Wood Furnishings Care

Are you confused about dusting vs. cleaning, or waxing vs. polishing wood furniture?

While experts have varying opinions on the care of wood furniture, it usually depends on the finish of the piece. On the following pages are many helpful tips from the book, Making a Home.

Tip #1: Always ask for specific care and cleaning guidelines when purchasing new or old furnishings.

See below for more on dusting and cleaning wood furnishings.

Don't avoid dusting furniture. Frequent dusting removes airborne deposits that build up in a filmy layer and can scratch the surface.

Clean, dry, soft cloths or feather dusters will effectively remove dust; however, to avoid scattering the dust into the air, where it floats until landing back on furniture surfaces, dampen the cloth very slightly.

• Classic feather duster: An ostrich-feather duster removes dust from easily damaged, delicate surfaces, such as silk lampshades, mirrors, picture frames and art, and fragile collectibles.
• Treated cloths: For dusting, soft, nonscratching cloths pick up and hold dirt. Use them in place of silicon sprays, which are not recommended for fine wood furniture.
• Lamb's-wool duster: These contain lanolin, which attracts dust and makes it cling to the cleaning tool. They're also effective for dusting carved or turned areas that cloths can't reach. A long handle makes them ideal for hard-to-reach areas, including light fixtures and ceiling fans.
• Soft, lint-free cloths: Clean cotton T-shirts or diapers are commonly used. Dampen them slightly to help trap dust.
• Terry towels: Use a clean dry towel to remove any moisture left from dusting with a damp cloth.

Never use all-purpose cleaning sprays unless your furniture has a plastic coating, such as the kind used on kitchen tables and children's furniture.

You'll usually want to avoid cleaning wood with water. However, sticky spots may need to be treated with soap and water. Here's how: dip the cloth in mild soap or detergent dissolved in water, wring the cloth nearly dry, and wipe the area. Rinse and immediately dry with a clean, soft cloth.