Cleaning Unfinished Wood Furniture Regular cleaning is essential to keep your unfinished wood furniture looking its best. Start by dusting the furniture with a microfiber cloth to remove surface debris and prevent scratches. For deeper cleaning, use a mild wood cleaner or a mixture of warm water and gentle dish soap.
Untreated wood is porous and absorbent, making it unideal for most store-bought cleaners. Therefore, you must use a natural cleaner to sanitise the surface and avoid damage. White vinegar is an excellent sanitiser and degreaser that can remove dirt, dust and grime from unfinished wood within minutes.
Unsealed Wood: Unsealed or unfinished wood surfaces can absorb vinegar, causing the wood to swell and potentially crack. For cleaning unsealed wood, use a mixture of water and mild dish soap. Wring out the cloth or mop well to avoid excessive moisture on the wood.
Murphy Oil Soap should not be used on unfinished, unsealed, or waxed wood surfaces because they may be water sensitive.
I prefer to clean all my outside wood with a solution of oxygen bleach and water. This chemical is safe for all vegetation around the wood, it doesn't take out the natural color of the wood and it removes old sun-damaged wood sealers with ease.
Most experts agree that you should first try to clean your wood furniture with a mixture of dish soap and water. If this doesn't work, you can try slightly stronger cleaners, but this is usually sufficient.
One of the most effective ways to remove dirt and stains from unvarnished natural wood is to [dilute] a small amount of natural dish soap into some lukewarm water. Then, carefully use a damp cloth to apply this to the wood.
For Water Based Finishes
Cleaners such as Pledge and Murphy's Oil Soap are not recommended because they leave a dull residue on the finish. Water based surfaces may be cleaned with a damp cloth or General Finishes Orange Oil.
You can use natural oils, floor wax, or vinegar to clean your unfinished wood floors. You can also use a whole set of cleaning and polishing products, such as mineral spirits, tri-sodium phosphate, oil soaps, chemical cleaners, etc.
Pressure washing wood speeds up the necessary process of cleaning it from all the elements it's exposed to and is great for prepping the wood ahead of staining.
Wipe wood furniture with a barely damp microfiber cloth to remove dust and grime. (Use a cotton cloth to avoid damaging the wood). Quickly wipe it dry with another microfiber cloth. Don't let water sit on wood since it can warp the surface.
However, commonly treated or painted wood is likely safe. If your wood furniture is unfinished or untreated, the porous surface will not react well to the disinfecting wipes.
Unsealed wood is particularly vulnerable to vinegar damage. Without any protective coating, unsealed wood can absorb the vinegar, leading to swelling and, over time, cracking. This absorption disrupts the natural structure of the wood, weakening it and potentially leading to long-term damage.
On almost all wood surfaces, distilled white vinegar is a very efficient method to kill mold effectively. It will go through the wood and kill the fungus at its source. Painted or stained wood can be cleaned with a cleaning solution of warm water and dishwashing detergent or laundry detergent.
The best way to avoid cloudy and/or damaged areas on your wooden cabinetry and furniture is to avoid using Pledge and like products altogether.
Cleaning Unfinished Wood Furniture
Regular cleaning is essential to keep your unfinished wood furniture looking its best. Start by dusting the furniture with a microfiber cloth to remove surface debris and prevent scratches. For deeper cleaning, use a mild wood cleaner or a mixture of warm water and gentle dish soap.
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.
The best option is to use a varnish or lacquer to give the wood a high gloss finish. While varnish can be sprayed or brushed on, lacquer is best applied by simple spraying. Spraying makes the surface seem finer than painting as it doesn't leave any strokes behind.
Try mixing a weak solution of water and dishwashing soap. Dip a soft cloth in the solution, wring it out and wipe the entire piece. You want a damp cloth, not a wet one. Don't saturate the wood, and rinse your cloth often.
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner removes grease and grime from wood surfaces, while the biodegradable* formula makes it safer for use at home. The powerful degreaser also wipes away fingerprints and removes dirt, grease, grime and built up residue, leaving behind a streak-free surface that won't harm the wood's finish.
We do not recommend mixing any Pine-Sol® product with other cleaning products or chemicals. Mixing cleaners can result in the release of hazardous gases.