How to Clean Wood Furniture with Vinegar

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Take off any removable, non-wood pieces from your furniture, such as non-structural hardware and cushions. Vacuum your furniture or dust it with a cloth on the surface and in any crevices. You can use white vinegar diluted in water for cleaning, or white vinegar mixed with olive oil for a clean and polish. Make sure your rag is soft and damp (not dripping), and buff the furniture dry with a clean cloth afterwards.

Steps

Removing Dust

Remove hardware and cushions. Pull the furniture away from the wall, if applicable. Set aside any cushions, pillows, and other such objects from the surface of the furniture. Take off any hardware you’ll be able to put back on, such as screws or decorative knobs. Don’t take off any hardware that’s holding the furniture together.

Vacuum or dust the furniture. Start off with dusting the furniture. You need the surface to be clean of dust or any debris. Use a non-spinning brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to gently clean the cracks and surface of the furniture. Alternately, dampen a clean cloth just a bit and wipe the wood down instead. You’ll need a stationary brush attachment because a spinning attachment can leave scratches.

Clean cushions, if applicable. Check the tags on your furniture or cushions to determine what type of fabric they are so you’ll know how best to clean them. You’ll want to clean cushions or pillows before putting them back on your clean wood furniture. For instance, if the tag says “W,” that means to clean it with water. “S” and “S/W” should be professionally dry-cleaned. “X” means vacuuming only.

Cleaning with Vinegar

Dilute white vinegar with water. Mix three tablespoons (45 mL) of vinegar for every cup (240 mL) of filtered water. You can also add a small amount of mild scented dish soap to the mixture to cover over any vinegar scent.

Find an inconspicuous area to test. For instance, you may want to test the solution underneath the furniture in a spot that isn’t easily seen. Dampen a cloth with your solution, so that the cloth is moist, not dripping. Apply a small amount of the solution to the test area, then buff it dry with a clean cloth. If you don’t notice any negative effect to the test area, you can proceed with cleaning the whole piece. In addition to or instead of the test area, consult with the manufacturer of your furniture via their website to find the proper care instructions for your furniture.

Wet a cloth with the solution. Use a soft, clean rag or a piece of cheese cloth. You can spray the solution onto the rag or dip the cloth in the bucket of solution. Make sure to completely wring out the cloth so that it’s not overly saturated. Too much liquid can penetrate the wood and cause damage. Don’t spray the furniture directly.

Rub the furniture with the moistened cloth. Make circular motions. Rub with the grain to remove water marks. Rinse the cloth or switch to a clean one when you see it becoming visibly dirty.

Buff out excess moisture. Use a clean cloth to buff the wood in circular motions. If you notice any spots that didn’t get clean, use the cleaning solution on them and go back to buffing. Make sure to buff away moisture as the last step.

Polishing with Vinegar and Oil

Dilute white vinegar with olive oil. Mix one part olive oil to one part vinegar. Add a small squirt of lemon oil or fresh lemon juice, if desired. You won’t need a lot of solution; you can pour the mixture in a jar, put a lid on the jar and shake to mix. Instead of olive oil, you can try 1/4 cup (60 mL) fresh lemon juice, 1/8 cup (30 mL) distilled vinegar, and 1/8 cup (30 mL) flax oil to restore your wood furniture. Olive oil and vinegar polishes, restores moisture to dry wood, and can remove light scratches and rings from water condensation. Besides having an attractive fragrance, lemon is acidic, so it works as a cleaning agent.

Find an inconspicuous area to test. For instance, you may want to test the solution in a small area underneath the furniture. Dip your cloth to get just a bit of solution on it. Rub the cloth on the test area, then buff it dry with a clean cloth. If you don’t notice any negative effect to the test area, you can proceed with cleaning the whole piece. In addition to or instead of the test area, consult with the manufacturer of your furniture via their website to find the proper care instructions for your furniture.

Apply the solution to a cloth. Use a soft, clean rag or a piece of cheese cloth. Dip the rag to get a small amount of the mixture on it. Too much liquid can penetrate the wood and cause damage. Don’t pour solution directly onto the furniture.

Rub the furniture with the moistened cloth. Make sure to distribute the polish evenly. Rub with the grain to remove water marks and scratches. Switch to a clean area of the cloth, or a new cloth, when you see it becoming visibly dirty.

Polish the wood one to two times per year. Annual or biannual polishing will give your wood furniture moisture and shine, and help prevent it from looking dry and worn.