WOOD FURNITURE TRICKs and TIPS – VIDEO

WOOD FURNITURE TRICKs and TIPS – Aired: (April 9, 2018 – 8:40am) 3TV/Phoenix Good Morning Arizona)

What’s Up With Furniture Polish
Using the wrong furniture polish on furniture can actually cause damage and here’s a misconception; furniture polish doesn’t clean anything! It will, however, dull the finish and leave a build-up on your furniture over time. So you might want to leave store-bought furniture polish out of your cleaning kit.

How To Remove the Build-up of Furniture Polish on Your Wood
If you find your wood is dull from a build up of furniture polish, you’ll see a haze or streaks you can’t get rid of. If you want a quick and inexpensive way to remove the film simply steep two bags of black tea for 10 minutes in boiling water ( Don’t use flavored, herbal or sweet tea). Let the tea cool, and then immerse a clean cotton cloth into the tea. Wet your cloth well and then begin to wipe. The tannins in the tea will break down that dull, waxy finish to reveal the wood’s natural beauty. Repeat as needed, not letting the wood surface stay wet too long. Buff with a microfiber cloth.

You can also sprinkle a little cornstarch on the wood and buff it in well to remove a light amount of excess polish.

DIY Furniture Polish
This is a wonderful, natural polish that you can use on all wood except wood that isn’t sealed.

In a labeled spray bottle combine 1 cup of olive oil with ¼ cup of white vinegar. The oil moisturizes the wood and the vinegar cleans it. Shake the bottle well and spray the polish onto a soft cloth. An old wash cloth works well. Apply in a buffing motion to the wood furniture. Remember, you don’t need to use this all the time, just when the wood looks lackluster. Using it too often will create a build-up that can attract dirt and dust. I suggest no more than once a month.

Removing Water Stains and Rings.
Combine olive oil and salt into a paste that will cover the ring. Apply it to the white ring and massage it in well, working in a circular direction. Let the olive oil/salt paste sit for 4 hours or even overnight and then wipe it off. If the ring is gone, polish the area and you’re done.

If you can still see a little white, simply reapply the paste and let it sit again. Wipe and buff.

For a deep ring try working in a little non-gel toothpaste and buff it firmly with a soft cloth. Use a damp cloth to remove the paste and then use the olive oil and salt mixture.

Removing Ink Marks
Combine 1 Tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water so that it is a thin paste. Apply to the stain and rub it gently in with a soft cloth until the stain disappears.

Best Dusting Tools
A micro fiber cloth
A Lambswool duster
Cotton Fabrics, like tee shirts

Scratch Touch-Ups
Use an appropriate colored scratch cover stick.

Old English makes a wonderful scratch cover that you can go over the entire piece with. It comes in dark and light colors. Look at home centers, hardware stores or online for it.

Use a walnut to cover scratches. Break it in two and use the exposed center to rub the scratch firmly.

A crayon will work too especially on deeper scratches. Warm the area you are working on with a blow dryer and then rub the scratch with a similar colored crayon or mix several crayons together. Heat it again and rub with a throw-away cloth.

View the actual TV broadcast here: