How to Clean Painted Wood Furniture
Cleaning painted wood furniture is not much different from painting unfinished wood furniture. In both cases, the less water you use, the better. This is not to say, however, that you cannot use water at all. While frequent dusting can prevent furniture from getting dirty, there are times when a more-thorough cleaning, with water as 1 ingredient, may be necessary. In this case, as long as you remember to dry the piece well after cleaning, no harm should be done. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Clean bucket Liquid dish detergent or liquid hand soap Warm water Sponges Soft towel
Instructions
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Mix 1 tbsp. liquid dish detergent with warm water in a clean bucket. Approximately 1 gallon of water is enough to dilute the detergent adequately.
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Dampen a sponge in the soapy mixture. Next, scrub the dirtiest areas of the painted furniture. Rinse out the sponge in soapy water and wipe down the rest of the furniture.
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Dump out the soapy water and fill the bucket with clean water. Rinse the sponge in this water and wipe down the furniture again, this time to remove soap or detergent residue. Rub the furniture with a towel. Make sure you dry off the entire piece, including all crevices.
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Tips & Warnings
To clean hard-to-reach crevices, try taping a small piece of sponge to the end of a pencil. Dampen this in a bit of sudsy water and push it into the crevice. Make sure you rinse and dry it. You can dry this area by attaching a cotton ball or piece of cloth to the pencil. For dirty areas, try putting a small amount (dime sized) of liquid detergent directly on the area before scrubbing with a sponge.
Use only mild cleaners and never use abrasives on painted furniture. In addition, use only detergents, rather than soap, on glossy paint. Soap may dull a glossy finish. Do not rub too hard. If you are not sure if the paint will be damaged during cleaning, test a small, hidden area 1st, such as the bottom of a chair leg. Don't let the piece of painted furniture air dry. Always dry it with a towel, or it may develop water spots.
