How to Clean Finished Wood
Use a vacuum to remove surface dust from wood floors., Use a duster to remove surface dust from wood furniture or accents., Test your finish with dish soap on a cotton ball., Dilute dish soap in a bucket., Use the diluted dish soap mixture to clean...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Use a vacuum to remove surface dust from wood floors.
Remove surface dust and dirt from your finished wood floors with a dry mom or vacuum.
Work from one side of the room to the other so you don’t miss any spots.
Dirt can cause wood floors to wear unevenly and lose their shine., Use a soft feather or cloth duster to remove surface dirt from your finished wood accents.
Be sure to dust in any areas of detail, such as molding on a mantel or scrolling on your chairs. , Put a drop of dish soap on a clean cotton ball.
Rub this on an inconspicuous area of your finished wood to ensure that it does not damage the finish.
Dish soap is a mild cleaner and should cause most finishes no issues.If the soap test deteriorated your finish at all, wash your wood with just a wrung, water-dampened sponge. , Put a few drops of kitchen dish soap in a bucket of lukewarm water.
Carry your bucket and a soft sponge over to the wood you’ll be cleaning. , Use a soft sponge to wipe your finished wood with the soapy mixture, cleaning any crevices.
Wring your sponge frequently while cleaning, as pooled water can cause haze and staining.
If your wood surface is three-dimensional, work from the top of the item to the bottom so any dirty water moves downward, away from the already cleaned areas.
If you are cleaning a wood floor, start in the corner farthest away from the exit of the room and work your way to the exit.
This way you can leave the room without stepping on your clean floor when you’re done working. , Be sure to work your cloth into any areas of detailing that might retain water.
When your finished wood is dry, it is ready to use as normal. , Mineral spirits are a great way to remove stubborn grime from finished wood.
However they are highly toxic and should be handled with care.
Before cleaning, ventilate the area well and secure all pets and children elsewhere.
You will want to wear rubber gloves., Use a cotton ball soaked in mineral spirits to test the finish of your wood.
A corner of your floor or the finished underside of your wood furniture piece are good, hidden places to experiment.
Rub the cotton ball gently on an area of about 1 square inch (2.5 square cm).
If the finish holds, you are good to proceed with cleaning.If the finish deteriorates, it is likely a shellac finish, and you should not continue with a mineral spirits clean.
Only clean shellac with light soap and water per normal routine cleaning.Shellac finish is more common in very old or antique pieces of furniture made before
1920.
Consider the age of the piece before performing a mineral spirits cleaning., After a successful spot test, wet a clean cloth with mineral spirits until it is damp, but not saturated.
Rub the grimy area of the wood with the grain until the cloth no longer picks up any dirty residue.
There is no need to rinse.
The wood can simply air dry., Mineral spirits are highly flammable.To keep from storing mineral-spirits infused cloths somewhere that could be dangerous, wash your cloths as soon as you are finished cleaning.
You can wash them alone in the washing machine with normal detergent.
Hang to dry., For deep staining that simply will not come out, there is the option to sand and refinish your wood.
This will effectively polish out surface stains by removing a fine layer of wood particles.
It will require that your wood be refinished.
Consult with a professional contractor to discuss your particular piece of wood and what options are available to you. , Standing water can damage the integrity of your wood’s finish.
Be diligent about wiping up any spills or standing water right away to keep your finished wood in good condition., Removing dust from your wood a few times a week will keep your wood looking bright and new.
The less dirt on your finished wood, the fewer surface scratches you will get.
Perform routine cleaning with soap and water once a week and mineral spirits cleaning as needed.
Creating a calendar reminder can help you remember to clean your wood regularly. , Apply a wood wax liberally with a cheesecloth in the direction of the grain after cleaning once a year.
Buff with a clean cloth to finish.
Wax will make your wood more resistant to staining to preserve your wood’s finish for years to come. -
Step 2: Use a duster to remove surface dust from wood furniture or accents.
-
Step 3: Test your finish with dish soap on a cotton ball.
-
Step 4: Dilute dish soap in a bucket.
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Step 5: Use the diluted dish soap mixture to clean the finished wood.
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Step 6: Dry your wood thoroughly with a clean cloth.
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Step 7: Ventilate the area and cordon off pets and children.
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Step 8: Test an inconspicuous area of your wood finish with mineral spirits.
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Step 9: Use a clean cloth to rub your wood with mineral spirits.
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Step 10: Wash cloths with mineral spirit residue after cleaning.
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Step 11: Sand and refinish wood that does not respond to treatment.
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Step 12: Clean up spills right away.
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Step 13: Establish a regular cleaning routine.
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Step 14: Apply wax to seal and protect you finished wood.
Detailed Guide
Remove surface dust and dirt from your finished wood floors with a dry mom or vacuum.
Work from one side of the room to the other so you don’t miss any spots.
Dirt can cause wood floors to wear unevenly and lose their shine., Use a soft feather or cloth duster to remove surface dirt from your finished wood accents.
Be sure to dust in any areas of detail, such as molding on a mantel or scrolling on your chairs. , Put a drop of dish soap on a clean cotton ball.
Rub this on an inconspicuous area of your finished wood to ensure that it does not damage the finish.
Dish soap is a mild cleaner and should cause most finishes no issues.If the soap test deteriorated your finish at all, wash your wood with just a wrung, water-dampened sponge. , Put a few drops of kitchen dish soap in a bucket of lukewarm water.
Carry your bucket and a soft sponge over to the wood you’ll be cleaning. , Use a soft sponge to wipe your finished wood with the soapy mixture, cleaning any crevices.
Wring your sponge frequently while cleaning, as pooled water can cause haze and staining.
If your wood surface is three-dimensional, work from the top of the item to the bottom so any dirty water moves downward, away from the already cleaned areas.
If you are cleaning a wood floor, start in the corner farthest away from the exit of the room and work your way to the exit.
This way you can leave the room without stepping on your clean floor when you’re done working. , Be sure to work your cloth into any areas of detailing that might retain water.
When your finished wood is dry, it is ready to use as normal. , Mineral spirits are a great way to remove stubborn grime from finished wood.
However they are highly toxic and should be handled with care.
Before cleaning, ventilate the area well and secure all pets and children elsewhere.
You will want to wear rubber gloves., Use a cotton ball soaked in mineral spirits to test the finish of your wood.
A corner of your floor or the finished underside of your wood furniture piece are good, hidden places to experiment.
Rub the cotton ball gently on an area of about 1 square inch (2.5 square cm).
If the finish holds, you are good to proceed with cleaning.If the finish deteriorates, it is likely a shellac finish, and you should not continue with a mineral spirits clean.
Only clean shellac with light soap and water per normal routine cleaning.Shellac finish is more common in very old or antique pieces of furniture made before
1920.
Consider the age of the piece before performing a mineral spirits cleaning., After a successful spot test, wet a clean cloth with mineral spirits until it is damp, but not saturated.
Rub the grimy area of the wood with the grain until the cloth no longer picks up any dirty residue.
There is no need to rinse.
The wood can simply air dry., Mineral spirits are highly flammable.To keep from storing mineral-spirits infused cloths somewhere that could be dangerous, wash your cloths as soon as you are finished cleaning.
You can wash them alone in the washing machine with normal detergent.
Hang to dry., For deep staining that simply will not come out, there is the option to sand and refinish your wood.
This will effectively polish out surface stains by removing a fine layer of wood particles.
It will require that your wood be refinished.
Consult with a professional contractor to discuss your particular piece of wood and what options are available to you. , Standing water can damage the integrity of your wood’s finish.
Be diligent about wiping up any spills or standing water right away to keep your finished wood in good condition., Removing dust from your wood a few times a week will keep your wood looking bright and new.
The less dirt on your finished wood, the fewer surface scratches you will get.
Perform routine cleaning with soap and water once a week and mineral spirits cleaning as needed.
Creating a calendar reminder can help you remember to clean your wood regularly. , Apply a wood wax liberally with a cheesecloth in the direction of the grain after cleaning once a year.
Buff with a clean cloth to finish.
Wax will make your wood more resistant to staining to preserve your wood’s finish for years to come.
About the Author
Kyle Garcia
Creates helpful guides on creative arts to inspire and educate readers.
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