| Designers, turn green! In this writer's opinion, few things | | | | have to polish wood furniture that has been getting a |
| are as sensual as the organic curves seen in natural | | | | bit dry and neglected (you've just inherited it from your |
| woodgrain, and when I build my dream home, it's going | | | | grandmother, maybe) then you can dab your cleaning |
| to be filled with lots and lots of natural wood furniture. | | | | cloth/duster with a tiny bit of linseed oil - just enough to |
| I'm starting my collection now. | | | | moisten the rag - before going over it. |
| And before that dream home arrives, I'm going to | | | | If somebody has neglected the wood furniture or got it |
| have to clean my wood furniture. So how can I do this | | | | grimy somehow, you can make your own wood |
| so when that dream comes true, the furniture will be in | | | | cleaner by mixing about ½ a cup of lemon juice or |
| good condition? | | | | vinegar with about a teaspoon of soap gel and a few |
| First of all, everyday care of wood. Basically, this | | | | drops of essential oil. Shake together in a bottle, then |
| involves being very careful as to what gets put down | | | | spray directly onto the wood. Give it one good buff-up |
| on the tops of things like dressers and chests of | | | | with a clean damp cloth, then rinse off the gunge and |
| drawers. Hot cups (and saucepans, etc), obviously, | | | | residue with another. |
| should not be put down on top of polished wooden | | | | When the time comes to polish wood, you can make |
| things, as they will burn the polish. Coasters are an | | | | your own natural wood polish by just using plain linseed |
| obvious choice for protecting wood finish from hot | | | | oil, like a cricketer oiling his/her bat. Add some essential |
| cups, but nearly anything will do. The morning cup of | | | | oil if you like. But the real old-fashioned wood polish is |
| coffee, for instance, often ends up resting on the | | | | made as described below. It's sort of natural, but not |
| book(s) beside my bed. You also need to take care | | | | quite, thanks to the turpentine, unless you can get hold |
| that you do not scratch the finish on the wood by | | | | of vegetable turps rather than the mineral sort. You |
| scraping or bumping it with heavy items. | | | | can also use an organic substitute made from citrus |
| Solid wood furniture is more forgiving than veneer - if | | | | peel - hunt around to find this. |
| the worst comes to the worst, you can sand chips, | | | | Wood polish: |
| dings, scratches and nicks in solid wood out, but you | | | | 100 g grated beeswax (save candle-ends if you're |
| can never do this with veneers. Another nasty that | | | | feeling thrifty) |
| should not go on wood is anything that will damage the | | | | 2 ½ cups turpentine |
| polish on it. Acetone - commonly found in nail polish | | | | 2 cups water |
| remover - is the most likely culprit. Avoid this by (a) | | | | ½ cup lemon juice or vinegar (if you plan on polishing |
| putting on and removing your nail polish somewhere | | | | dark wood, you can use malt vinegar instead of the |
| other than over a wooden dresser or table, such as | | | | usual white vinegar used as a natural cleaning |
| the bathroom, (b) switching to a non-acetone nail polish | | | | products) |
| remover (although these still might hurt the finish of | | | | 60 g grated soap |
| your wood furniture - they will be kinder to your skin | | | | 15-20 drops essential oil - cedar, lemon and lavender |
| and to your home environment, however), (c) not using | | | | are popular choices for wood polish |
| nail polish at all but going for the natural look with the | | | | Melt the beeswax in a double boiler or in a microwave |
| help of a buffer. | | | | on Low power. While the beeswax is melting, melt the |
| When it comes to regular everyday cleaning for wood | | | | soap in the vinegar and water. When the wax is runny, |
| - say the weekly going-over in the bedroom - it isn't | | | | remove from the heat and very carefully add the |
| necessary to polish wood every time. Often, just | | | | turpentine. If you're not using natural vegetable turps, |
| dusting with a damp rag (not wet) will be enough to | | | | then make sure you don't breathe the fumes in. Then |
| keep the wood looking at its best. | | | | carefully add the vinegar/water/soap mix. Stir like |
| Realistically, you only really need to polish wood | | | | crazy, then add in the essential oils. Store in an airtight |
| furniture once or twice a year - as part of a spring | | | | screw-top jar. Let it cool before putting the lid on. |
| domestic cleaning session, maybe. However, if you | | | | |