How to Make Furniture Polish for Antiques
Furniture polish protects and preserves wood furniture, which helps to keep the wood from drying and makes the surface more resistant to scratching. A beeswax-based polish provides a warm shine to antique furniture. Repeated use of beeswax polish coats the wood with a protective shell that preserves the beauty of the piece without harming the finish. You can make your own furniture polish to keep your antique furniture looking its best. Use a solvent like turpentine to dilute the beeswax and transform it into a more paste-like consistency. The turpentine also enhances absorption of the wax into the wood. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- 100 grams beeswax
- 250 ml turpentine
- Two pans
- Glass or plastic storage container
- Clean cloth
Instructions
-
-
1
Grate or chop the wax into small pieces and put in one pan. Heat slowly over low heat to melt.
-
2
While wax is melting, pour the turpentine into the other pan and heat over low heat.
-
-
3
When most of the wax is melted, remove both pans from the stove and pour the warm turpentine into the wax. Stir until thoroughly mixed and all wax is melted.
-
4
Pour polish into a nonmetal container. Allow to cool. The wax will harden to a thick, paste-like consistency.
-
5
To polish furniture, take a clean, lint-free cloth, such as an old cloth diaper, and scoop in a little wax with it. Apply the wax to the furniture, rubbing in a circular motion to distribute a thin coat of wax. Rub vigorously to push the wax into the wood. Continue to rub until the surface of the wood is shiny but not greasy.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
When mixing the wax and turpentine, you may add a few drops of lemon oil or another essential oil for fragrance if you like.
Turpentine is flammable. Exercise extreme caution when using it near an open flame. Heat slowly at low heat only until warm.
