How to Clean Rubberwood

It's no surprise that the rubberwood tree is where rubber comes from. The sap it produces is harvested for latex for usually up to 30 years before it ceases to produce. When this happens, the tree is cut down and new ones are planted making the rubberwood tree a "renewable" timber. These trees that are no longer used for making latex can be made into furniture that is both beautiful and durable at the same time.

Things You'll Need

• Soft clean cloth Walnut Cotton swabs Iodine Mayonnaise Wood conditioner

Instructions

1. Dust your rubberwood furniture often. Once a week should suffice but if you notice dust accumulating, take care of it as soon as possible, even if that means wiping it away with a clean dry cloth. A buildup of dust can be harmful to wood.

2. Clean spills as soon as they happen. Use a clean damp cloth to remove the spill and to get rid of any stickiness. Use a clean dry cloth to dry the area by removing any excess moisture.

3. Fill in scratches by using a walnut and rubbing it horizontally across the scratch; the meat will fill in the scratched area. Use iodine on a cotton swab to darken the nut meat to match the surrounding color.

4. Apply mayonnaise to a soft clean cloth and rub it into a water mark and leave it overnight. Wipe away any excess in the morning.

5. Apply a wood conditioner twice annually to protect your rubberwood by rubbing it into the wood with a soft clean dry cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use harsh chemicals or abrasives on rubberwood that may damage it.

References

• Rubberwood: timber from the rubber tree
• Rubberwood: Renewable Timber
• Caring for Wood and Upholstered Furniture