How to Clean Unfinished Wood Furniture

Clean unfinished wood furniture with mineral spirits

Unfinished wood requires special care when cleaning. Furniture polishes restore shine to wood pieces with a glossy protective layer. However, when you use a furniture polish on unfinished wood furniture, the polish simply absorbs into the wood, often seeping into seams and causing residue buildup. Instead, use a non-greasy cleaning agent that will safely clean the unfinished wood furniture without causing damage.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum
• Dust rag
• Mineral spirits

Instructions

1. Vacuum the furniture or dust with a rag on a weekly basis to remove loose buildup.

2. Saturate a cleaning cloth with mineral spirits, and wring out excess moisture.

3. Wipe the damp rag over the unfinished wood in one direction, following the grain of the wood. Do not wipe back and forth as this can cause the wood to splinter.

4. Repeat until all of the wood is clean, and allow the furniture to air-dry before using.

References

• NPS.gov: Cleaning Wood Furniture