Without knowing what the finish is, milder is usually better. I’d start with a disinfectant diluted in water (no aerosols) applied to a rag and wiped across the surface. Avoid letting liquids pool on the surface and seeping into cracks. Answer from wpmason on reddit.com
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Mumfordrestoration
mumfordrestoration.com › blog › cleaning-antique-wood-furniture
Top 5 Tips for Cleaning Antique Wood Furniture
June 11, 2025 - Mild soap or wood cleaner: Look ... the wood. White vinegar: A mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar can be used to remove any stubborn stains or buildup on the surface of the wood....
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Martha Stewart
marthastewart.com › how-to-clean-wood-furniture-8579914
How to Clean Wood Furniture
June 23, 2025 - Olive oil is a great way to remove any built up sticky residue on wood furniture, says Poepping. Saturate a cotton swap with olive oil and apply it to the residue. Use a blow dryer and carefully warm the area while using a soft dry cloth to wipe the area in the direction of the woodgrain until the residue has completely released. Dab the area with a clean cloth.
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Better Homes & Gardens
bhg.com › homekeeping › wood-furnishings-care
How to Clean Wood Furniture to Make It Look New Again
March 31, 2025 - Clean furniture approximately every year with oil soap diluted according to product label instructions. Apply with a clean cotton cloth and work with the grain per the product directions.
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HGTV
hgtv.com › home › lifestyle › clean and organize
How to Clean Wood Furniture | HGTV
July 28, 2025 - Start with the gentlest cleaner and move up to stronger ones as needed. Try mixing a weak solution of water and dishwashing soap. Dip a soft cloth in the solution, wring it out and wipe the entire piece.
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Real Simple
realsimple.com › home-organizing › cleaning › how-to-clean-wood-furniture
How to Clean Wood Furniture With Dish Soap to Make It Look Brand New
April 19, 2025 - The first thing you should do is use a soft, dry cloth to dust away visible dirt and grime. Then, air the wood furniture out on a dry, sunny day. Place it in the shade on a solid surface like a driveway for several hours (the sun can be too ...
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Castlery
castlery.com › us › blog › how-to-clean-wooden-furniture
How to Clean Wooden Furniture | Castlery US
October 23, 2024 - Wipe it down with a clean and soft cloth. Vinegar is especially useful for removing water spots or sticky residue left by food or drink spills. If you’re looking for a natural way to not just clean, but also disinfect your wood furniture, a lemon juice and olive oil paste can be a great solution.
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Murphy Oil Soap
murphyoilsoap.com › murphy® oil soap - household cleaners for wood surfaces › cleaning wood furniture | murphy® oil soap › how to clean old wood furniture
How to Clean Old Wood Furniture | Murphy® Oil Soap
Small chips and dings can be filled ... repair wood finishes. They come in different colors so you can choose the one that is closest to your furniture's finish. Overfill the chip, then smooth excess wax off to level the piece's surface using a plastic putty knife or an item with an equally gentle edge. After repair, or if the finish dulls with cleaning, use #0000 steel ...
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Microfiber Wholesale
microfiberwholesale.com › blog › best way to clean wood furniture, cigarette smoke, mold, and mildew
Best Way to Clean Wood Furniture, Cigarette Smoke, Mold, and Mildew — Microfiber Wholesale
January 3, 2024 - Most dirty wood furniture can be brought back to life with any basic neutral pH wood furniture cleaner like Mr. Clean or Fabuloso, some warm water, and a stack of microfiber towels.
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Just to get it out of the way first, "nourishing" wood is a concept invented in the murky past by some marketing team for a company making furniture polish of some kind. The idea that you have to, or even can, "feed" or "nourish" wood is hoo-ha.

Would degreaser spray and furniture wax work?

It could yes, and actually that would generally be a particularly good way to go about it. Specifically, in contrast to using other types of cleaning agents and any kind of oil-based furniture polish, or one that mentions silicone.

Depending on the degreaser however you may want to test it first in an inconspicuous spot. And, again in general, it may be better not to use the degreaser straight from the bottle, but instead dilute it with water; basically it depends on how concentrated it is.

  • Before you start, have on hand a small nylon brush for scrubbing (a medium or firm toothbrush is ideal), a few cloth rags and either a towel or abundant paper towels.

  • Create a solution of warm or hand-hot water (roughly bathwater temperature, no hotter) and the degreaser.

  • Start in the dirtiest areas first. In general the areas that will be dirtiest are contact surfaces and upward-facing surfaces. Use the toothbrush or equivalent for hard-to-reach areas and to scrub out the open grain if there's trapped grime there.

  • Clean and dry as you go so that surfaces don't remain wet for too long.

  • Swap out the wet rags for fresh ones as needed.

  • Once you're done on the cleaning step give the table at least a couple of hours to dry. Half a day or overnight is preferable.

  • Then apply the wax as per the instructions, which will generally be to wipe on a generous amount, wait for it to haze over, then buff off all excess. Waxing should be done periodically through the year for furniture that is in use. Once a year or every couple of years is sufficient if the item just sits there and is barely touched, but do dust regularly.

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Sawmill Creek
sawmillcreek.org › forums › woodworking by hand and specialties › neanderthal haven
"Cleaning" old furniture | Sawmill Creek Woodworking Community
September 30, 2015 - Any advice anyone might have about restoring these wood surfaces while retaining the aged look and feel are appreciated, particularly in regard to removing more of the "patina", much of which I am inclined to think of as dirt, mildew and water stains/damage that may be at or in the wood's surface. ... Mike, I restore old pieces from time to time and never worried about "patina" at all, especially if the piece was mine. I have scraped the finish off of varnished pieces and painted them with milk paint for some or used shellac and alcohol to refinish some. I to am interested in how to clean up a piece I have now, and will be watching this thread with great interest.
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › how-to-clean-wood-furniture-5181301
How to Clean Wood Furniture the Right Way
June 28, 2024 - Rub a dab of olive or mineral oil on a soft cloth across the stained area. As the residue is transferred, move to a clean cloth area and reapply more oil if needed. Finish by using some wood polish to even out the shine on the entire wood surface.
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Van Dyke's Restorers
vandykes.com › how-to-clean-antique-furniture › a › how-to-clean-antique-furniture
How to Clean Antique Wood Furniture: A Step-by-Step Guide | Van Dyke's Restorers
Step One: Clean the antique wood furniture with a soft cloth. It doesn’t have to be quite as extensive as a thorough cleaning. Just give it a quick wipe to remove the surface-level dust. Step Two: Make a one-to-one solution of your oil-of-choice and vinegar in the bowl.
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Utah State University
digitalcommons.usu.edu › cgi › viewcontent.cgi pdf
1 CLEANING, REPAIRING AND RECONDITIONING WOOD FURNITURE Carol Williams
Wipe dry and buff with a clean soft cloth. This may be sufficient. Polish with lemon oil or apply · a surface wax if desired. This wash works well for furniture, cabinets and wall paneling. Murphy’s oil soap or similar products can also be used to wash wood.
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Bless'er House
blesserhouse.com › home › blog › cleaning › how to clean wood furniture to make it look new
How to Clean Wood Furniture to Make It Look New - Bless'er House
June 21, 2024 - Using a clean soft cloth, wipe down the entire piece of furniture with the soapy mixture while wearing protective gloves. Pay special attention to crevices and small details. Then, using a dry cloth or paper towel, wipe away any soapy residue ...
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Haywoodofficeservices
haywoodofficeservices.co.uk › home › news
HOW TO CLEAN SECOND-HAND WOOD FURNITURE IN 2024 - Haywood Office Services
Spot-cleaning damaged wood furniture with a mild dish detergent and warm water solution will help remove stubborn stains. Make sure not to oversaturate the wood, and gently wipe the stained area with a clean cloth soaked with the soapy solution.
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Amenify
amenify.com › blog
How to Clean Wooden Furniture: Expert Tips for a Polished, Long-Lasting Finish — Amenify
November 20, 2024 - For furniture with carvings or grooves, use a soft-bristle brush to reach tight spaces. Prepare a Cleaning Solution: Mix a few drops of mild dish soap or white vinegar with warm water in a bowl.
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Reader's Digest
rd.com › home › cleaning
How to Clean Wood Furniture | Tips for Cleaning and Polishing Wood | Trusted Since 1922
June 21, 2024 - If dirt or stains persist, step up to a stronger cleaning product like dish detergent (2 teaspoons in a gallon of warm water) or a cleaner that does not contain ammonia and is safe for sealed wood, like Original Pine-Sol Multi-Purpose Cleaner (¼ cup in a gallon of warm water). Always test the cleaner first in an inconspicuous spot to make sure it’s safe for the furniture. Dip the cloth in the solution and wring it out well. Wipe the stain lightly, repeating as needed. Rinse the area with a cloth slightly dampened with water. Dry the area completely. Another option is to use a special cream polish for wood furniture.
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Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 2474747 › cleaning-old-wood-furniture
Cleaning old wood furniture
... The very very first thing to do is just go over the wood with a soft rag that's just dampened with tepid water and a very mild soap. (If it hasn't been finished with polyurethane, this IS one of the good uses of Murphy's oil soap.)
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T.Y. Fine Furniture
tyfinefurniture.com › home › furniture maker's notebook › furniture maker's notebook
How to Clean Wood Furniture
May 29, 2023 - But you can also use old kitchen towels and t-shirts (sans huge prints and buttons because they’re abrasive). Feather dusters are an option, but they spread dust faster in the air. Start cleaning the furniture from the top and gradually move downwards. Gently wipe in a circular motion in the direction of the grain, rotating the cloth as needed. When cleaning wood surfaces, it is important to be gentle and use light pressure to avoid damaging the finish, as dust can be abrasive.