Cleaning Wood Furniture

Tip: Ink Stain Removal from Wood Furniture
To remove an ink stain from wood furniture, make a thin paste with rottenstone and boiled linseed oil. Apply it to the stain with your finger and rub with the grain of wood. Wax or polish.

Tip: Shining Wood Furniture
To add shine to wooden furniture, rub it with vinegar before polishing.

Tip: Fingerprint Removal from Wood Furniture
To remove fingerprints from wood furniture, I would recommend first polishing the furniture with either your favorite wood polish or 1 cup mineral oil and 3 drops lemon extract. Then, sprinkle cornstarch on the just-polished furniture and buff with a soft cloth. The cornstarch will make the fingerprints disappear as well as absorb excess polish.

Tip: Odor Removal from Drawer or Cabinet
To remove odors from a drawer or cabinet, you can either fill the drawer with ground coffee and leave it overnight, use baking soda and leaving it in for several days, use cat litter and leave it in for several days or place the drawer outside in a shady spot on a breezy day. If the odor persists, you can carefully place a bowl of bleach in the empty drawer or cabinet, close the drawer or cabinet and let it sit for a few days, then carefully remove the bowl of bleach.

Tip: Tree Sap Removal from Wood Furniture
To get tree sap off of indoor wood furniture, try using a commercial product such as Goo Gone, Goof Off or WD-40. For a homemade solution, you can try using vegetable oil or mayonnaise. Rub the cleaning product gently into the stain to loosen it, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe off (or follow the manufacturer´s directions). If this doesn´t work, you can try using mineral spirits. Remember to always test a cleaning product in an inconspicuous are first.

Tip: Alcohol Stain Removal from Wood Furniture
Alcohol has a tendency to dissolve most finishes, so blot the spot immediately, then put a few drops of ammonia on a damp cloth and wipe the area. If the spot still remains, make a thin paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone, and rub it into the stain with your finger. Wax or polish.

Tip: Homemade Wood Furniture Cleaner
In a pump spray bottle, place 1 teaspoon of light olive oil and half a cup of white vinegar. Shake well.
This is as effective as any store bought product, yet is far more economical.

Tip: Hiding Scratches in Wood Furniture
To conceal scratches in your wooden furniture, try using your child´s crayons. Select the right color and melt a small amount. Work the melted wax into the scratch or nick until concealed. Or break the meat of a brazil nut, black walnut, or pecan in half and rub it into the scratch.

Tip: Odor Removal from Wood Furniture
Some ways to remove odors from wood furniture are: filling the drawers with ground coffee and leaving it over night, using baking soda and leaving it in for several days, using cat litter and leaving it in for several days or placing the item outside in a shady spot on a breezy day.

Recipe for a homemade wood furniture cleaner: In a pump spray bottle, place 1 teaspoon of light olive oil and half a cup of white vinegar. Shake well. This is as effective as any store bought product, yet is far more economical.

Tip: Crayon Mark Removal from Wood Furniture
There are a few things to try when attempting to remove crayon marks from woos furniture. First, try cleaning with Murphy´s Oil Soap. This should remove the crayon without harming the finish. If not, try mineral spirits, which should also be safe on the finish. WD-40 or Avon Skin-So-Soft should also work, but test on a non-visible area first. Non-gel toothpaste should also be a safe alternative. If all else fails, try applying a little heat from a hair dryer to soften the crayon, then blot with paper towels.

Tip: Milk Stain Removal from Wood Furniture
Wipe up spilled milk or food containing milk or cream with a damp cloth immediately. If spots remain, clean the area with creamy white appliance polish.

Tip: Red Wine Stain Removal from Wood Furniture
To remove the wine stain, rub the area with paste wax, silver polish or a cloth barely dampened with ammonia. If the spot still remains, make a thin paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone, and rub it into the stain with your finger. Wax or polish.

Tip: Polish Build Up Removal from Wood Furniture
To remove polish build-up, mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup water. Rub furniture with a soft cloth that has been moistened with the solution. Dry immediately with a clean cloth.

Tip: Cigarette Burn Removal from Wood Furniture
For a cigarette burn that hasn´t penetrated the wood finish, make a thin paste of pumice and boiled linseed oil and apply it to the burned area. Wax or polish, working with the grain of the wood.

Tip: Sticker Removal from Wood Furniture
To remove the stickers from wood furniture, use rubbing alcohol. This should not harm the finish, but to be sure, test it on a non-visible area of your furniture first. Vegetable oil is also all very effective, but test first to make sure it doesn´t harm the finish. Some stickers may also be removed by heating with a hair dryer and then peeling them off.

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