply the cooled mixture to a rag, polish the surface until all the product is absorbed into the wood.

Important! After treatment with a product containing wax, the wood becomes water-repellent. That is, by using such a furniture polish, you thereby extend its service life.

In addition, wax not only protects the wood, but also reveals and emphasizes the beautiful structure of the wood.

Primer

It is necessary to prime wooden and veneered surfaces so that the varnish lays more evenly. When sanding, we opened most of the pores and released some of the fibers. If you immediately coat them with varnish, it will be absorbed unevenly, causing the surface to become stained. The primer closes most of the pores, so the varnish will lay more evenly.

Priming veneered furniture can be done in two ways. The first is quick, but accompanied by a strong odor. You need to take nitro varnish or polyurethane varnish, dilute it by 10-20% (depending on the initial thickness), and cover the surface.

A primer is necessary so that the varnish goes on more evenly.

The second method of priming is long, but correct and almost odorless. We take epoxy glue and a soft cloth swab. It’s better to use flannel, preferably white, so that it doesn’t fade or change the color of the furniture. Use this swab to rub the epoxy into the veneer.

While everything is drying, dust will definitely stick to the surface. It needs to be removed. This again can be done in two ways: scraping and grinding. If using a scraper, take a sharp blade (you can use a wallpaper knife) and use it to clean off all the excess. To avoid damaging the veneer, move the blade along the grain. With sanding everything is known: sandpaper with 320 grit and water. The prepared surface is cleaned of dust, washed with water, and dried. After drying, you can apply varnish.

In fact, further polishing of the furniture may not be necessary. Already at this stage the product looks decent.

Removing scratches from wood furniture and furniture trim

Very often scratches, cracks or chips appear on the furniture surface.

We will help you make a polish at home that can correct all these errors.

Recipe for light furniture:

Melt 2 teaspoons of granulated beeswax in a water bath and remove from heat.
Add 100 grams of soybean oil to the melted wax, beat until smooth.
Cool, pour into a dry container that closes tightly. The shelf life of this product is up to 6 months.

Important! Before application, clean the surface from dust and dirt. Apply a thin layer to the scratch using a cloth and rub in in a circular motion.

Recipe for dark furniture:

Take ½ teaspoon of beeswax and melt it in a water bath.
Add 4 teaspoons soybean oil, 1 teaspoon turpentine, 1 teaspoon lanolin oil, while constantly stirring the entire mixture.
Remove from heat, cool. Pour into a dry jar.
Apply in the same way as in the first case.

Important! When cooking, follow fire safety rules. Do not leave turpentine on the fire for a long time - it can easily ignite.

Now you know everything about what polish is for and how to use it on wooden furniture. If you are ready to experiment in order to improve the care of interior items and reduce the cost of purchasing such products, you now have plenty to choose from - recipes with different ingredients, “for every taste,” we have offered you in this article. By following our tips and recipes, your furniture will look well-groomed and beautiful for a long time.

What cloth to polish furniture with?

The simplest and most familiar composition is “Polish”. They moisten a flannel cloth with it and wipe the furniture. After 20-30 minutes, rub it until shiny. To renew the shine of furniture, you can use polish or polishing paste, which is applied to the surface and rubbed in a circular motion with a piece of soft woolen cloth.

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Proper care of polished furniture

Polished furniture is not the most popular type of furniture in modern houses and apartments. Such furniture looks luxurious, but you need to take care of it carefully and constantly. Polishing tends to get dirty, and people today don’t have so much free time and money to regularly care for such furniture.

In addition, polished furniture requires certain operating conditions. For example, it should not be placed near radiators or fireplaces; the heat can melt the polish and cause it to smudge. It is not recommended to place such furniture near windows during the cold season, as this can cause cracks to appear on the polished surface.

But since you have decided to purchase such furniture or you already have it, and you are faced with the constant appearance of stains, there are many ways to care for polished furniture and remove difficult stains that have appeared on it at home.

How to use polish correctly?

Before starting work, all furniture is cleaned of dust and dirt. The polish is applied only to a dry surface. If you have an aerosol, then spray it while holding the can thirty centimeters from the furniture. The product in the form of a cream is squeezed onto a dry sponge and then rubbed into the surface.

To maintain the effect, various surfaces need to be polished at regular intervals. It is advisable to treat the countertop at least once a week. But for cabinets, once a month will be enough.

How to clean polished furniture

It is worth knowing not only what means to clean polished furniture, but also what tools to use. Your arsenal of household equipment should include:

A soft rag, necessarily either flannel or cotton.
Cotton swabs can be useful for removing a variety of stubborn stubborn stains.
Pieces of soft leather help the polish stay in good condition after cleaning.
A soft brush is useful for scrubbing tough, stubborn stains, but due to its softness it will not damage the polish or the wood surface.
Containers for water and auxiliary products.
A knife for removing serious stains. Be careful with this tool; the cleaning process may damage the wooden surface.

Having these products in your inventory, you can carry out competent and high-quality cleaning of polished furniture at any time.

Basic Recipes

As a rule, the binder composition is prepared from two parts of stearin, seven parts of chromium oxide, one part of acetic acid. A little kerosene is also added here, just a couple of drops.

There is another interesting recipe for making car polish. Here the base is clay or beeswax. In the second case, you will need to add vegetable oil or turpentine to the product and secure it again with hot wax.

When handling a car body, it is important to always use masks and gloves. A respirator will also work. The required materials are sponges and microfiber cloths. In order to save effort and time, you can purchase a polishing machine for applying the composition.

How to clean polished furniture

On the household chemicals market you can find various products that allow you to clean polished furniture. But not all of them are so good. Therefore, using the simple laws of chemistry, so-called home remedies have been invented, on which pennies are spent, which can easily rid furniture of dirt of varying complexity:

Beer.
A special solution of antistatic agent and shampoo.
Olive oil and wine vinegar.
Burr oil.
Tea brewing.

The imagination of an ordinary person can easily imagine these remedies, so many readers will be horrified, because these recipes can leave even more stains on the furniture and cause damage to the surface. In fact, this is far from the case. With these products, any contaminants are quickly removed. Let us analyze in detail the effect of each product on the polish.

In detail, this is a recipe based on regular beer with the addition of a piece of wax. Any beer made with malt from the nearest store will do for this. You can use regular white candles for decoration as wax, after removing the wick.

Boil the beer together with the wax so that the wax is completely dissolved and the alcohol, which is dangerous for the polished coating, is removed from the beer. Now that the solution is ready, you can polish the furniture with it. Dissolved wax will add shine to the polish and strengthen the coating, and malt particles will remove the maximum number of contaminants.

Special solution

The base for the solution is water, shampoo and an antistatic agent. This is a budget option for modern polishing products, which are presented in household stores.

Shampoos, like soap, absorb various contaminants and dust particles well, while repelling dust from the treated surface, and an antistatic agent increases this effect.

This solution is absolutely safe for the surface itself. This product can easily get rid of not only dust, but also grease stains. Mix water, antistatic agent and any shampoo in a 1:1:1 ratio in any container convenient for you.

Olive oil and wine vinegar

The combination of these two food components is useful not only in the kitchen, but also when polishing furniture. Wine vinegar, like any acetic acid-based substance, is an excellent cleaner and disinfectant that is safe for polishing. Olive oil adds extra shine to the polish. Dilute this solution in a 1:1 ratio, but polish the furniture with rubber gloves to avoid possible burns from vinegar.

Burr oil

Burdock oil is an easy way to get rid of dust and small dirt on polished furniture. Apply a thin layer of this oil to the stained area and wipe off with a soft cloth after a few minutes. Burdock oil absorbs dirt, while leaving the polish completely intact.

Types of polish

Polishes should be selected depending on the surface you plan to process. Wax polishes are intended for processing wooden furniture parts in order to give them shine and mask minor defects. The good thing about this product is that you don’t need to treat furniture with it often, it fits perfectly and lasts a long time. The main disadvantage of wax polish is that it is better not to touch the treated surface with your hands, as fingerprints will be very noticeable.

A polish designed to disguise scratches contains wax that fills in small indentations, making them less noticeable.

Polishes with a tinting effect contain a coloring pigment that masks defects and refreshes the color of furniture.

Polish intended for varnished surfaces. It, unlike other analogues with a universal composition, does not dry out furniture coated with varnish.

Removing stains

While the above products can easily deal with dust and minor stains, they are unlikely to be able to remove complex stains. What to do if you find a difficult wax or ink stain on your polish? For such cases, numerous folk remedies have also been invented.

Difficult spots

Complex stains of unknown origin are removed with a mixture of vegetable oil and flour. Simply sprinkle a thin layer of flour onto the stained area and then wipe off with a cotton swab soaked in vegetable oil.

Removing traces of hot dishes

Hot dishes: a kettle, a saucepan or a simple cup of boiling water are very dangerous for polishing; they can melt it and leave unsightly and difficult to remove marks. You can get rid of them by using salt and sunflower oil. To do this, you need to wrap the salt in some light cloth and make a small bag. Rub the damaged area with this bag, and then wipe it with vegetable oil. After this, do not forget to wipe the surface dry.

Wax drops

Candle wax is also a very dangerous enemy of polish. However, it can be easily removed with a knife and gasoline. The wax is very easy to remove if you heat it up; to do this, you need to heat the knife a little and pry the wax off with it. After removing the main wax mass, a speck will remain, which can be easily washed off with gasoline.

Ink stains

Beer and wax work very well on such stains. In this case, the beer cannot be boiled, since it is the small amount of alcohol contained in it that will remove the ink. Leave the beer on the stain for a while, but do not get carried away - the alcohol can damage the surface. After the stain has been removed, the surface must be wiped with wax.

Heavy soiling

Heated vinegar can deal with particularly heavy stains on the polish. It's best to take 9%. Warm the vinegar a little and soak a cotton swab in it. Rub the dirty surface; the intensity and duration of cleaning depends on how deep the stain is. After cleaning, the surface can be treated with regular wax to restore shine.

Traditional methods of cleaning lacquered furniture

In addition to expensive chemical polishes, which often have a very strong odor and are poorly tolerated by people with allergies, you can use folk remedies to clean furniture at home. Few people know that it is possible to renew the varnished surface of a table or bedside table, remove stains left by hot objects, or wipe off droplets of wax and glue with the help of flour, table vinegar, soap, milk and other products that are always found in the household.

Fresh spots

Oily finger stains stand out especially strongly on shiny surfaces. Furniture covered with such prints looks sloppy. There are several techniques to quickly get rid of traces of grease on polishing:

A piece of laundry soap is soaked in water and the surface of the furniture is wiped with a soft cloth soaked in a soap solution.
Grease stains are lightly sprinkled with flour, talcum powder or baby powder. Wait 10–15 minutes until the bulk product absorbs the fat, then wipe with a soft, clean cloth.
Rub the contaminated surface with a potato tuber cut in half. 15 minutes after treatment, polish the table with a cotton cloth.
Mix alcohol and vegetable oil, taking equal amounts of ingredients, and rub the furniture with this mixture.
You can wash lacquered furniture with milk. Soak a napkin in milk, wring it out and wipe the area of contamination. Remaining liquid is removed with a dry cloth.

Whatever cleaning product is used, the job should always be completed by polishing to a high shine using a soft flannel.

Old pollution

To remove old stains, you will have to use more aggressive products with salt and acid.

Using table salt you can remove marks left by hot dishes. To do this, wrap a handful of salt in a handkerchief, moisten the bag in vegetable oil and rub the damaged surface.
Old stains are removed with 9% vinegar. If you leave acid on a furniture surface for a long time, the varnish may crack, so you need to act as quickly as possible, and after cleaning, carefully remove any remaining vinegar with a dry cloth.
To clean the polish, tea leaves are useful. After drinking tea, put it in a cloth and wipe the furniture.
Sauerkraut brine is a great way to remove dirty stains from polish.

Droplets of frozen wax that accidentally fall on the polished table during the celebration should be cleaned off with a wooden stick or spatula, and then wipe the area of contamination with a swab soaked in vinegar.

How to Add Shine to Polished Furniture

It also happens that after cleaning or simply over time, polishing loses its shine. How, in this case, can you restore the shine of polished furniture without resorting to expensive and dangerous chemicals? There are several proven options.

The first and most popular option is wax. A piece of pure wax without impurities can not only restore the shine to the surface, but also get rid of minor scratches and damage. The main thing in this matter is not to get too carried away with rubbing, apply the wax in a thin layer, otherwise the surface will become matte and completely lose its shine.

Vinegar solution

The second option is also very simple - it is a mixture of vinegar and vegetable oil. Soak a soft, lint-free cloth with this mixture and rub the surface until shiny, then wipe with a dry cloth to remove any remaining product.

Safe chemicals and improvised means

The varnish coating is sensitive to abrasive cleaning agents, chemical solvents and mechanical stress. It is unacceptable to clean the polished wall or cabinet doors with a wire brush, acetone or gasoline. With such care, furniture polish will, at best, become dull, and at worst, it will crack, crumble and crumble.

Today, hardware stores offer a wide selection of specialized products for the care of polished furniture. The use of each of them gives a certain effect, which must be taken into account.

Here are some of the most popular products used to care for furniture with varnished surfaces:

Wax-based polishes - Joy By Joy, Pronto, Chirton, Emsal.
Compositions with a tinting effect - Pronto, 5+, Emsal.
Products that create a protective layer are Diva, Mebelux, Luxus.
Based on silicone - “Cinderella”, “Anti-dust”.

These tools are very easy to use. It is enough to apply a small amount of the composition on a dry cloth and polish the varnish surface to a shine.

Before starting cleaning, you need to test the product by treating a small area of the surface in an inconspicuous place.

To avoid damaging the varnish layer when removing stains, do not use hard metal brushes or scrapers. It is better to use cotton or flannel napkins, cotton pads, and soft brushes to remove dust. Sticky wax or plasticine can be removed with a wooden stick or spatula.

Useful tips for caring for polished furniture

There are several tips that will help keep your polished furniture in excellent condition for quite a long time:

Wipe the surface from dust using dry rags, as moisture spoils the polish.
If there are small parts or carvings on the furniture, it is better to use a brush to clean the dust.
Never use pure alcohol or acetone when cleaning - they will severely damage the polish.

Remember that only regular maintenance will help you keep your polished furniture in perfect condition.

Adviсe

In order for polished furniture to retain its aesthetic appearance for a long time, it must be properly cared for.

The operating rules are very simple:

Polishing is afraid of high temperatures. Therefore, do not place hot objects on the surface of the furniture.
Heating household appliances should be located at a safe distance from polished furniture.
If the room is heated with a “warm floors” system, it is better to raise the furnishings on low legs. This technique will preserve the polish, make cleaning easier, and also eliminate the place for dust and dirt to accumulate, in which dust mites quickly grow.
In rooms facing south, arrange furniture so that direct sunlight does not fall on the polish.
Like any other piece of furniture containing wood fibers, polished furniture is susceptible to high humidity.
To preserve the polish from scratches, cleaning cloths for polished furniture should be made of a material with a soft texture. Dust is removed from large inlay parts using a soft broom.
Wipe off dust from the polished surface regularly to prevent dirt from accumulating on the polish.
Do not use alcohol-containing solutions, acetone or other solvents to clean contaminants.

Furnishings covered with varnish will give the room a special chic and splendor. To preserve these qualities for as long as possible, you need to treat polished surfaces with care and regularly care for them.

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The benefits of upgrading your furniture yourself

Most people who own old furniture do not want to get rid of good, durable products; they prefer to restore them, change the color, and fit them into the style of the existing interior. Some people want to add value to an item before selling it. Whatever the motives, to save money, both on repairs and on the purchase of new things, many prefer to do restoration work with their own hands. Such actions have a number of significant advantages, namely:

Minor cosmetic repairs can be done using improvised means, using leftover wallpaper, textiles, leather, and other materials.
After a high-quality update, the products will last for a long time and will not be inferior in appearance to new models.
During the restoration process, owners can show their creativity and create an item that will complement any interior.
With independent recovery, a person gains experience, masters interesting techniques and methods, and later will be able to use them and perform similar actions more efficiently.

Industrial polishes - are they worth buying?

Industrial polishes contain special substances that fill microcracks in the furniture surface, as a result of which the structure of the material becomes even and smooth - polished.

Important! It is not uncommon for a manufacturer to promise water-repellent, shockproof and antistatic effects. But in the end you only get disappointment and an unpleasant aftertaste in your soul. Although, for the sake of fairness, it is worth noting that expensive means will indeed provide such a result, but cheap analogues are a game of “believe it or not.”

Furniture wax is a good alternative

You can find furniture wax on the shelves of hardware stores. This substance has been used to coat furniture for centuries. And today it ranks first in wood processing and care.

What are the advantages of using wax:

furniture can withstand long-term loads;
wood does not lose its texture, retaining natural warmth;
the velvety properties of the material are preserved;
after coating, the color of the product becomes more expressive;
the ability to choose any tone during restoration;
The thick consistency fits well on the surface of the wood, filling all cracks and scratches.

furniture wax should be applied to clean, open-pore furniture (so that there are no paint coatings);
a labor-intensive process when the surface is varnished (needs to be thoroughly cleaned).

Important! Furniture wax is in most cases used on freshly made furniture, or for thorough restoration of furniture products. When you need to remove a few small scratches or slightly refresh the color, it is better to use a polish with wax or silicone additives.

Wax furniture polish AMWAY™

This is the option when you can trust the manufacturer, because more than one housewife has already noted the effectiveness of this brand’s products for various purposes.

Risk from modern chemical cleaning products

These include:

allergies - human skin is very sensitive to chemicals and if you buy a professional detergent, the manufacturer will definitely indicate on the label that special gloves are needed;
aggressiveness - not every furniture is suitable for one or another cleaning product. The surface may simply fade or the varnish may fade altogether. Always read what kind of furniture the solution is suitable for;
harmful - technology does not stand still and now it is enough to have a can of cleaning aerosol and a dry cloth. But the spray can enter the respiratory system. The label may indicate that the substance does not pose any danger, but it is better to use an ordinary medical mask and ventilate the room.

Regardless of what detergents you use: based on natural ingredients or purchased ready-made, always ventilate the room. Do not forget that the substance evaporates and enters the air, which can cause health problems.

Homemade polish - make it yourself

The advantage of homemade polishes is that you know what ingredients the product consists of. It will not harm your health or your furniture.

Important! For polishing, you need a soft, clean rag made of natural fabric - velvet, wool (you can take a clean, no longer needed wool sock), fleece.

Let's look at several recipes for making polish at home

Recipe 1

This DIY furniture polish recipe is great for items that have been exposed with varnish.

Important! This product will help you clean the surface from dirt. Gives a mirror shine.

Take 1 cup of olive oil and a quarter cup of lemon juice. You can add a few drops of essential oil to suit your taste.
Mix well and pour into any container with a lid.
Apply a few drops to a clean, soft cloth and wipe down the furniture. Remove any remaining grease with a clean, dry cloth.

Important! Store in a cool, dark place. Storage time is not limited.

Recipe 2

By preparing a product for caring for a wooden piece of furniture using this method, you can remove minor damage and microcracks on furniture made from wood that is not varnished.

You will need the following ingredients:

Vaseline oil - can be replaced with flaxseed oil;
wax - any wax you can buy (beeswax, soy wax);
Any essential oil of your choice - you can do without it.

Step-by-step cooking instructions:

Prepare a water bath - take a saucepan larger in diameter so that a heat-resistant bowl or mug can fit in it. We put a pan of water on the fire and put a bowl or mug in there.
Melt the butter and wax in a bathhouse, stirring and bringing to a homogeneous consistency.
Cool slightly and add essential oil, stir.
Pour into a wide-necked jar, as the mixture hardens after cooling.

Important! When using, apply a thin layer to the wood surface. Rub in circular motions using a cloth.

Recipe 3

This DIY furniture polish removes dust and dirt very well, refreshes the color, and moisturizes the wood. It is prepared like this:

Take 1 glass of alcohol (medicinal grade) 1 glass of vegetable oil (any you have at home).
Pour into the bottle and shake well.
Wet a dry, clean cloth and wipe the surface of the furniture.

Recipe 4

This kitchen appliance care product will help remove greasy stains:

Prepare a water bath as described above.
Take 1 glass of beer and 50 grams of beeswax - melt it all, stirring.
Cool, pour into a jar.

Important! Use chilled:

Apply a thin layer of product to a clean sponge.
Wipe the grease stain very well.

Recipe 5

This furniture polish is also easy to make at home. It can be used on wood surfaces that are not varnished.

Prepare for him:

75 grams - jojoba oil;
45 grams - coconut oil;
30 grams - beeswax;
30 grams - carnauba wax (can be purchased by ordering in the online store);
120 grams - distilled water.

Cooking instructions:

Melt the oil and wax in a water bath.
Remove from heat. Pour in water in a thin stream, whisking with a mixer until smooth.
Apply the cooled mixture to a rag, polish the surface until all the product is absorbed into the wood.

Important! After treatment with a product containing wax, the wood becomes water-repellent. That is, by using such a furniture polish, you thereby extend its service life.

In addition, wax not only protects the wood, but also reveals and emphasizes the beautiful structure of the wood.

Recipe 6

If you do not have the time and opportunity to prepare and select the above recipes, we offer the simplest and most accessible to each of you.

This polish will help restore color, remove microcracks and shallow scratches.

You can quickly make furniture polish with your own hands from an ordinary chicken egg, which you always have in your refrigerator:

Take 1 chicken egg.
Add 2 tablespoons of water to it and beat until smooth.
All is ready. Apply the resulting product to a soft, non-synthetic cloth and rub vigorously into the surface until a shine appears.

Important! The product made from chicken eggs cannot be stored.

Helpful Tips:

After polishing work, let the material sit for 1-2 hours. Afterwards, wipe with a dry velvet cloth and the surface will become matte.
By treating wooden furniture using any of the above methods, you will protect it from drying out.

Applying varnish

Let's talk about which varnishes are best to use. The best are considered alkyd (Tikkurila Unika-super series), polyurethane and water-polymer (good ones are Swedish Bask).

Despite the lack of odor, water-based varnish is not the best choice for your first varnishing experience. Essentially it is a water-based suspension. But it is far from being as harmless as is commonly believed. Water-based varnishes contain very harmful solvents, albeit in small quantities. It’s just that the usual acetone and others cannot keep such a composition in a stable state. So we have to use much “cooler” solvents.

This is by the way, but the reason is essentially different - difficulties during processing. When applying varnish, water is absorbed into the wood fibers and they rise. As a result, after the first treatment, the surface is far from smooth, but very rough. This effect is especially pronounced on pine products. So after the first layer of water-based varnish has dried, take an angle grinder or a sander, attach 320-grit sandpaper to it and sand it until smooth. If you're lucky, the next layer will lie flat and the pile won't rise again; if not, you'll have to repeat the operation again. The situation is not fatal, of course, but unpleasant. This does not happen with other varnishes.

How to apply varnish

Now a little about how to apply varnish. Professionals believe that the best method is spraying from a spray gun. This may be true, but not all home craftsmen have such a device, and you also need to be able to work with a spray gun. Among manual application methods, a popular method is application with a piece of foam rubber (or a new kitchen sponge) or a fabric swab (soft, white, lint-free fabric). To decide, you need to try what is more convenient for you, how it turns out smoother (if it works out at all).

The next method is with a small foam roller. Suitable if you are varnishing a surface of a simple shape without small details (a door leaf, for example).

Applying varnish with a brush is the most unpopular method

The use of brushes when varnishing furniture, oddly enough, is in last place. The fact is that it is difficult to evenly apply a layer of varnish in this way. You need a good brush with soft, thick, natural bristles, which should not tangle under any circumstances.

Technology

Regardless of the chosen method of applying varnish, its layers should be thin and of uniform thickness. Take a little product onto a brush/sponge/roller/tampon and rub it over the surface as thoroughly as possible. Next time we dip it in varnish only after the “weapon” no longer leaves any traces. In this way we cover the entire surface and leave to dry.

Many coats of varnish may be required

The applied layer of varnish does not dry completely, but the time indicated on the packaging of the varnish in the column “tack-free” or “application of the next layer”. On average, for water-based varnishes it is 1 hour, for alkyd varnishes - 5 hours. The next layer is applied using the same technique. The total number of layers is usually from 5 to 9, depending on the quality of the veneer and preliminary sanding. When the surface becomes absolutely smooth, the varnish is dried until completely dry - 2-3 days. After this, sanding begins again.

Removing scratches from wood furniture and furniture trim

Very often scratches, cracks or chips appear on the furniture surface.

We will help you make a polish at home that can correct all these errors.

Recipe for light furniture:

Melt 2 teaspoons of granulated beeswax in a water bath and remove from heat.
Add 100 grams of soybean oil to the melted wax, beat until smooth.
Cool, pour into a dry container that closes tightly. The shelf life of this product is up to 6 months.

Important! Before application, clean the surface from dust and dirt. Apply a thin layer to the scratch using a cloth and rub in in a circular motion.

Recipe for dark furniture:

Take ½ teaspoon of beeswax and melt it in a water bath.
Add 4 teaspoons soybean oil, 1 teaspoon turpentine, 1 teaspoon lanolin oil, while constantly stirring the entire mixture.
Remove from heat, cool. Pour into a dry jar.
Apply in the same way as in the first case.

Important! When cooking, follow fire safety rules. Do not leave turpentine on the fire for a long time - it can easily ignite.

Video material

Varieties

Of the many different polishes produced at home, several stand out as effective and easy to prepare. The ingredients that make up them are found in every home. Polishes are most effective immediately after preparation, so mix the ingredients before use.

Such polishes include compositions based on ammonia, vinegar, olive oil and lemon, as well as wax.

Also, home-made furniture polish is prepared using other simple ingredients, which include Vaseline. Denatured alcohol, turpentine, shellac and lanolin are also suitable for preparing a polishing composition. It is worth noting that they will be less environmentally friendly, which is a disadvantage. The components included in such polishes are difficult to purchase, which makes the preparation process more complicated. When choosing a substance as the main component of the polishing mixture, you need to know exactly what surfaces it is intended for.

With ammonia

A product based on ammonia is suitable for kitchen countertops, bar counters, and painted surfaces. It will protect furniture from dust and remove existing dirt. This composition does not leave cloudy stains after application, which allows you to achieve a mirror shine on glossy surfaces, glass and metal fittings.

The advantage of this composition is its ease of manufacture and availability. To prepare it you will not need anything other than ammonia and water. The product can be stored for a long time, it does not deteriorate and does not lose its original qualities. Among the main disadvantages of such a polish, one can name only an unpleasant odor, but the fact that ammonia contains much less water makes it almost imperceptible. Moreover, the smell of ammonia disappears very quickly.