How to clean grime off wood furniture

Want to learn how to clean grime off wood furniture? Our step by step guide will show you how to get your wood gleaming.

How to clean grime off wooden furniture

This quick and effective method will teach you how to clean wood and lift off years of embedded grime and buildup from your favorite pieces – whether you’re looking to clean pine furniture or salvage your favorite oak armchair.

While there are several methods for removing sticky residue from wood, using mineral spirits is one of the best ways to banish any buildup and remove grime from wood.

However, as a precautionary measure it’s advised that you test this treatment on an inconspicuous area of the furniture first. If discoloration occurs, then refinishing your piece may be the best option and you should seek professional advice. Otherwise, you’re good to go.

You will need:

Microfibre cloth

Clean cloth for drying

Cheesecloth (optional)

Bottle of mineral spirits

Wax polish (optional)

Method

Dust your furniture

Dampen a clean, dry cloth (non-scratching and preferably microfibre) with some water and gently wipe the surface. The moisture will collect the dust, but be careful not to saturate the wood.

Use mineral spirits

Apply a liberal amount of mineral spirits to another clean, dry cloth. Be careful not to use too much by soaking the wood.

Wipe the surface

Wipe the cloth over the wood surface in the direction of the grain, paying extra attention to the particularly grimy areas. The dirt should start to lift up straight away.

Clean off residue

Wipe away any residue from the mineral spirit with the clean, slightly damp cloth you used in step 1. You may need to give this a few goes depending on the size of the furniture.

Wipe away moisture

Dry away any moisture straight away with a clean, dry cloth. It’s important you don’t leave any damp on the surface.

Polish and buff

This step isn’t essential, but more of a protective measure. Apply some wax polish with a cheesecloth, rubbing in the direction of the grain. Give it a good buff.