Timber furniture

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To clean and polish timber, you need to find out how it has been treated first, as you are cleaning the finish not the wood itself.

The simplest way to find out the finish of your wood is to apply a few drops of linseed oil and rub gently. The wood has an oil-based finish if it absorbs or what is known as a hard finish (such as varnish, shellac or polyurethane) if it repels and droplets form.

Protect and polish oil-based wood with beeswax (in a solid form or a paste is the best) only once or twice a year, but make sure it is dusted and cleaned with a damp cloth first.

A ‘multi-surface’ furniture polish that is designed to clean is suitable for most other finishes.

		Click here for an excellent, easy-to-make timber furniture polish.

		Water marks on timber can usually be cleaned off with beeswax applied with lemon peel. For other surfaces, use a general purpose cleaning spray and a bit of elbow grease.

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