How to polish wooden furniture?

Hi Navneet. I recently polished an old wooden table of ours. So, I’d be able to share the steps regarding how do you polish wood furniture. The first step is to choose the appropriate polish for the furniture. There are various kinds and choosing the right one depends on the wood and the look you wish to have on your furniture. I will share the complete steps with you below.

Process to Polish Wooden Furniture

Here is the method you can follow to polish your wooden furniture:

1. If you are looking for a simple polish, pick any general floor or furniture polish. However, if you are looking for something advanced, you can explore options like tung oil, linseed, shellac, lacquers or varnishes. But be careful as some polishes can emit toxic fumes and require extra precaution.

2. Only use wax over non-oil polishes such as lacquer or shellac.

3. It is preferable to work outdoors. However, if you can’t, open the windows and doors in the room. Also, turn on the fan to increase air circulation.

4. Clear the area where you’d be working. Cover the region with drop cloths to avoid spillage over the flooring and other furniture.

5. Grab a professional-grade wood cleaner or create a mixture of dish soap and hot water. 

6. Use a cloth to wipe down the furniture with the created mixture. Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.

7. Let the wood air dry for some hours. It is crucial that you hand dry the wood first and then let the air do its work, otherwise, the wet wood can warp or rot.

8. Test out the polish on an inconspicuous area first. Then, let it dry. See how it looks. Once you’re satisfied, apply the polish over the furniture.

This is how to polish wooden furniture. I hope the steps turn out to be helpful to you.

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Some related information:



Which is the Best Wood Furniture Polish?

Polishing wooden furniture is easy if you are aware of what chemicals to use. Like others, I did not know how to polish wood at home and hired an expert carpenter to complete the task for me. After around three years, I wanted to get our dining table chairs polished again, so I started watching videos about it. I came across a video on how do you polish wood and implemented the process. It was quite easy and worked perfectly. Let me share the process I followed.

How to Polish Old Furniture at Home?

To polish old wooden furniture at home, 

• Start by wiping the furniture with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust and grime.

• Check for scratches, dents, or watermarks that may need special attention.

• Lightly sand the surface with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth imperfections and create a better surface for the finish.

• Apply wood stain for a colour boost, or use furniture wax to nourish and protect the wood. Do use a soft cloth, following the wood grain.

• After allowing the polish to set, gently buff the furniture with a clean, dry cloth to reveal a renewed shine.

You can visit any paint shop and ask them to provide you with the necessary paints. Just make sure to sand the surface nicely so that the water sticks to it perfectly.

A rich and valuable possession like wood needs to be taken care of. It needs polishing from time to time to retain shine and enhance the life of the furniture. So exactly how to polish wooden furniture at home? I am going to address this aspect for you. But before that let us look at the reasons why wooden furniture needs polishing and what are the different types of polish available in the market.

• To prevent wear and tear

• To eliminate moisture entrances

• To prevent from termite attacks

• For a smooth and glossy look

There are several types of polishes available in the market for wooden furniture. Here are a few popular ones:

• Lamination polish (resin or polyester)

• Melamine polish

• French polish

• PU Polish

These are the steps to polish wooden furniture at home:

1. Buy the most suitable furniture from the supermarket or online

2. Take your furniture in a well lit and ventilated area

3. Clean the surface of the wooden furniture 

4. Pick a spot in one corner and test your polish

5. If everything goes well, take a cotton cloth and make a ball of it.

6. Dip the ball into the polish and apply a layer gently on the surface of the wooden furniture. 

7. Try to even out the polish and let it dry in sunlight for a few hours.

There you have it. That is how to polish wooden furniture at home.