March 14, 2022, 2:02 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Wooden furniture not only looks stylish but also makes a home feel cozier. However, wood is also delicate, and scratches and stains can be difficult to remove. A few home remedies can help.
Furniture sometimes has to endure a lot. Whether it’s dripping candle wax, spilled glasses, or other items–all these things leave marks, especially on wooden furniture. It’s easy to end up with an unsightly scratch or water stains. But there are tricks to care for wooden furniture–and all you need are a few simple home remedies.
1. Make Your Own Furniture Polish
To keep wooden furniture looking good and well-maintained for a long time, it helps to use furniture polish. You can easily make it yourself by mixing one part oil with two parts light vinegar or stirring half a teaspoon of salt into the oil. Apply the homemade polish to the furniture with a microfiber cloth and rub it in gently. Instead of olive oil, it’s better to use canola or linseed oil, as they don’t go rancid as quickly.
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2. Remove Water Stains and Rings
You can also get rid of water stains on wood with simple home remedies. Mix butter and flour together, rub the mixture onto the affected area with a cloth, and polish with a dry cloth. Toothpaste works just as well on water stains. Spread a little paste on the stain with a cotton cloth and then polish the area.
Water rings, on the other hand, can be removed with mayonnaise. Work the thick liquid into the wood with a soft cloth, then wipe away any excess fat.
3. Make Scratches and Blemishes Disappear
Hazelnuts or walnuts are particularly useful for wood care because they can make small scratches invisible. Simply cut the nut fresh and rub it over the scratch until it gradually disappears. It’s important that the color of the nut matches the wood color.
4. Clean Heavily Soiled Wood
If the wooden coffee table is now much darker than it originally was, it urgently needs cleaning. You can use soda for this. Add four to five tablespoons of soda to five liters of warm water. Use this solution and a soft brush to scrub the table.
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5. Make Parquet Shine
Does the sealed parquet or wooden floor look dull and matte? Vinegar can make the wood shine again. Add a splash of vinegar to the mop water. For dark parquet, black tea is more suitable. Let it steep for 15 to 20 minutes beforehand and then mix it into the water. Afterward, the floor can be mopped and will shine anew.
6. Remove Candle Wax
Candle wax is stubborn on wooden furniture. To avoid risking scratches when scraping it off, use an iron instead. Place blotting paper over the stain and set the iron on the lowest setting on top. The wax melts and is absorbed by the blotting paper.