It’s easy to forget to clean your furniture every once in a while, but cleaning your wood furniture takes extra care and some maintenance. In order for your wood furniture to last a long time, you’ll want to clean it properly—unfortunately, it’s a bit easy to potentially damage your nice wood furniture.
“Wood is naturally porous and can easily be scratched, stained, or damaged by improper cleaning techniques,” explains Taylor Matthews, Owner of Sparkling Queens in Savannah, Georgia. “It’s important to use a wood cleaner or a multi-purpose cleaner that’s safe for wood furniture so you don’t damage the finish on your furniture.”
Below, we’ve asked Matthews about the mistakes she sees most often when folks are trying to clean and care for their wood furniture. Additionally, we asked her for her best advice on how to properly clean wood furniture.
1. Pay attention to the finish on your wood furniture before you start cleaning.
“Note whether the wood has a laminate surface, a layer of shellac, or a raw surface,” explains Matthews. “Not all finishes are created equal—raw wood tends to be drier and more susceptible to staining.”
2. Never spray cleaning solution directly on wood furniture.
“Because wood is so porous, you can accidentally leave permanent spray marks on wood furniture if you spray cleaning solution directly on the finish,” says Matthews. “Always spray wood cleaner on a microfiber cloth before wiping down furniture.”
3. Always dry dust with a microfiber cloth before cleaning wood furniture.
According to Matthews, dust can be abrasive, and wood can be very sensitive to scratches. “Don’t spread wet dust around because you might accidentally damage the finish on wood furniture.”
4. Avoid getting wood furniture too wet during cleaning.
“Wood tends to swell when it’s exposed to moisture, so exercise restraint with regard to the amount of wood cleaner or multi-purpose cleaner you use,” cautions Matthews.
5. Skip the wood polish.
“These products include silicone that’s designed to create a barrier, but they can actually attract more dust and make your wood finish gummy and sticky over time,” says Matthews. “Using these silicone-based products can ultimately result in surfaces that are harder to clean.”
6. Clean your wood furniture regularly.
Dry dust and clean your wood furniture at least once a month, according to Matthews. Don’t allow dust to build up over the years or it will be much harder to clean.
7. Don’t leave glasses or cups sitting on wood furniture.
“Leaving drinking glasses, cups, or mugs on wood furniture for long periods of time can cause watermarks, stains, and discoloration,” Matthews warns.
8. Keep your wood furniture out of direct sunlight.
