Microfiber cloths are an excellent choice for cleaning wood furniture. They are soft, lint-free, and do not scratch the surface of the wood. Microfiber cloths are also very absorbent, so they can easily remove dust and dirt from your furniture without leaving any residue behind.
For routine cleaning to get rid of dust, smears or fingerprints, simply wipe down your wooden pieces with a dry microfiber cloth. If you find sticky spots, dampen a microfiber cloth and apply light pressure until the reside has been removed.
Both cotton and microfiber are gentle and light, even for your most fragile wood surfaces. For those with wax / oil finishes protecting their floors, Cotton is the only option.
CONSIDER CLEANING:
with a mild nonalkaline soap and water. Use the suds in a damp sponge or cloth, but be sure to pre-test the solution on an inconspicuous section to make sure it doesn't damage the finish. Ensure the cloth is not too wet to avoid excessive moisture on the wood.
Mix your stain and apply.
Finally, pour the stain into a one-quart pail, and apply the stain using a brush or a microfiber staining pad. As you stain the wood, wipe off any excess stain with a microfiber cloth to have a consistent color and fewer blotches.
Cheesecloth: White 100% cotton cheesecloth is great for staining. Since it is a thinner material, it is easier to fill the wood grain and covers your surface better. To use, simply bunch up and start wiping away stains on your surface.
Microfiber cloths not only remove dust and particles from sanded surfaces very effectively but, unlike tack cloths, they can be washed and reused over and over again, making them economical and environmentally friendly. There is no perceivable difference from traditional tack cloths in how microfiber cloths are used.
Surfaces to avoid with Dawn® Powerwash:
Wood, including unsealed, varnished, stained, or painted wood surfaces & furniture. Safe on wood cutting boards if rinsed. Glass with UV coatings or other specialty treatments.
Do NOT clean your floors with Murphy's Oil Soap, Mop and Glo, Orange Glo, Swiffer Wet Mop, furniture polish such as Pledge, vinegar, ammonia, or any pine cleaners! All of these cleaners, over time, will dull and damage the finish.
Avoid using hot water, as it can damage the microfiber material. Add a small amount of mild detergent to the water. Make sure it's a detergent that does not contain bleach or fabric softeners, as these can harm the microfiber.
The material is available in several colors and designs, ensuring the fabric is versatile and suited to a range of home interiors and aesthetics. A downside of microfiber is that it's prone to staining, with the likes of pet hair and lint sticking to the surface over time.
Cotton cloth is absorbent and ideal for applying oils and stains where as microfibre cloth has 100's of fibres per square centimetre making it perfect for use with a cleaning product.
Microfiber cloths are great for using with wood flooring. If you aren't dunking it in a mop bucket, it's hard to get too wet to use on wood floors.
Be sure to avoid harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive cloths as these can damage the finish on your wooden dining table.
Household disinfecting wipes, such as Clorox or Lysol, are safe to use on most finished wood surfaces. You should always do a quick spot test and read the label before wiping down your chairs or tables. However, commonly treated or painted wood is likely safe.
For you there's no substitute. Murphy® Original oil soap is the one Mom and Grandma used to clean wood to a natural shine. Pull out the bucket and get nostalgic while cleaning wooden floors and furniture, cabinets, tile and linoleum.
Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle. Mist on cabinets, let sit for a minute or two and then wipe clean with a soft cloth. Add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the vinegar and water solution to clean extremely grimy cabinets.
Safe Cleaning
It's important to dilute these substances properly. Too much vinegar can potentially dull the wood finish over time due to its acidity, while too much Dawn can leave a slippery residue. The ideal mixture typically involves a mild solution of diluted vinegar with just a few drops of Dawn.
White vinegar and water
The acidity in vinegar helps to dissolve dirt and grime and when mixed with water, it can be used to clean wooden furniture. As for how to make it, mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and lightly mist the surface of the table. Wipe it down with a clean and soft cloth.
If the Mop is Suitable for Hardwood Floors
Our best overall pick, the Bona Microfiber Floor Mop, and best spray mop pick, the Swiffer PowerMop, are great mop options with a microfiber pad (or two).
Hot water cannot bond with any insoluble dirt, making it a better medium to clean than cold water. Therefore, hot water is more effective for cleaning purposes than cold water as it has higher kinetic energy, extra space between its molecules, and is more compatible with detergents.
As a cleaning material, cotton is lauded for being gentle on surfaces. In addition, cotton cloths require minimal financial outlay and so are seen as a cost effective material. CleanLink also points out that natural cotton is familiar and therefore widely trusted by cleaners.
Microfiber cloths tenaciously suck up dust without leaving any residue. They can be used and reused virtually indefinitely, are relatively inexpensive, won't scratch your delicate work (see caution below), absorb oil like a sponge, and impart no lint or dust.
What's to blame for paint scratches? Just to clear one thing up, high-quality microfiber towels will never scratch clear coat. That's because those towels are super soft, far softer than the paint finish, but, even if you use the world's gentlest types of microfiber incorrectly, you may scratch the paint.