Tips for refreshing the finish of furniture and wooden floors

It's a time when cleaning is approached a little differently. Cleaning the house is a permanent chore, but twice a year it almost becomes an event. In the run-up to Easter and Christmas general cleaning becomes a must. And it's also at this time of year when it's more noticeable than ever that furniture and wooden floors don't have the same sheen as they used to. What can be done to freshen up the finish so that the furniture regains its original beauty? Here's a simple method that anyone can do.

There are many recommended materials for furniture maintenance in the shops and most of them have wax in their composition. This is not bad, the furniture looks quite good at first after such treatment. Over time, however, the deposited wax collects dust and a layer of dirt builds up, which cannot be easily removed. The next application will not have the power to remove the deposited layer, but will only deposit a new, thin layer of wax on top of the existing one.

So what can be done? Nothing could be simpler. Simply wash furniture or floors with detergent or soap and water. You don't need to be afraid of water when it comes to wooden furniture. There are indeed situations when the finish is attacked by water. For example, white spots may appear on tables finished with nitrocellulose varnish from a wet glass or a hot cup, but only if they sit for a longer period. But if you wipe the surface with a cloth soaked in detergent and water to remove all the dirt that has built up over time and wipe the surface again with a dry cloth, nothing will happen apart from the fact that you will have clean furniture.

You can clean any kind of furniture in this way, provided you do not use very aggressive detergents or other cleaning products. And especially, do not use abrasives in order to remove the layer of dirt more easily. You will also scratch the lake. The easiest is to use a soap solution. Gather up the leftover soap, put it in a 300 ml jar with 100 ml of water and after a while you will get a soap gel that you can dilute with water and use as a detergent. It cleans very well and is much healthier compared to other detergents. For a pleasant smell you can add a few drops of lavender oil or a teaspoon of lemon juice.

Once you have washed and wiped the furniture thoroughly, allow the surface to dry thoroughly and apply a thin coat of wax transparent for wood. You can buy floor maintenance wax or any other clear wax you can find in DIY stores. It doesn't have to be anything fancy and it doesn't have to be a large quantity. A small can of wax can last you for months. Put a small amount on a clean cloth and wipe the surface of your furniture.

If it is too stiff, warm it a little to make it softer (not liquid). It will be much easier to spread. To better control the amount applied (if it's softer) put the wax inside a piece of cloth and squeeze it tightly (as in application of shellac), forcing the wax out through the cloth.

After waxing all surfaces, take a soft, clean cotton cloth or a piece of felt and polish. The furniture will have a silky sheen just like when you bought it. If you don't want it to shine, don't polish, just wipe off excess wax.

To protect your furniture and restore its original beauty, after cleaning it with water and detergent you can use a do-it-yourself solution instead of wax. Mix 3/4 cup olive oil with 1/4 cup white wine vinegar and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Put everything in a jar with a lid and shake well. Apply the solution to the furniture with a cotton cloth, buffing gently. The solution has the advantage of fading white marks or scratches.

What I would like you to remember is that water doesn't harm the furniture as long as it doesn't stay on it for a long time. If you just wash the surface with a cloth and wipe it well with a dry cloth, the lacquer will certainly not whiten. To get the original sheen, however, you need to apply a thin coat of wax. Otherwise the surface will remain clean but lifeless, dull.