These 5 Common Cleaning Mistakes Will Destroy Your Rustic Wood Furniture, Here’s How to Avoid Them

Maintain the Look of Your Rustic Wood Furniture When Cleaning

The beauty of rustic wood furniture is in its natural grains and color variances. As many people would agree, wood has textures and tones that look their best when they are left in their natural state. But, just like everything else in your home, you will need to clean your wood furniture from time to time. Unfortunately, how you’re cleaning it could be doing more damage than good.

As durable as rustic wood is, it can be easily damaged if you use the wrong products or the wrong techniques. Here are five common cleaning mistakes that will destroy your rustic wood furniture, and how to avoid them.

1. Using Furniture Polish
   Furniture polish manufacturers market their products to consumers for their wood-protective qualities. But, a lot of commercial furniture polish on the market is laden with oil and silicone, and this oil can wind up making your furniture more susceptible to fingerprints and smears. This results in you having to wipe the furniture down again and again; over time, the oil and rubbing can start to impact the surface of the wood.
   You can avoid this problem by wiping your rustic wood furniture with a clean, barely damp cloth. That’s all you need to do to clean the surface of your wood furniture.
2. Using Too Much Water on Your Wood Furniture
   In many ways, water is the natural enemy of wood. Use too much water too often, and the wood will start to absorb it. In time, this will result in parts of the furniture becoming swollen and waterlogged. Once the wood swells, there really is no way to restore it without some serious work involved.
   The rule of thumb with water is to use it as sparingly as possible on your wood. Barely damp is the way to go. Water should never be left to stand on your wood furniture.
3. Using Feather Dusters
   The most common way to clean wood furniture on a regular basis is to simply dust it. But, you want to avoid using a real feather duster because these types of dusters have sharp quills that can sometimes leave scratches in the surface of the wood. Instead, you should dust the wood using a soft, clean, lint-free cloth.
4. Scraping Away Melted Wax With Metal
   Candles can look especially nice when they’re set on a rustic wood table, but if the melted wax runs down onto the table, it can be difficult to remove without marking the wood in the process. You will want to avoid using anything metal, like a knife, to remove the cooled wax.
   The best way to clean wax from your wood table is to chip the hardened wax away using an old credit card. If some residue remains, then place a soft, clean cloth over the residue and run a slightly warm iron over it. The wax should melt and stick to the cloth, leaving the surface of the wood clean and undamaged.
5. Applying Too Much Wax
   Wax is ideal for preserving your wood furniture and giving it a more durable surface. But, too much of a good thing isn’t always better. Apply too much wax, and the wood will start looking cloudy and less attractive.
   Whether you use paste wax or liquid, the general rule is to apply the wax in light coats, rubbing it into the grains of the wood. The wax should be allowed to dry, followed by a light buffing to bring out the shine.
   If you are using liquid wax, then you may need to apply coats more frequently as it provides a thinner coating than paste wax, which can last up to two years before it needs to be re-applied.

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