Three DIY Furniture Recipes
Once you've mixed up these homemade recipes, pour them into clean, labeled glass or plastic containers.
Recipe #1
1 cup mineral oil
3 drops of lemon oil or extract
Recipe #2
2 oz. grated beeswax
5 oz. turpentine
Recipe #3
1 cup of olive oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
The oil nourishes the wood while the vinegar cleans it.
Recipes no. 1 and no. #2 can be stored in glass or plastic containers (make sure they are clean), but #2 can be stored in glass or plastic containers. #3 should be poured into a spray bottle.
Now that the recipes have been made, now it's time to see how they work. Follow these expert tips:
- Spray or pour the homemade solution onto a soft cloth (never spray directly onto furniture) and apply, rubbing into the grain. You will immediately see the shine return to the wood. If the wood looks dry, let it sit and then go over it one more time with oil and vinegar.
- If the wood has detailed work, go over the area well with the cloth and solution, then take a soft bristle brush to work the solution into the grooves. Polish with a soft cloth.
Now that the furniture is polished and shiny, learn some common problems with wooden furniture and ways to solve them:
- Removal of polish from old and dull furniture: Place two tea bags in boiling water. Let the tea cool down to room temperature, take a soft cloth, wring it out until damp and wash the wood. The tannic acid in tea is wonderful for maintaining wood. You will be surprised how the wood will shine..
- Watermarks and heatmarks: Dab a little mayonnaise, not salad dressing, on the stains, spread it out with a finger, let it soak for a few hours until overnight. Clean and polish the entire table to restore shine.
- Removing difficult marks: Even for the toughest marks, like a ballpoint pen, mayonnaise (the all-purpose cleaner) is still the way to go, along with some Rottenstone (a mild pumice stone). Mix the pumice stone and mayonnaise together, then apply the mixture to the spot in the direction of the wood grain. This may take a bit of time. Reapply as needed, then wipe clean.
- Restoration of dry and old wood: First of all, don't throw it away. Restore it Put some petroleum jelly on the wood with your fingers with a massaging action, and if the wood is in very bad shape, leave the jelly on for some time. Finish by working into the grain and rubbing with a soft cloth.
