Clean your furniture with a little white spirit turps to remove the vegetable oil.
Clean antique oak furniture.
Mix a little bit of murphy s oil soap into some warm water according to the package directions lightly dampen a soft cloth in the solution then gently begin to wipe away the stuck on dust and dirt.
Whether or not repairs are necessary you should always begin a restoration project by cleaning the piece of furniture.
If cleaning is necessary for example on a dining room table use a soft damp cloth or a clean chamois leather well wrung out.
Quickly dry the area with a soft clean cloth.
Do not clean good furniture with water soap or oils.
A mixture of dish soap and water is usually all you need for this procedure.
Do not soak the wood.
Mix water and dish soap in a bucket and use this solution to sponge down the entire piece of furniture.
When doing routine dusting in your home take a rag and dust off any debris built up on antique furniture.
A weak solution of vinegar diluted in water can be used to clean more thoroughly but only on polished undamaged wood.
Stay away from spots where the finish is chipped off or cracked to avoid wetting the wood and causing it to swell.
If the mild soapy solution doesn t work you can use a stronger cleaning solution.
Instead brush the sponge lightly over the.
Steep two tea bags in boiling water.
Rotate the cloth frequently to avoid spreading the dirt it absorbs.
To prevent the buildup of grime dust your furniture regularly.
Dip a soft cloth in the solution and wring it out to remove excess water.
Wipe the wooden furniture clean with the soap and water.
Wipe down the entire piece of furniture making sure you get into the nooks and crannies.
Follow with a good wax polish.
Rub the cloth lightly over the surface of the wood in a circular motion.
Let the tea cool to room temperature take a soft cloth wring it out in the tea until it s damp and wash the wood.
This is a common mistake.
Let it dry preferably over night then buff with a soft cloth.
Knowing how to clean old wood furniture that has decades old buildup of polish will help you revitalize an antique.
Wash off grime and scuff marks with a sponge and then dry the wood with a rag.
The tannic acid from the tea is wonderful for maintaining wood.
If you re using dusting sprays go for a mild spray or no spray at all on antiques.