How to Remove Paste Wax From Wood Furniture

High quality furniture benefits from being polished with a furniture paste wax. Furniture paste wax gives your furniture a protective coating against stains and creates a high gloss. However, paste wax that builds up over the years can dull the finish, giving it a yellowed appearance. As part of your wood furniture maintenance remove old paste wax on an annual basis. Doing this will provide you with a clean surface on which to apply a fresh coat of wax.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Safety glasses
• Plastic drop cloth (optional)
• Silicone wax wash
• Clean towels or rags
• Old toothbrush
• Oil-based soap
• Bucket

Instructions

1. Lay a plastic drop cloth on the floor underneath the furniture. It's best to do this job outdoors; if that's not practical, open windows to keep the area well-ventilated.

2. 

   Always wear safety glasses when working with chemicals.

   Put on rubber gloves to protect your skin and safety glasses to protect your eyes from any splashes.

3. 

   Remove old paste wax annually.

   Saturate a towel with the silicone wax wash and rub it into the furniture. Continually move to a clean part of the rag so you're not rubbing the paste wax right back in. The silicone wax wash will loosen and lift the old paste wax.

4. 

   Old toothbrushes come in handy for some household chores.

   Scrub grooves or crevices in furniture using an old toothbrush dampened with silicone wax wash.

5. 

   Wash off the silicone wax wash.

   Pour some oil-based soap into a bucket of warm water, according to directions on the bottle. Dunk a clean rag into the soapy solution, squeeze out the excess liquid and wipe down the furniture to remove the silicone wax wash. Dry the furniture with a clean towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Silicone wax wash is easy to find in the automotive section of your nearby store.

• Wear old clothing for this job as it's messy and you'll be using chemicals that could stain new clothes.

References

• Woodcarving Illustrated: Removing Paste Wax