Freshening up your wooden furniture and learning how to clean a wood table to make it looking new is a skill that you need to learn if you own wooden furniture at home. While you may think that this is difficult, you might be surprised that the process is easier than you think. You do not need to be a professional to accomplish this task. All you need to have is the right tools and materials, and the willingness to make your wood table look new.
There is a good reason why a wooden table is a famous option among households. Because of their durability and staying power, they offer a timeless appeal. Cleaning your wood table the right way will also help in making sure that your furniture will last. In this article, we will help you with a tested way of cleaning a wood table to make it look new.
What You Need
- Microfiber cloths
- Semi-solid furniture finish
- Clear dish soap
- Mineral spirits
- Cheesecloth
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Wipe Down Your Table Clean
You can start the process by making sure that the wood table that you will be working on is clean. This can be done by using a barely damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the wood table. This process will help in removing grime and dust. These substances need to be removed first so that the finish will be applied properly on the wood, and so that the surface is cleaned before starting.
Also, it is not good to have water sitting on the wood. What you can do is to wipe water down quickly using a different microfiber cloth, one that is dry. Aside from this heavy wiping, regular dusting may also be down, which involves doing a fast wipe-down on the table using a microfiber cloth.
Step 2- Remove Sticky Reside
At times, your wood table may have some areas with sticky residue. This may be caused by different types of substances that have taken their spot on the surface of the wood. It is also important to get rid of them. This can be done by adding a drop of clear dish soap to one of your microfiber cloths, testing a small, hidden section of the wood table. This will make sure that the finish does not get removed.
If you do not notice any reaction at all, you may then combine a few drops of the dish soap, with a cup of water. You can start by working gently on the table’s gummy section. It is not recommended to soak the wood piece in water, because this will damage the wood. Once the spot is already cleaned, you can then wipe the area to dry it using a different microfiber cloth.
Step 3- If Needed, Try Mineral Spirits
In situations wherein the residue left on wood is difficult to remove, one thing that you can use is mineral spirits. For this, you can begin by testing a small area beforehand. This will ensure that the finish will not be removed. While doing this in a well-ventilated area, apply a few mineral spirits to a dry, clean cloth, rubbing it down on the area where the residue is. If this trick still does not work, you may want to take into consideration refinishing the wooden piece.
Step 4 – Apply Wax
Before starting this step, it is important to take into consideration your wood furniture. If it is okay, you may have to apply some wax to it. This will help protect it while keeping its shine. With the use of cheesecloth, put semi-solid wax on the wood furniture. Make sure that the wax does not have silicone because this is not good on wood.
Allow the paste to set on the surface of the wood for about a few minutes before you start to buff it using a clean and dry microfiber cloth. It is best to avoid using polish sprays, as this will only tend to leave residues on the wood.
Conclusion
Learning how to clean a wood table is a skill that will help you save a lot of money. When your wood table ends up lasting longer, there is no need for you to keep on replacing your table. If you have not yet tried this process before, you may want to begin with using the least dangerous cleaning method. You may even want to do a spot test on a solution before actually applying it to the entire wood table.
If you are not sure what to do, you can always call a local company that does furniture repair and see if a consultation is available. Why not share with us your experiences in cleaning wood tables to make them look new? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. Share this article if you find it helpful as well!
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