When you polish your wood furniture, be sure to select a product that’s appropriate for the finish. It will tell you on the label. Some polishes are labeled “multi-finish” and can be used on any type of wood.
Always use the same brand of polish; different brands, when applied over the top of one another, can cause a dull or cloudy look.
An oil finish should be protected only with an oil-based polish.
If layer upon layer of polish has dulled the shine of your wood furniture, the buildup can be removed by using a commercial wood cleaner (make sure you don’t confuse this with a wood stripper). Wood cleaners are simply a mild solvent combined with oil, and will dissolve built-up polish and dirt. You can make your own by mixing two parts olive or lemon oil with one part vinegar or lemon juice; apply it with a soft cloth, and then wipe it clean.
To remove alcohol spots, you can rub the spot with paste wax, silver polish, or boiled linseed oil, and then re-wax. A dab of household ammonia on the spot will work on some finishes; put a few drops of the ammonia onto a damp cloth, rub the spot, and then wax immediately afterward.
To remove minor surface burns, you can use the same treatment described for alcohol stains. You can also dip a cotton swab into some paint remover and gently rub the affected area to remove any charring (you may even have to scrape the surface a little bit). Use one or two drops of clear fingernail polish to fill in the depressed area.
To remove candle wax or gum, chill and harden the substance by holding an ice cube over it for a few seconds (make sure that you immediately wipe up the water droplets left behind by the melting ice). With your fingers, gently remove as much of the gum or wax as you can, and scrape off what’s left with the dull edge of a butter knife. Saturate a cloth with cream wax, and rub the spot.
Grease stains can be removed by a couple of different methods. One is to place a blotter over the spot and press it lightly with a warm iron until the blotter absorbs the grease. Or you can saturate the spot with mineral spirits, and place talcum powder, sawdust, or a cloth over it to absorb the grease as it’s drawn out.
If ink is spilled on unsealed wood furniture, the stain can be impossible to remove. However, if your furniture is sealed, you can usually get the ink off without it leaving a lasting stain. Use an absorbent cloth and blot – don’t rub – consistently turning the cloth to a “fresh” spot to prevent smearing. Then, clean the surface using a damp cloth (don’t forget to dry!) or a cream wax.
To remove nail polish, soften it by rubbing with a cloth saturated in mineral spirits. If the furniture has a hard finish, apply paste wax with a piece of very fine steel wool in the direction of the wood grain. If it’s an oil finish, simply apply a little bit of oil. Do not use nail polish remover – it can quickly damage the surface.
To disguise minor scratches, you may only need a coating of paste wax. If that doesn’t hide the scratch, try the following: