Free House Repair Tutorials - Care for your Wood Furniture

The type of finish on the wood, not the type of wood, determines how to care for it, clean it, and repair damage; so know what kind of finish it has. Finishes may be soft (oiled) or hard (lacquer, shellac, varnish, or polyurethane), or painted. Ask when buying new furniture. If you are in doubt about the type of finish, try the following tests in an inconspicuous part of the piece...

Test for an oil finish by rubbing a few drop of boiled linseed oil into the wood. If it absorbs, the wood has an oil finish. If it beads up, the wood has a hard finish. To identify which hard finish, rub acetone over a spot in a gentle, circular motion. Lacquer will dissolve in 30 seconds under gentle, circular rubbing. Varnishes and shellacs will turn to sticky, gel-like substance after a minute or two, and polyurethane/polyester finishes will shed acetone like water. (A shellac can be distinguished from a varnish because shellacs will dissolve quickly in denatured alcohol; varnish will react more slowly.)

After you have decided which finish is on your wood furniture, follow the appropriate procedures. Excessive dampness, dryness, heat, or cold can damage wood furniture. Sunlight can change the color. Rubber or plastic mats should not be used unless marked safe for wood, since some may soften or stain the finish.

Wipe up spills at once to prevent spots that require refinishing. Polish occasionally, not more than 3-4 times a year unless it gets heavy use, with a polish recommended for the kind of finish. Too much polish may build up a cloudy film; wipe off polish before it dries completely.

Do not mix types of polish. Oil causes wax to become gummy. Clean the furniture surface thoroughly before changing furniture care products.

This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus with references from Georgia Extension bulletin How to Care for Your Furnishings.