Bringing Your Solid Wood Furniture Back To Life
Solid wood furniture doesn’t really go bad, unlike the piece of cheese that’s been in my fridge going on six months now.
If anything, age brings solid wood furniture even more character and charm. I’m amazed when I go to yard sales and see solid wood end and coffee tables with price tags of 50 cents, when all these pieces need is some love and attention, and they’d be like new. Better, in fact.
So, if you find an old piece of solid wood furniture, how can you give it what it needs to look alive again? Does Grandma’s oak dining table really need to go to the trash heap, or can it be saved?
First, you’re going to need some furniture soap. Ask around and find a brand that comes highly recommended. You’ll also need some furniture cream, a rubbing compound (usually found in automotive stores), and some furniture polish. Oh, and some soft, clean rags.
If your solid wood furniture piece has some really nasty scratches or dents, you might need some stain or wood filler.
The first thing you’ll need to do is to dust off the piece. Then, wash the piece with the furniture soap and a slightly moist, soft rag. Never expose your solid wood furniture to too much moisture, so make sure the rag is just barely damp. Also, while washing, be sure to take your time and rinse the rag often.
If there are fine scratches on the surface, or if it’s just dull, use the rubbing compound to gently rub the surface, going the same direction as the grain. Keep in mind that the rubbing compound is a very fine sanding, so do this lightly. And, whatever you do, do not use a swirling motion with your solid wood furniture.
Again, using a clean, damp cloth, wipe the surface clean of all the residue. Wring your rag out again.
Fill in the fine scratches with stain. If there are larger nicks or dents, fill those in with wood filler. Let these dry before going ahead. Wipe the stain on evenly, making sure to wipe any excess up immediately.
When both the stain and filler have dried, use another rag to apply the furniture cream. With still another clean, dry rag, dry and buff the piece. Leave it for about an hour, then apply the furniture polish.
Using this simple approach, almost any piece of solid wood furniture can come back to life.