Regular wiping of wooden furniture to remove layers of dust and give it a shiny, neat appearance inevitably results in a dark film forming on the surface over time. To keep wood furniture looking its best, deep cleaning is essential without causing damage and maintaining the quality of the finish.
Regardless of whether the furniture is painted, stained or polished, it needs cleaning. Some wood products are lightly varnished, making them unable to absorb oil. Others, such as rosewood or teak, absorb it beautifully and look perfect for many years.
The surface of polished wood has a warm, soft glow and needs to be cleaned with oil. This is enough to make her look beautiful again.
Where to start cleaning?
Use a soft cloth to remove the surface layer of dust. Now you can start removing light dirt. You should start with gentle cleaning products. Try mixing dish soap and water. Soak a soft microfiber cloth in the solution and wipe a small area. Try not to saturate the wood with moisture, so immediately wipe the treated area with a dry cloth. This option is suitable for painted wood surfaces.
Antique wooden interior items that have accumulated dirt for years can be refreshed without resorting to chemicals. Brew two bags of black tea with boiling water and let it brew until the water temperature is equal to room temperature. Dampen the cloth, wring it out and wipe the wooden surface. Tannic acid from tea preserves wood, refreshes and adds shine.
Often, traces of water rings from glasses and mugs remain on old polished surfaces. It is impossible to deal with them with conventional preparations; after drying, the stains appear again. Try using a non-gel toothpaste. Rub a small ball with a damp cloth until the stain disappears. For stubborn stains, mix half-and-half toothpaste with baking soda.
To clean wooden furniture that is oiled or coated with wax, you will need turpentine and linseed oil in equal parts. Carefully treat contaminated areas with a cloth and wipe until the surface is lightened. The composition penetrates the porous structure of wood and removes accumulated grease and dust. Regular care using this cleaning product will help keep your furniture in perfect condition.
To remove fingerprints from waxed furniture, use cornstarch. It absorbs excess oil or wax and leaves a shiny finish. A little starch is applied to the wood and polished well with a cloth.
What should you consider?
Any problem is solved taking into account the type of board, its coating and the type of contamination.
The parquet floor should not be wetted with water, otherwise it will quickly become unusable.
Excessive moisture is unacceptable , even if the boards are varnished, since the parquet floor is laid from equally small boards. They are tightly fitted one to another. This cladding on a concrete or wood base has many joints that trap water and eventually destroy the wood.
The “For Parquet” product will provide high-quality cleaning and will not damage the expensive wooden flooring.
The products are also selected specifically for parquet. They form a shiny protective film, polish the boards and close cracks.
Varnished plank floors also require a special approach to cleaning.
And the boardwalk is made from large boards. Their sizes are different. And in order to clean the plank floor, its own nuances are taken into account. Namely, whether it is painted or not. Therefore, caring for wood flooring also depends on its treatment:
All joints can be cleaned with a regular vacuum cleaner with a floor attachment.
- First you need to vacuum the floor , that is, use dry washing. This applies to all wood flooring. After all, it is very difficult to wash out dust in cracks and joints, even using the most effective cleaning agent;
- Then wet cleaning of the wood floor begins.
Simple Cleaning Tools
Ink marks on wooden furniture should be removed with baking soda mixed with water in equal proportions. Toothpaste shows good results. Apply a little paste to a soft cloth and treat the stain.
Lemon oil is used for polished furniture ; it returns brightness to color and restores shine. You can quickly prepare a product at home that will replace damaged industrial varnish on furniture using olive oil (1 cup) and table vinegar (1/4 cup). A soft cloth is moistened with the prepared solution and rubbed into the varnished surface until smoothness and shine are restored.
Grease stains can be removed with ordinary clay . To do this, mix it with table vinegar to a thick paste and apply it to the stain. After complete drying, scrape it off with a knife, and wash off the remaining clay with water.
Wooden furniture should be periodically wiped with an aqueous solution of ammonia to reduce dirt, remove odors and destroy germs. Try using it to remove greasy food marks.
Vaseline will remove white marks on a polished surface. Apply it to the stain overnight and in the morning there will be no trace of damage.
Burdock oil is considered an affordable and effective remedy. It helps remove the most stubborn stains and dirt. Wooden furniture is generously wiped with oil, after which the residue is removed with a cotton cloth and the surface is polished.
How to Remove Alcohol, Juice or Sugary Drink Stains
Stains from sweet liquids can be removed with strong coffee. Moisten a cloth with the drink, wipe off the dirty mark, and then wash the area with soap, dry and polish with linseed oil.
Wine stains can be easily removed with 3% hydrogen peroxide or 3% ammonia. Stubborn marks will have to be cleaned off with fine-grain sandpaper, but not in a circular motion, but along the grain. Next, the base is washed and also treated with linseed oil.
How to clean a wooden kitchen?
Regular cleaning of the kitchen and dining room will not eliminate the need for basic furniture cleaning several times a year. The surfaces of drawers, tables and cabinets are constantly contaminated with sticky substances, crumbs and dust from bulk products.
A safe and effective product is prepared from a cup of table vinegar, a few drops of dishwashing liquid and a liter of hot water. Mix the solution well, put on gloves and start cleaning your wood furniture.
Vinegar acts as a disinfectant, killing germs on the surface and preventing the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Using a damp cloth, apply the mixture to the surface of a table, cabinet or chair. Wait a little and rub thoroughly, paying attention to dirty areas. Finally, remove any remaining product with a cloth dampened with water and dry the surface.
Oil treatment helps protect wood from stains and getting wet from water. Buy any brand of wood impregnation product and lubricate the surface. For long-lasting results and surface protection, apply 2 to 4 coats of oil. Re-lubrication is carried out every 6 months.
Fat from the surface of kitchen cabinets removes vegetable oil, which is mixed half and half with soda (2:1). The composition is as thick as sour cream, it is convenient to distribute it with a sponge or toothbrush. Using light movements without effort, distribute the composition, rub a little into the surface to remove dirt. Then wipe with a clean cloth or paper napkins. The same product can be used to clean any wooden furniture in the apartment that needs care.
If you use a cleansing scrub every 2-3 weeks, you can keep your furniture looking good for many years. It gains shine, rich color and smoothness.
Removing coffee and tea stains
Fresh stains from popular drinks can be removed without much difficulty. Sometimes wiping the wood with plain water or a soap solution or dishwashing detergent is enough.
A couple of minutes after soaping, wipe the item dry with a clean cloth. Stubborn stains are removed with a weak solution of ammonia or ethyl alcohol. Be sure to move the sponge along the visible wood fibers so as not to damage them.
Caring for wooden furniture
Avoid exposing the wooden surface to direct sunlight, high temperatures and moisture. To maintain the smoothness of the wood, bright color and shine, use special care products that are purchased in retail chains. The composition includes special ingredients that remove dirt and nourish the wood, allowing it to maintain a well-groomed appearance and protect it from drying out over time.
Nika-Universal liquid surface cleaner with an antibacterial effect helps clean furniture. The product is intended for cleaning wood materials from various contaminants, does not leave streaks and does not require rinsing. Suitable for varnished and painted surfaces. Apply a solution of 10 ml per 1 liter of water to the surface and do not rinse off.
For cleaning, a vodka-based product is prepared. It can be used to remove dirt from ceramics and plastic. Mix a glass of vodka and a glass of table vinegar, add 20 drops of orange essential oil and a few drops of eucalyptus. Shake well and pour into a spray bottle. For any home cleaning of wooden furniture, use the prepared composition. In addition to cleanliness, it aromatizes the air in the room and gives a special shine to surfaces.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush to remove dust from the wood surface. Wax-containing compounds are applied to the surface after thorough cleaning. Wax paste evens out the structure, makes small cracks invisible, and refreshes the color. It is important to polish wooden furniture thoroughly.
Traces of wax and paraffin
There are several ways to get rid of wax or paraffin on a wooden surface:
- Leave the wax until completely cured. Then rub liquid soap into it and clean with a cloth.
- Dissolve wax and paraffin with table vinegar diluted with water. As it dries, treat the base with oil.
- Place several ice cubes wrapped in cellophane on the wax stain. When the wax cools and becomes brittle, remove it with a knife blade and wipe the surface with a solution of apple cider vinegar and water (1:10).
- Dip the knife in boiling water for 20 seconds, then remove the wax drop and wipe the surface with a rag soaked in gasoline.
- Warm the wax with a hairdryer and remove the residue with a soft cloth.
Warning
When starting to clean furniture, carefully read the instructions to make sure for which surfaces the product is intended.
Always test the effect of the drug on a small area that is hidden from view, so that if it fails, the appearance will not be damaged. Only after such a test can you begin to clean the item.
For polished furniture, do not wipe with a damp cloth, as this will dull the shine of the surface.
Do not use abrasive brushes or sponges that will damage the wood surface. The desire to clean dirt from furniture can quickly result in material damage. Try to avoid excessive moisture in wood flooring.
Recommendations
Advice and recommendations from experts will help you cope with the task of removing greasy stains from surfaces as effectively as possible:
- To remove grease, do not use tools with abrasive surfaces, as this may harm the material.
- The choice of cleaning product should take into account not only the type of material, but also its condition.
- Excessively moistening the stain will not help remove it faster, but it can ruin the material itself.
- If there is any doubt about the suitability of using a particular stain remover, it is advisable to test its effect on an inconspicuous area.
- If the stained wallpaper is old, and the grease stains are extensive, then the best option is to replace them, since it is unlikely to be possible to remove large stains without leaving a trace.
- Some stain removers (both homemade and store-bought) have a strong odor, so it is advisable to carry out all cleaning work in good ventilation.
You can learn how to remove a grease stain from a T-shirt here, from a jacket - here, from pants - in this article, from leather and suede - in this article.
Lemon acid
Lemon easily removes stains, grease, scale, lime and plaque.
How to use:
To treat kitchen furniture, mix 15 g of acid with a liter of water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray all surfaces thoroughly. Wait half an hour and go over the facades with a sponge.
Nuances
: For new stains, a regular slice of lemon will suffice. Cut a piece and rub it generously onto the surface. And then the mechanism is still the same - wait, wash and dry. The light and fresh aroma will be a pleasant bonus.
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Melamine sponge
If previously melamine sponges were sold mainly in the subway and in markets, now they are easy to find in any store. They resemble an eraser in structure and work on a similar principle. They even wash off in the same way as they are used.
How
to use
: Simply rub the grease stains with a sponge.
Nuances
: This method is not suitable for general cleaning. But for small local pollution it is quite good. And the main advantages are low cost, environmental friendliness and complete harmlessness.
