DIY How to Revitalize Old Furniture

Cleaning and refinishing wood furniture restores its vitality.

Old furniture can look tired, especially old wood furniture with layers of finish and dullness from years of use. Revitalize wood furniture with a good cleaning, treat it with homemade beeswax conditioner and give it new life with varnish and wax polish. The revitalization process forms a protective layer that keeps the wood from becoming damaged by damp conditions and stains.

Things You'll Need

• Citrus-based solvent
• Scrub pads
• Clean, dry cloths
• Measuring cups
• Olive oil
• Double-boiler
• Grated beeswax
• Large glass bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Paste varnish
• Soft rags
• Wax polish
• Wool cloth

Instructions

1. Apply a citrus-based solvent to wood furniture using a scrub pad. Work the solvent into all the crevices of the wood. Remove the solvent with a clean, dry cloth, and reapply the citrus-based solvent at least once. Continue to apply and wipe away the solvent until the wood is clean.

2. Pour 1 cup of olive oil into a double-boiler. Add 1/4 cup of grated beeswax. Heat the mixture on low heat until the wax melts into the oil. Pour the mixture into a large glass bowl. As it cools, stir it occasionally with a wooden spoon. When completely cool, the mixture is a whipped wood polish.

3. Rub a small amount of the whipped wood polish onto the cleaned wood. Buff the wood with a clean, dry cloth, removing the excess polish, until the wood has a sheen. Rub the wood with a scrub pad in the direction of the wood's grain. Apply a second coat of whipped wood polish, and then buff the wood with a clean, dry cloth and rub it with a scrub pad again.

4. Apply a coat of paste varnish to the wood furniture using a soft rag and following the wood's grain. Avoid using circular motions, which will appear in the finish. Allow the paste varnish to dry, and then apply a second coat of paste varnish.

5. Apply wax polish to the wood furniture with a soft rag. Allow it to dry for 10 minutes, and then buff the dried polish with a wool cloth.

References

• Scott Jordan Furniture: How to Care for Your Solid Wood Furniture
• Amber Dusick; How to Make Beeswax Wood Polish (Woodmouse Recipe); July 2010
• Curbly: Revitalizing an Old Rocking Chair