Yes, it can be worth it to refinish furniture, especially if it’s a piece with sentimental value or an antique piece that’s irreplaceable. If you have an older piece of furniture but want to upgrade its look or feel, refinishing is a great way to refresh it to enjoy for many years. When determining whether it’s worth the cost to refinish a furniture item, calculate the price of buying a new, similar piece and compare that to quotes from local furniture refinishing services.

If your wood furniture is sticky after already cleaning it, it’s likely from using too many polishes or waxes. You’ll need to remove some of the excess wax with a cloth and warm water mixed with dish soap. You can then reapply the wax or polish afterwards, but try to use a much smaller amount and wipe away any excess.

When water penetrates wood, the wood swells, causing the wood and veneer to separate. This separation creates bubbles on the surface of your furniture. If water spills on wood veneer, it needs to be dried ASAP. Surface spills can cause minor damages like white spots and blushing, but if you’re slow to action, you’re looking at more work—and spending—to restore your wood veneer.