Never use this product on your timber furniture!
Regular cleaning of your timber furniture will keep it looking beautiful and healthy. However, you want to make sure you are using the right products to care for your furniture and protect the finish.
“So, what is this product that I need to keep away from my timber furniture?” I hear you ask; - Spray and Wipe. Most all purpose or multi-purpose sprays are solvent based cleaners. The chemicals in these cleaners can be harsh on your timber finishes, creating a cloudy film or even dissolving the finish altogether.
Here are 6 safe and easy ways to clean your furniture using things you will find in your home.
1. The best and easiest way to clean wood furniture is to dust regularly with a clean microfiber cloth. A build up of dust and small particles can cause scratches in the finish. Simply wipe a clean, soft cloth over the furniture in the direction of the grain.
2. If your furniture has a large build up of dust or some small stains, a damp soft cloth will work wonders. Wet your soft cloth then squeeze out as much of the water as you can. You don't want your cloth to be too wet as water can leave stains or cause wood to swell. Carefully wipe your furniture with the damp cloth, rinsing regularly to keep the cloth clean. Gently rub stains then quickly dry your furniture with a soft dry cloth.
3. For those harder to remove stains, like sauce or something sticky, try adding a few drops of washing up liquid to your water and proceed as per 2 above.
4. When you find a water mark don't fret. A simple solution of equal parts vinegar to olive oil will fix it. Mix the solution together in a jar, then apply to your furniture using a soft cloth. Wipe over with a second clean cloth until it shines.
5. What about heat marks? Place a damp towel over the mark on the table. Using a hot iron carefully move the iron over the towel. Regularly check the table under the towel to see the mark disappear. See our video demonstration.
6. The method above is also useful for removing small dents and dings in wood furniture. The steam expands the wood back into place. This will not work if the timber grains have been broken or the dent is too deep.
At Uptown Funky Junk most of our products are finished with several coats of Osmo Polyx-oil (hard wax oil). It is a durable finish, so that "once fully cured, will not crack, flake, peel, blister or watermark and is stain resistant against wine, beer, cola, tea, fruit juices, milk and water” (www.naturaltimberoils.com.au). That makes your furniture easy to clean and keeps it looking great.
For more information about caring for your timber furniture see our blog post Furniture Foes-The Big Three.