If you own wooden furniture, you know that it needs a little more TLC than other materials. After all, wood is porous and absorbs moisture from humidity as well as dirt and oils from our hands. It may seem like there are a million ways to clean wood furniture. But in reality, there are only three cleaning methods that are effective over the long term: stripping the piece, sealing the surface, or maintaining it with frequent maintenance. With regular cleaning and maintenance of your wooden pieces at home, you won’t have to worry about them as much. Cleaning them with vinegar is an excellent way to remove dirt, grease, and odors while also preventing future stains by adding some natural acidity back into the wood. Follow these steps to learn how to clean your wooden furniture with vinegar.
How To Clean Wooden Furniture With Vinegar
Wash Wooden Furniture with Vinegar
The first step is to wash wooden furniture with vinegar. In fact, it’s a good idea to do this every time you want to clean your piece of furniture. Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that can remove dirt and other stains from wood without harming the wood itself. Simply fill a bowl or container with water, add some vinegar, and rub the wooden furniture until it’s completely clean. If it does stain, you can use salt and baking soda as a stain remover.
Apply Vinegar for Protection
Once your wooden furniture is clean, you can apply vinegar as a protective coating by applying it directly to the surface of the wood. This will repel moisture from water and deter spills from happening over again. You don’t have to apply any extra oil or wax on top of this vinegar for long-term protection since the acidity of the vinegar will kill bacteria and fungi, which are responsible for many common household stains all by themselves. Just spray on any spills immediately after they happen so they don’t have time to spread too far before they are washed away with water or soap and water.
Clean Wooden Furniture in Dry Clothes
When there are no spills on your wooden furniture but it still feels dirty and greasy, simply wipe off the dirt using a dry cloth instead of using soap or detergent right away because those products may leave behind residue that could cause your wooden furniture to stain over time.
Wash Wooden Furniture in Warm Water
If your wooden furniture is still stained, use warm water and vinegar to remove the stains. Fill a sink with warm water and add some vinegar, then soak the wooden furniture for about half an hour. This combination of hot water and vinegar can help remove dirt and grease from the wood, which will prevent it from staining in the future as well as prevent new stains from forming.
Clean Wooden Furniture with Salt and Baking Soda
If you have greasy stains on wooden furniture, use salt and baking soda to remove it. First, mix some salt with water and apply it to the stained area of your wooden furniture. Then sprinkle some baking soda on top of the salt to absorb any excess oil that is left behind after cleaning. This combination will remove grease stains from wood surfaces without removing the natural color or grain of the wood when applied in a timely manner.
Cleaning With Vinegar
Use a Soft-Bristled Brush
Start by cleaning the wood with a soft-bristled brush. If you have hardwood furniture, you may want to use a soft bristle brush instead of a hard one. The bristles of the soft-bristled brush are designed to clean the wood gently. A harder bristle brush can damage your furniture and may scratch the surface. You can also use an old toothbrush (brush your toothbrush before using it on your furniture) or an old putty knife for this step. Use these tools as needed to remove any dirt and wax from the surface of the wood.
Apply Vinegar
Applying vinegar is essential for removing dirt and stains from wooden surfaces, especially hardwood furniture like oak and maple, which absorb moisture easily from humidity and sweat from our hands when we touch them frequently. It’s best to apply vinegar directly over stained areas where there is noticeable discoloration or wear on the wood as well as any other areas that need more attention than others. You can also apply vinegar to other surfaces in your home if they have been exposed to water, such as floors that haven’t been cleaned in a while or outdoor furniture that has been used outdoors all season long without proper caretaking (such as when you leave them out in wet weather). For upholstered pieces, make sure you wipe them down with water first so that it doesn’t stain the fabric.
Let the Vinegar Sit for a Few Minutes
Let the vinegar sit on the surface of your wooden furniture for a few minutes before wiping it away with a dry cloth. This is an important step because it allows time for the vinegar and water to have an impact on the wood’s surface. The vinegar will also penetrate deep into the wood, loosening dirt and oil from the pores where they can be easily removed with a soft-bristled brush (or anything else that you use in this step). If you wait too long, you may apply more vinegar than necessary and end up damaging your furniture.
How To Seal Your Wood Furniture
- If you have wood furniture that has been stained with oil or wax, you may want to seal it before you begin cleaning. This will prevent the stain from reappearing later on. It is a good idea to test a small area of your piece first so you know what type of sealer you need.
- Use warm, soapy water and a soft cloth to clean the surface of your wooden furniture. Make sure to dry the wood completely after cleaning it with a cloth and then buff it with a dry cloth until it is shiny and smooth.
- To ensure that your piece doesn’t become damaged during the cleaning process, make sure that all nails are removed from the surface first before beginning to clean the piece properly.
- Apply a thin coat of oil-based furniture polish over all areas that you want to protect from future stains or damage as well as any areas where there are cracks or chips in the wood that may get stained again in the future.
- Wipe off any excess polish on non-finished surfaces using an old cotton towel, which will allow for better absorption of any leftover polish into these areas without damaging them further by rubbing too hard with too much pressure when wiping off excess polish using other materials such as paper towels or rags can cause scratches and damage in this area when removing excess polish residue left behind on it.
- Once your wooden furniture has been cleaned and sealed, buffing can be done regularly at least once every six months or so to keep your piece looking as good as new.
How To Strip Your Wooden Furniture
- The first step in cleaning your wooden furniture is to strip the piece. This process can be a little messy. You’ll need to remove the pieces of furniture from their original locations, and you’ll need a good amount of elbow grease. The process will get easier as you go along.
- After you have removed your wooden pieces from their original locations, use a soft-bristle brush to scrub them down with vinegar and water.
- After scrubbing with vinegar and water, rinse the pieces off thoroughly with clean water before you move on to the next step in cleaning your wooden furniture with vinegar.
- After rinsing off all of the dirt, oils, and grime that was left behind after removing your piece of wood from its original location, it’s time to apply a natural acidity back into your piece of wood using an appropriate type of vinegar. There are several different types of vinegar that have different levels of acidity, so find one that is right for you or try out some different ones and see which one works best for you! You can use either white or apple cider vinegar as long as it has an acidic pH level (pH below 4) that will lower the pH level enough to remove dirt particles from your furniture without damaging it over time.
- Making sure that your wooden furniture is completely dry before applying any more cleaning products is important because if there is any moisture left in the wood when applying another product, the product may react with the wood and cause damage.
- Using a soft-bristle brush, apply your chosen vinegar to your wooden furniture in circular motions.
- After applying vinegar to the wood in circular motions, use a soft cloth to wipe away any excess vinegar that is left behind on the wooden furniture.
Conclusion
While cleaning wooden furniture is a bit more involved than cleaning other materials, it’s worth the extra work. Wooden furniture is a beautiful addition to any room, and with regular cleaning, it will last for decades. The best way to clean your wooden furniture is to maintain it with frequent cleaning and proper sealing. If you do so, you’ll have beautiful furniture for years to come.
