How to Clean Carvings in Wood Furniture

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Things You'll Need

  • Soft cloths

  • Furniture polish -- optional

  • Soft-bristled brush

  • Mineral spirits

  • Cotton swabs

Carved wooden furniture can be intimidating to clean properly. Wood is a hardy material, but making mistakes can damage the finish permanently and be costly to repair. Once you know the right tools and methods to use on your wooden furniture, you will have no excuse for not cleaning your carved wood properly and often. By keeping your wooden furniture in excellent condition you will have an heirloom you can hand down for generations.

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Step 1

Use a soft cloth to brush away dust from the entire piece of furniture. You can use furniture polish or just a dry cloth. If you dust regularly, you should be able to use just a bare cloth.

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Step 2

Brush the carved areas gently with a soft-bristled brush. Concentrate on the corners and indentations where dust is most likely to gather.

Step 3

Remove any grease or stubborn grime with a soft cloth and a small amount of mineral spirits. A cotton swab dipped in mineral spirits can help to remove dirt deeply embedded in carved areas.

Tip

Dust your wooden furniture often to avoid a buildup of dust, especially in carvings.

Warning

Do not use water to clean wood furniture, as the wood can soak up the water and crack.

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