Polishing wood with olive oil, vinegar or even beeswax is very effective. Use natural solutions to keep your wooden furniture clean and beautiful

Author: Camille Dubuis-Welch Posted on February 15th 21

Whether your home is a mid-century modern style, a Scandi haven or a tribute to Cottagecore, nothing can add personality to a space more than solid wood furniture. And, to keep this perfect accent looking very beautiful and polished, just like the first time you bought it-whether it’s from Made.com or your local thrift store-it’s important to properly understand cleaning and The basic principles of polishing wood. This is why we are here. 

Of course, you may have been using the wood polisher purchased from your favorite store to go to your solid wood dining table, pine sideboard or acacia coffee table... But have you noticed any (good) results recently? Or something with more streaks and stains? This is true, but unfortunately, one wood polish is not suitable for all the different types of wood and grains you may have in your home. The end result is a large number of streaks and hazy finishes, which are not so elegant. 

As always, we are a big fan of fast and easy cleaning methods that don't cost a lot of money and are as close to nature as possible, but most importantly, it works! Fortunately, you can clean and polish wood naturally with great results.

There is no fixed timetable, but it depends on the appearance of the wood. If there is visible dust on the surface and the finish looks a little dull or uneven, then it is time to dust and polish the furniture.

Melissa Maker is the outstanding author and creator of Clean My Space, and she recommends cleaning painted furniture only once a week. To dust and clean the wood surface, use only microfiber cloth and water. Also, if your wooden furniture is not finished, please only use dry cloth, because water will deform the wood.

Then, consider polishing your furniture items with beeswax (see below for more details) for better protection.

To make your own polish, you can use vinegar and olive oil. This is a good combination that not only cleans, but also adds luster, because white vinegar is a natural astringent, and olive oil adds moisture to the wood. Some people also like to add lemon, which increases the antibacterial properties, and of course, has a refreshing fragrance. To make your own wood polish, you need white vinegar, olive oil, and lemon (if used), as well as a clean spray bottle or bowl and a few clean microfiber/cotton cloths.

Disclaimer: We always recommend that you first test the homemade product on a small area of ​​the furniture to check if it fits on wood. If you want to repair old wooden furniture, we do not recommend you to do so. If you are using exotic wood, please make sure to check with the supplier whether this method is ideal. Finally, although it may be tempting to see the results, don't overuse it because it will leave behind deposits that attract dirt, which is the opposite of what you are trying to achieve.

You can make your own beeswax polish and use it to clean your woodwork regularly, or actually finish an unpainted piece of furniture. You need ¼ cup of yellow or transparent beeswax (we would choose transparent beeswax because yellow will leave a hue-although this is also good), and ¾ olive oil or mineral oil.

If you use a wood polisher to over-clean, Maker recommends "apply a little plant-based enzyme cleaner and let it sit on the wood for a few minutes to remove the accumulated dirt, and then you can wipe it dry with a cotton cloth. But if you can’t get hold of it It doesn’t want a natural and niche approach, “Now if you can’t find it, you can use steeped black tea to do this. The tannins in the tea help break down the dull aftertaste and show a beautiful luster .So it's time to stick the kettle on it.

Maker recommends using...wait a minute, mayonnaise. "You can restore the wood by applying mayonnaise to the area, let it stay overnight and polish it in the morning." The oil content of the mayonnaise does make sense, so it's definitely worth a try.

Prevention is always the best, this is the way to keep your wooden furniture in top condition from the beginning:

Purchase Heinz All Natural Distilled White Vinegar-1 gallon bottle (2 pieces) and By The Cup rotating spoon

Essential for natural cleaning around the kitchen and other places.

Duzzit baking soda 550 grams, non-scratch multi-purpose powerful cleaner. 

Hero product in the field of natural cleaning.

Your favorite work will last for several years!

Camille is the acting editor of Realhomes.com and joined the team in January 2020. As an interior design lover, when she is not developing evergreen content and frantically researching keywords, she will definitely find new ways to beautify her rented space, usually involving indoor plants or two. She likes the challenge of making the room look stylish and warm. Her ultimate goal is to renovate the house of her dreams, of course, in a sunny place with a wild and luxurious garden.

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